Comprehensive Review of the Yom Kippur Gathering in the Shadow of Rabbi Eliezer

PRAYERS OF THE HOLY DAY WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE GAON AND TZADDIK, MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A, ALONG WITH THOUSANDS

THIS YEAR, 5785, WE ONCE AGAIN MERITED TO THE GATHERING OF THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR, THANKS TO THE BLESSED EFFORTS OF "ICHUD CHASIDEI BRESLOV – SHUVU BANIM," WHO, FOR THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, RENTED THE LARGE SUKKAH OF CHASIDUT "TOLDOT AVRAHAM YITZCHAK," WHICH HAS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEARS TURNED INTO THEIR TEMPORARY BUILDING DUE TO ONGOING RENOVATIONS IN THEIR BEIT MIDRASH.

Due to past years' events, when many attendees were unable to see Moreinu HaRav shlit”a throughout the prayers, because of the multitude yearning to draw close to holiness, this year, members of the "Ichud" set up an enormous platform for Moreinu HaRav shlit”a and the chazzanim, elevated over three and a half meters so that even from outside the tent, up to a hundred meters away, people could see Moreinu HaRav shlit"a.

By Divine assistance, we merited on this Yom Kippur to lengthy prayers, and it is possible to say that the prayers were literally continuous from Shacharit until Havdalah, with only short breaks. Though the phenomenal awe and most profound feelings of holiness cannot be captured fully in writing, we will attempt to recount "for the sake of future generations" the Yom Kippur of 5785 spent in the holy company of the Kohen Gadol – the Tzaddik who sweetens and atones through his prayers on behalf of all Israel in general and his followers in particular, like the Kohen Gadol within the Holy of Holies!

https://vimeo.com/1019429481

"AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY OF ISRAEL SHALL BE FORGIVEN"

A few moments before the onset of the holy day, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a arrived at the Beit Midrash on Salant Street, where a small crowd awaited him, greeting him with the song “Or Zarua.”  One of the Chasidim even had the merit of exchanging his tallit with him before the Rav entered his room. Once inside, he used the time, as is his holy custom, to study Torah until the time of “Kol Nidrei.”

Meanwhile, the prayer hall began to fill with thousands upon thousands of our community from all over the Israel and the world.  Over three thousand seats were quickly taken by those who had wisely reserved in advance, following the instructions of Moreinu HaRav shlit"a.  Yet, even this could not accommodate the holy lions – his flock -- who longed to pray with him on the holiest and most awe-inspiring day of the year. Hundreds of Avreichim and Bachurim filled every space, even the passageways, and the entirety of the Beit Midrash was packed to capacity.

At 6:30 P.M., the chazzan, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter shlit"a, approached the prayer stand. Exactly three minutes later, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a ascended the platform, his appearance taking the breath away of all mortals. Clothed in his white kittel and a pure white kippa, the leader of the Children of Israel crowned with a new tallit, his holy face radiating with fiery holiness, elevating the awe for all to see.  Immediately with his entrance, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a stood in the direction of the holy community alongside the chazzan, who began with his powerful and pleasant voice, "With the consent of God and with the consent of the congregation," initiating Kol Nidrei.  Rabbi Meir Malka, shlit"a, among the Rav’s greatest Talmidim, was honored with the Torah Scroll next to Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, who, throughout Kol Nidrei, covered his radiant and pure face with his tallit, the feeling of awe and the fear of God passing through the entire community during these exalted moments.

Immediately at the conclusion of Kol Nidrei, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began “Mizmor L’David Havu L’Hashem Bnei Elim” and commenced a shortened Kabbalat Shabbat. However, as is known to all, there is no such concept as “short” by the Rav shlit”a, and Kabbalat Shabbat from its beginning until its end lasted a full hour, with most of this time, the Rav shlit”a singing “Lecha Dodi.”  And here came one of the most memorable moments that will be remembered from the Yom Kippur gathering of 5785.  Moreinu HaRav shlit”a lowered his Tallit from his holy face, and while facing the thousands, was as if he received the strength of youth anew and began with tremendous fervor singing “Lecha Dodi” with flaming fire and clapping hands.  The feeling of “rejoicing with trepidation” filled the entire prayer hall.  Especially prolonged was the stanza “Yamin U’Smol Tifrotzi…,” where Moreinu HaRav shlit”a signaled with his holy movements again and again to the entire massive crowd to leap and clap their hands.  Ahhh, there’s no way to describe the tremendous intensity, because someone who didn’t see this awesome sight cannot understand it.

At the end of Kabbalat Shabbat, Moreinu HaRav signaled to the cantor to begin the Maariv prayer of the holy night.  Meanwhile, the Rav remained with his holy face towards the community, continuing with his fiery movements throughout the prayer.  Only close to the Amidah did Moreinu HaRav shlit”a approach God.  After the conclusion of the Slichot of Maariv, he recited the “Shir HaKavod,” which is traditionally sung on the night of Yom Kippur after Maariv.  The Maariv prayer only concluded at 10:38 P.M. after four hours and five minutes of prayer on the eve of the holy day with spiritual arousal and exaltation.

Moreinu HaRav shlit”a went out at night to his temporary apartment on Rechov Devorah HaNevia 11, where he learned Torah throughout the holy night.

“THE ESSENCE OF THE DAY”

Through the kindness of Hashem Yitbarach with us, Who in His abundant mercy and kindness gave us the merit that also in the morning of Yom Kippur, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a arrived to participate in the prayers of the holy day.  At 6:00 A.M., he left his home, where he spoke a bit with members of our community, mentioning the words of Rebbe Nachman that the entire fast is like a “Lekech” (a sponge cake).  He then entered his room in the Beit Midrash and after 24 minutes of preparation, at 6:24, he ascended the platform and began Shacharit.  Up until “HaMelech,” Shacharit of Yom Kippur resembled the Shacharit of Shabbat Kodesh, with niggunim with vitality and arousal – and rejoicing with trembling.  “Hoshea Et Amecha” and “HaNechamdim MiZahav” were sung with particular length, lasting five minutes.

At 8:15, they reached “HaMelech.”  Moreinu HaRav shlit”a signaled with his holy hand for the chazzan Rabbi Moshe Galinsky shlit”a to come near.  Rabbi Moshe, with his heart-rousing voice approached with the roar, “HaMelech,” and all the thousands together with Moreinu HaRav clapped their hands.  Whose heart wouldn’t tremble…!  The arousal of this sublime feeling continued throughout Shacharit, in the Breslov style of prayer in which is embedded the outpouring of the soul of the greats and giants of Breslov from all generations, a style which has absorbed longing and tears over the course of generations.  Throughout the repetition of the Amidah, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a looked at the Machzor at all times, following the prayer with great arousal.  It should be noted that despite his considerable weakness, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a took part in the singing of the Piyyutim and the order of prayers.  At the conclusion of the prayer, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a said, “L’David Hashem Ori V’Yishi.”  Then the congregation began to chant “Achat Sha’alti,” and after a few seconds, the Rav shlit”a made movements of encouragement with his hand to sing – they continued to sing this for over the course of a half-hour!  “Shavti B’Beit Hashem Kol Yemei Chayai…”  Shacharit came to an end at around 11:08 in the morning after four hours and 45 minutes.

After Shacharit, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a said to go out for a break of around twenty minutes.  The Rav then entered his room.  Unfortunately, we did not merit for the Rav to come out for the Torah reading, which along with the selling of Aliyot, Torah reading, and Haftarah, took about an hour.

“POURING OUT THEIR HEARTS TO YOU LIKE WATER”

It is impossible to describe the intensity and immense emotion at the time that everyone prepared with awe and trembling for the Musaf prayer with the order of the Avodah [the service of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) on Yom Kippur].  At the prayer podium approached the Gabai, Rabbi Dov Zucker, who with his pleasant voice, expert and experienced, arranged his prayer according to the order of the Kohen in the Temple on this holy day.  Seconds before his saying the prayer, “Hineni HeAni MiMa’as” with tremendous arousal that affected the entire holy assembly, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a appeared at 12:45.

The arousal reached its peak during the saying of the order of the Avodah.  Moreinu HaRav shlit”a ascended in holy fire and with self-sacrifice despite his advanced age and state of health.  It’s a miracle that in his condition that he manages to fast on this holy day, but he also prostrated himself three times during the Avodah, as is customary.  It is impossible to describe the incredible longing of the heart in seeing Moreinu HaRav shlit”a bow and prostrate himself like the Kohen Gadol during his holy service in the Holy of Holies.  At the conclusion of the order of Avodah, they began to sing “KeOhel HaNimtach BeDarei Maalah,” and Moreinu HaRav shlit”a sang particularly at length the section, “Yoshev BeSeter Lachalot Penei Melech Marei Kohen!”

It’s worth noting that also during the Musaf prayer, the community began singing the niggunim “VeKarev Pezureinu” and “Vehaveinu L’Tzion Irecha,” with each niggun lasting around five minutes.  The Musaf prayer ended at 3:45, after four hours of Musaf alone.  After Musaf, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a entered his room and instructed the community to continue immediately with the Minchah prayer, and that he would come out for Neilah.

“AND IN THE MERIT OF THE SIMPLE ONE, MAY OUR JUDGMENT TODAY BE VINDICATED”

There is no doubt that as the holy day waned, when the body already no longer belongs to the reality of this world, no eye remained dry during the sublime outpouring of the soul.  Oy Tata…”and for all of them, God of Forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, atone for us…”

The important Haftarah of “Yonah” holds the power to work many salvations and to open many gates and for a good “sealing” for whoever merits to it.  With the reading of the Torah and Haftarah at 5:25, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a entered the Beit Midrash and sat in his place.  Afterwards, the chazzan Rabbi Yosef Shor shlit”a approached and conducted the Minchah prayer with his powerful voice with renewed intensity.  No Piyyut or Selicha was omitted, despite the lateness of the hour.  Whose heart didn’t tremble with the cry, “We have sinned, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator…”!!!

“OPEN THE GATES OF HEAVEN, AND MAY YOUR TREASURIES OF GOOD BE OPENED FOR US”

The climactic moments of Yom Kippur came during the supplication, “Open for us the gate at the time of the locking of the gate.”  The Neilah prayer, when all good treasuries are brought down, the time when all the Jewish people are sealed for a good life and peace, the time when the judgment is sealed, and when the Kohen Gadol, hidden away in the Holy of Holies, prays for the entire congregation of Israel during these exalted moments.  It’s impossible to not shed tears like water, to beseech and to pray to merit to “and seal all the children of Your covenant for a good life”!

At 5:10, Rabbi Yitzchak Halprin shlit”a, Reish Metivta at Yeshivat “Chochmah V’Daat,” whose moving voice rouses every heart, approached the prayer stand.  Before the Amidah of Neilah at 5:15, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a once again ascended the platform and reached his place, beginning the Amidah of the sealing of the holy day.

During the repetition, the tremendous fervor intensified, especially during the reciting of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy – “Kel, Rachum, VeChanun, Erech Apayim…”  There’s no describing the intensity and exalted feeling during these moments, while still pleading, “And You want the repentance of the wicked, and You do not desire their death.”  A moment before the sealing of the gates and the last shofar blast while saying, “Avinu Malkeinu,” as was the case last year, the congregation began to chant, “Avinu Malkeinu, Chaneinu V’Aneinu, Ki Ein Banu Maasim…”  Moreinu HaRav prolonged this niggun for several minutes.  Afterwards, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a signaled with his hand, and the chazzan, Rav Yitzchak Halprin shlit”a, with all his heart’s excitement, roared the accepting of the yoke of the Kingship of Heaven with tears, “Shema Yisrael…!” “Hashem Hu HaElokim” “Hashem Melech, Hashem Malach, Hashem Yimloch Le’olam Va’ed”!  Like sheep following their shepherd, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a and the congregation roared with all their soul and might the verses of accepting the yoke of the Kingship of Heaven, a roar that was heard throughout the streets of the Meah Shearim neighborhood.

After the Kaddish and the Shofar blast by Rabbi Yosef Shor shlit”a, the joy burst forth with “For God has already favored your deeds,” and the concluding Kaddish “Titkabel” was accompanied by song of true joy, joy of holiness, joy that certainly in the merit of the faithful shepherd, we merited to be sealed for a good and sweet year!

“IN HIS LEAVING THE SANCTUARY”

After the end of the fast, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a signaled to the chazzan, Rabbi Yitzchak Halprin, to continue at the prayer stand with the Maariv prayer of Motza’ei Yom Kippur, with joy and vitality, with all the niggunim of the prayer.  Maariv lasted for more than twenty minutes, after which Rav Yitzchak also said Havdalah over a cup together with the Havdalah candle.  Only two hours after the beginning of Neilah, at 7:15, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a concluded with a blessing for a good year for the entire community.  He then descended the stairs while waving with his holy hand, “L’Chaim.”

“THEREFORE, HOW MAJESTIC WAS THE APPEARANCE OF THE KOHEN GADOL IN HIS LEAVING THE SANCTUARY,” WHILE THOUSANDS ESCORT HIM WITH THE SONG “FORTUNATE IS THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM THIS IS SO, FORTUNATE IS THE PEOPLE THAT HASHEM IS THEIR GOD”!!!