“And They Shall Not Appear Before Me Empty-Handed” • Coverage of Shabbat Chol

On this Shabbat as well—Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach (the intermediate days of Passover)—we merited to dwell in the shadow of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). Before you is an extensive coverage and documentation of the prayers, lessons, and meals during Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach 5784:

On Erev Shabbat (Friday afternoon) of Chol HaMoed, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, came out to the balcony of his home at 7:07 PM, about fifteen minutes before sunset. After 17 minutes of singing 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' (Light is sown for the Tzaddik), our teacher the Rav shlit"a began the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat at the time of sunset. After the prayer, the Rav recited the Seder HaHiskashrus (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik) together with the public. Upon the conclusion of the Hiskashrus, the Rav shlit"a began the shortened Kabbalat Shabbat (reception of the Sabbath) for Shabbat Chol HaMoed. However, despite the "shortening," in Shuvu Banim, together with the Tzaddik, it is always done with great length and melodies; 'Lecha Dodi' alone lasted quite a while. After Kabbalat Shabbat, the Rav shlit"a began the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of 'Adon Olam,' the Rav began Sefirat HaOmer (the counting of the Omer), starting with the singing of 'Hineni Muchan U'Mezuman' (Behold, I am ready and prepared), followed by absolute silence where only the voice of the Tzaddik was heard with the blessing of Sefirat HaOmer: "Today is four days of the Omer." Afterward, the entire large crowd counted with "voices and lightning"—Sefirat HaOmer b'koach (with great strength), as our holy Rebbe Nachman wrote. After the counting, they began singing 'Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot' seven times for about ten minutes. Then 'Ana B'koach,' which is repeated seven times, followed by the stirring 'Ribono Shel Olam' (Master of the Universe) prayer, concluding with the song 'V'al Yedei Zeh' (And through this, great abundance shall be influenced upon all worlds). Everything was done with melodies, word by word, letter by letter, with infinite vitality. After the conclusion of Sefirat HaOmer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began the Shabbat songs—'Shalom Aleichem,' 'Eishet Chayil,' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim.' Even though it was Shabbat Chol HaMoed, our teacher the Rav shlit"a follows the custom of singing all the Zemiros (Sabbath songs). After finishing the songs, the Rav shlit"a entered his home to the singing of 'Sabeinu MiTuvecha' at 8:55 PM, after a prayer service lasting one hour and forty-eight minutes.

On Shabbat morning, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Shacharit (morning) prayer at 4:30 AM and began reciting the verses said on Shabbat from the Tikkun Chatzot (Midnight Lament). After Tikkun Chatzot, the Rav began the Shacharit prayer for the Holy Shabbat, all with singing and melodies as on every Shabbat. About an hour after the start of the prayer, at 5:30 AM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer). Immediately after the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav recited the blessing over Hallel (psalms of praise), as the entire public, with immense enthusiasm, played music, sang, and danced during the Hallel service, which was conducted with great fervor and expanded consciousness (mochin), lasting over half an hour (32 minutes).

After the conclusion of Hallel, the Rav shlit"a delivered a short lesson, and then the Torah scroll was removed from the Ark. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a follows the custom of reading Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) only after the Torah scroll has already been taken out. Thus, Shir HaShirim, with the special melody of our teacher the Rav shlit"a, lasted for a significant duration. At the conclusion of Shir HaShirim, he immediately began the Torah reading for Shabbat Chol HaMoed. On this Shabbat, there were not many people called up to the Torah; for the Maftir (final portion), his grandson and gabbai (attendant), Rabbi Dov Zucker, was called up, as he was the Ba'al HaBeris (father of the baby) that day for the Rav's great-grandson. The Rav even honored him with the reading of the Haftarah (portion from the Prophets). After the conclusion of the Torah reading, the Rav shlit"a said 'Yekum Purkan,' and the singing of 'Zera Chaya V'Kayama' (Living and enduring offspring) lasted about five minutes.

For the Musaf (additional) prayer of Shabbat Chol HaMoed, the Rav stood at 7:50 AM with special awakening and vitality. All the melodies, which feel brand new every time they are sung on each festival together with our teacher the Rav—"And gather our dispersed..." "And bring us to Zion Your city..."—every melody was sung by the entire crowd with a 'bren' (fiery passion) and immense joy. After the Chazzan's repetition, our teacher the Rav concluded the prayer, made Kiddush (sanctification over wine), and delivered a lesson of about three minutes. After the lesson, he said Kaddish and returned to his holy home at 8:10 AM, after more than three hours and fifteen minutes of the Shacharit prayer for Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach.

At 7:50 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony. He immediately said Kaddish and began reciting 'Berich Shmeih' and singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' for about 3 minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Acharei Mot—with three people called up. Immediately following that, he conducted the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, while still at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for Seudah Shlishit (the Third Meal). He immediately began conducting the Tish (holy table) of the Third Meal. According to his holy custom, he began with the first 'kezayit' (olive-sized portion of matzah) during the Seudah Shlishit songs, which lasted about twenty minutes. Following them, he sang 'Yah Ribbon' for twenty-three minutes. He then continued with the singing of 'Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar' (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the desert) for about two minutes, followed by '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 Zimun (invitation to grace) over a cup of wine at 8:40 PM. After Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals), he began singing 'Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot' for twenty minutes with great vitality. At 9:00 PM, the Rav began the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies. After Maariv, during the recitation of 'Vayehi Noam,' our teacher the Rav shlit"a lengthened the singing of 'Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo' (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) for 12 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the prayer with 'Aleinu L'Shabeach' and began the order of Sefirat HaOmer—five days of the Omer—which lasted about half an hour with all the melodies and infinite vitality.

After Maariv, the Rav performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of 'Layehudim Hayta Ora...' (The Jews had light...). Immediately after Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah—this is the meal of David the King Mashiach. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros with special vitality and pleasantness. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi,' he delivered a lesson from the holy book 'Chayei Moharan' (The Life of Rebbe Nachman) regarding the greatness of Matzah Shmurah (specially guarded matzah). After the songs, he led the Zimun over a cup of wine. He entered his holy home at 10:26 PM, after a long duration of three hours and ten minutes that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer until the end of Melaveh Malkah. In total, we merited about ten hours in the holy shadow over the course of Shabbat Chol HaMoed Pesach 5784.

The Shuvu Banim website wishes you, the readers,

a good week! Moadim L'Simcha (Joyous Festivals)! A Gut Moed!!

Photos courtesy of Gilyon Hischadshus: