"And the Congregation was Gathered to the Entrance of the Tent of Meeting" •

Also on Shabbat Tzav Parshat Parah 5784, we merited an uplifting Shabbat in the shadow of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Here is the full report of the prayers, lessons, and meals in the holy presence:

On Erev Shabbat (Friday afternoon), the Rav went out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer at 18:33 according to daylight savings time, about fifteen minutes after candle lighting. He began with the singing of "Or Zarua" (Light is sown for the righteous) for about fifteen minutes, followed by the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, he recited the order of the "Hiskashrus" (spiritual connection) - "I thank You for setting my portion..." "I hereby hand over" "I hereby connect." Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, says each word and everyone repeats after him. Afterward, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with "Lechu Neranena" and all the psalms. "Lecha Dodi" lasted about forty-two minutes. Then the Rav continued the prayer in its order, Maariv (evening prayer) with all the melodies in the Shuvu Banim style. After Maariv, the Rav shlit"a sang the Zemirot (songs) for Shabbat night before the Kiddush (sanctification over wine). At the end of the songs, he entered back into his holy home at 21:03 to the song "Savanu MiTuvecha" (Satisfy us with Your goodness), after two hours and fifteen minutes of Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, Maariv, and Shabbat songs.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer at 4:16 AM—about two hours before sunrise! We must note that since the Rav shlit"a was released from prison and returned to us for the Shacharit (morning) prayers on Shabbat and holidays, he has never come out so early for the Shacharit prayer. The Rav said the morning blessings and began the Shacharit prayer according to its law and order, starting from Chatzos (midnight lamentations) - Tikkun Leah, the morning songs, Korbanot (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimrah (verses of praise) with melodies and great vitality. Before "Baruch She'amar," the Rav shlit"a made the blessing over the Tallit (prayer shawl). It should be noted that for the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer), the Rav shlit"a stands close to sunrise. After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading, which lasted over forty minutes. Various celebrants and those observing a yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) went up one after another—over twenty-five people were called to the Torah. Additionally, the Rav shlit"a called up guests from out of town who merited to spend Shabbat here. Upon concluding the reading of Parshat Tzav, they brought the second Torah scroll for Parshat Parah, and our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was honored with the Aliyah (call to the Torah). It should be noted that the Haftarah (prophetic reading) was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy, Natan Levy.

After the Torah reading, the Rav sang "Zera Chaya VeKayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about ten minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer at 07:30. He finished the prayer in its order, from "Kaveh el Hashem" (Hope in Hashem) until after "Aneim Zemirot" (The Song of Glory). Afterward, he added the ten psalms established by our holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman) to be recited—The Tikkun HaKlali. At the conclusion, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, made Kiddush over the cup and delivered a lesson for about twenty-five minutes!! Only at 08:23 did our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, enter his holy home after more than four hours of Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf, and the lesson.

After the prayer, a Brit (circumcision) was held at the residence of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, for the son of Rabbi Elazar Cohen. His name in Israel was called Nachman. May it be His will that just as he merited to enter the covenant on the knees of the Tzaddik, so may he merit to enter into Torah, the wedding canopy, and good deeds.

At 19:50, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home. He immediately said Kaddish and began saying "Brich Shmeih" and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for about 3 minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Shemini—with three people called up. Immediately after, he conducted the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, while still at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the three meals (Seudah Shlishit). He immediately began conducting the holy table of the third meal. As is his holy custom, he began with the first kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread) during the Seudah Shlishit songs for about twenty minutes. Following this, he sang "Yah Ribon" (Master of the World) for twenty-three minutes. Then he continued with the song "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the wilderness) for about two minutes, then moved to the song "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'uraich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) for about fifteen minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine at 20:40. After the Grace After Meals, he began singing "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" (To the Chief Musician with stringed instruments) for twenty minutes with great vitality. At 21:00, the Rav began the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies. After Maariv, during the saying of "Vihi Noam," our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory) for 12 minutes.

After Maariv, the Rav performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the song "Layehudim Hayta Ora..." (The Jews had light...). Immediately after Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Queen Shabbat)—this is the meal of David the King, the Mashiach. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sang all the songs with special vitality and sweetness. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet), he delivered a lesson from the holy book "Chayei Moharan" and spoke about how all the gold and all the money in the world is found with the Tzaddik. After the songs, he led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine with the Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) for the groom, Yaakov Biton. He entered his holy home at 22:26 after a long duration of three hours and ten minutes that we merited to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer until the end of Melaveh Malkah. In total, throughout the Shabbat, we merited about ten hours in the holy shadow during Shabbat Tzav, 20th of Adar II, 5784.

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

Photos courtesy of the Hitchadshus Bulletin: