"And Moses Assembled the Entire Congregation of Israel" • Shabbat Parshas

This Shabbat as well—Parshas Vayakhel-Shekalim, when we blessed the month of Adar II 5784—we merited an uplifting, full, and long Shabbat, the likes of which we haven't seen for many weeks, in the presence of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Here is the full report:

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (Friday afternoon), the Rav went out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer at 4:47 PM, earlier than usual. He began with the singing of "Or Zarua" (Light is sown for the righteous) for about 10 minutes, followed by the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, the Seder HaHisksherus (order of connecting to the Tzaddik) was recited according to the version composed by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. Afterward, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with "Lechu Neranena" and all the traditional psalms. "Lecha Dodi" lasted about half an hour together with the Rav shlit"a and the congregation, with a vitality and enthusiasm that is beyond compare. The Rav then continued the prayer in its order, Maariv (evening prayer) with all the melodies. Before the Shabbat night songs, the Rav shlit"a read the prayer for the Molad (announcement of the new moon) of the month of Adar II. At the end of two hours and twenty minutes of the Shabbat night prayer, he returned to his Beiso Naveh Kodesh (holy home) at 7:19 PM.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for the prayer at 4:27 AM, slightly earlier than expected. The Shacharis (morning) prayer lasted over two hours and ten minutes, starting from Chatzos (the Midnight Lament) and the morning songs, Korbanos (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimrah (verses of praise) with great vitality. All the melodies were sung with enthusiasm. This Shabbat, certain songs stood out as the Rav extended them longer than usual; the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) during Nishmas Kol Chai was extended in thanksgiving for about 5 minutes with immense vitality. The Rav shlit"a reached the Shemoneh Esrei (standing prayer) only at 6:42 AM—about twenty minutes after Netz HaChammah (sunrise). After the conclusion of the Chazaras HaShatz (cantor's repetition), the Rav shlit"a began the Krias HaTorah (Torah reading), which lasted over forty-five minutes, as those celebrating special occasions and various Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up one after another—over twenty-five Olim (people called to the Torah).

After the Torah reading, the Rav immediately performed the Birkas HaChodesh (blessing of the new month) for the month of Adar II. This week they did not sing the usual melody, but they merited to say "Ashrei" (Psalm 145) after a long time of not saying it to the melody of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring). The Rav shlit"a stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer at 8:20 AM. After the conclusion of the prayer, the Rav shlit"a made Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered a lesson where he spoke about Parshas Vayakhel and the Avnei HaChoshen (stones of the High Priest's breastplate). The Rav said that the breastplate stones shone like the sun, and further said that the Tzaddik illuminates all the darkness in the world. At the end of the lesson, the Rav began to sing "Odem, Pitdah, u'Vareketh..." (the names of the stones). At 8:04 AM (sic), the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home after three and a half hours of Shacharis, Torah reading, Musaf, and the lesson. It should be noted that before entering his home, he announced that the Mincha prayer would take place at 5:15 PM and the washing of hands for the Seudah Shlishis (third meal) on the eve of Rosh Chodesh would take place before sunset to avoid any doubt regarding the "Ya'aleh V'Yavo" prayer.

At 5:21 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat and began with the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He) for about 3 minutes. This was followed by the Torah reading for Vayakhel with three people called up, and the Shemoneh Esrei. At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, the Rav shlit"a went down to his room to wash his hands for the Seudah Shlishis. Less than a minute later, he returned to conduct the Tish (holy table) of the third meal. It is important to note that the Rav shlit"a indeed washed his hands two minutes before sunset, as he had instructed after the Shabbat morning prayer. For many long minutes, the Rav shlit"a distributed Shirayim (remnants of the meal), various fruits, and sweets. He then began the Seudah Shlishis songs in his holy way for about twenty minutes, followed by singing "Yah Ribbon" (God, Master of the world) for about twenty minutes, repeatedly returning to the stirring passage "Revarvin Ovdech... Mechich Ramaya V'Zakif Kefifin" (Great are Your works... He lowers the haughty and straightens the bent)!! At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a led the Zimun (formal invitation to grace) over a cup of wine at 7:01 PM. After Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals), he began singing "L'manatzeach BiNeginos" (Psalm 67), and during the singing, he began delivering the weekly lesson from the book "Pele Yoetz" on the topic of human holiness and the subduing of Haman-Amalek, speaking for several minutes. After the lesson, the Rav began the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat, preceded by the singing of "L'manatzeach BiNeginos." It should be noted that during the Maariv prayer, the Rav shlit"a was like a flaming fire, with a special enthusiasm that one does not merit to see every day.

After Maariv, the Rav performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of "Layehudim Hayesa Orah..." (The Jews had light...) at great length. After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melave Malka (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the meal of David, the King Messiah. The Rav shlit"a, together with all our followers, sang all the traditional songs with special vitality and pleasantness while distributing Shirayim and blessing those who came to his holy table. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson from the holy book "Chayei Moharan" (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the songs, he led the Zimun over a cup of wine along with the Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) for a groom who was present. He entered his holy home at 8:26 PM after three hours and five minutes that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer until the end of Melave Malka. Altogether, we merited about nine hours in the holy presence during this Shabbat of Vayakhel-Shekalim, 29th of Adar I, 5784.

A good week to all the people of the House of Israel!