"And only Noah remained

Before you is an extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on Shabbat Parshat Noach - Rosh Chodesh (the New Month of) MarCheshvan 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days).

At 4:30 PM, The Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of the eve of Shabbat Parshat Noach. After nearly a quarter of an hour of singing 'Or Zarua L'Tzaddik' (Light is sown for the righteous) with great vitality, he stood for the Mincha prayer.

After the Chazzan's (cantor's) repetition, The Rav said the psalm 'Hashem Melech Ge'ut Lavesh' (Hashem reigns, He is clothed in majesty). After the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, The Rav shlit"a said the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of spiritual connection to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Afterward, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms from 'Lechu Neranena' until 'Mizmor L'David'. Then he began the singing of 'Lecha Dodi,' which lasted about forty-five minutes. After the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he said 'K'gavna' (a Kabbalistic prayer) and they began the Maariv (evening) prayer for the night of Shabbat with vitality and enthusiasm, accompanied by all the melodies. After the Maariv prayer, The Rav continued at the conclusion of the prayer, as he does every Shabbat, with the Zemiros (songs) before Kiddush. These lasted over half an hour, primarily with the lengthy singing of "Shalom Aleichem." At 7:00 PM, The Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of 'Shevanu MiTuvecha' (Satisfy us from Your goodness) after a prayer service lasting exactly two and a half hours.

For the Shacharit (morning) prayer, The Rav shlit"a came out at 4:45 AM and began with some of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot (the Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, as well as the piyut (liturgical poem) 'Shaarei Zion' (Gates of Zion) in the sections customarily said on Sabbaths and Festivals. Afterward, the morning Zemiros were sung with wonderful vitality, followed by the recitation of the Korbanot (sacrificial readings). After a break of about three minutes, he went down to the sanctuary of our Beit Midrash (study hall) and began the recitation of Pesukei D'Zimrah (Verses of Praise) as he does every Shabbat, with great awakening and a flaming fire. We note a special lengthiness during the Shacharit prayer during the singing of 'Hoshia Et Amecha' (Save Your people) for about five minutes.

The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shmoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 6:40 AM. Immediately after the Chazzan's repetition, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of Hallel (the prayer of praise) for Rosh Chodesh, which lasted over forty-five minutes with vitality and a flaming fire, including all the melodies—specifically 'B'tzait Yisrael MiMitzrayim' (When Israel went out of Egypt), which lasted about seven minutes. Likewise, with the melodies between the verses, 'Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov' (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good) lasted about twenty minutes, and 'Ana Hashem Hoshia Na' (Please Hashem, save us) lasted about ten minutes. Immediately after the conclusion of Hallel, The Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson of about a quarter of an hour.

After the conclusion of the lesson, The Rav instructed to take out the Sefer Torah. He began the Torah reading for Parshat Noach, during which many people were called up. Thank Hashem, on this Shabbat, joys were multiplied as, may they be protected from the evil eye, five boys and five girls were born in our holy community this week—this is in addition to weddings and Bar Mitzvahs; may such joys increase! If that were not enough, The Rav shlit"a himself calls up his beloved students and those who come from out of town to spend the holy Shabbat in his presence. The Torah reading along with the Haftarah (prophetic reading) lasted about fifty minutes. We note that before the Haftarah, The Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson on Masechet Taanit (Tractate Taanit) regarding the story of Nachum Ish Gamzu and connected this deed to the week's Haftarah.

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of 'Zera Chaya V'Kayama' (living and enduring offspring) for about three minutes. Afterward, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh—the 'Atah Yatzarta' (You formed) Musaf. After the Chazzan's repetition of the Musaf prayer for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, he made Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat Kiddush) and delivered a five-minute lesson of words of the Living G-d. At 9:18 AM, he entered his holy home after nearly four and a half hours of the Shabbat Rosh Chodesh prayer together with The Rav shlit"a.

At 5:02 PM, The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home with the recitation of Kaddish, and began saying 'Brich Shmeih' (Blessed is His Name) and singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' (May it be the will) for several minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Lech Lecha—for three people called to the Torah. Immediately following was the Shmoneh Esrei prayer, and at the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, which lasted about twenty minutes, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands at his place on the balcony for Seudah Shlishit (the third meal) at 5:25 PM. As is his holy custom, he began with the first Kazayit (olive-sized portion) and started the Seudah Shlishit Zemiros for about twenty minutes. Afterward, he sang 'Yah Ribbon' (G-d, Master) for twenty-three minutes, with The Rav shlit"a repeating all the verses again and again. He then continued with the singing of 'Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar' (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the wilderness) for about four minutes, then moved to the singing of 'Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Neuraich' (Thus says Hashem, I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) at length for about eight minutes. Afterward, he continued with the singing of 'Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha' (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for another five minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' (Rock from whose bounty we have eaten) and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over the cup.

At 6:30 PM, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of 'Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot' (To the conductor with melodies) for about a quarter of an hour. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies and a flaming fire. During the recitation of 'Vayehi Noam' (May the pleasantness), The Rav shlit"a lengthened the singing of 'Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo' (Blessed is He, our G-d, who created us for His glory) as well as the following song 'Hu Yiftach' (He will open) for ten minutes.

After the conclusion of the Maariv prayer, the Rav performed Havdalah (the separation ceremony) with the singing of 'Layehudim Hayta Ora...' (The Jews had light...) for about a minute. After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Queen)—'Dah Hi Seudata D'David Malka Meshicha' (This is the meal of David the King Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros with special vitality and sweetness. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi' (Elijah the Prophet), he delivered a lesson for twelve minutes in which he spoke about the greatness of the month of MarCheshvan and also gave encouragement regarding the start of the 'Zman' (study term) tomorrow—the 1st of MarCheshvan.

After the lesson, he continued the Zemiros until their completion, and at the end, he led the Zimun over the cup. He entered his holy home at 8:10 PM after a duration of three hours and ten minutes that we were privileged to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer until the conclusion of Melaveh Malkah. In total, for the entire Shabbat, we were privileged to be in his holy presence for about ten and a half hours on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Noach, Rosh Chodesh—the 1st of MarCheshvan 5785.