For the Skin of Moses' Face Shone • Shabbat Parshas Ki Tisa in the Shadow of the

This Shabbat as well—Parshas Ki Tisa 5784—we merited an uplifting, full, and long Shabbat, the likes of which we haven't seen for many weeks, in the shadow of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Here is the full report:

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (the eve of the holy Sabbath), the Rav went out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer at 5:21 PM and began with the singing of "Or Zarua" (Light is sown for the righteous) for about 14 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 (welcoming the Sabbath) with "Lechu Neranena" and all the psalms. "Lecha Dodi" lasted for a full hour, sung together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, and the public with incomparable chayos (vitality) and enthusiasm. Then the Rav continued the prayer in its order, Maariv (evening prayer) with all the niggunim (melodies). Before entering his home, he said the Shabbat night songs as is his holy custom. At the end of two hours and fifty minutes of the Shabbat night prayer, he returned to his holy home at 8:51 PM.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer at 4:55 AM, slightly later than usual, with the Shacharit (morning) prayer lasting nearly two and a half hours, starting from Chatzos (Midnight Lament) and the morning songs, Korbanot (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimrah (verses of praise) with great vitality. All the niggunim were sung with enthusiasm. This Shabbat, the songs in which the Rav extended longer than usual were prominent; the singing of "For every mouth shall thank You" in Nishmat Kol Chai was extended in thanksgiving for about ten minutes with immense vitality, and afterward in the blessings of Shema—"Yotzer Or"—at the section "There is none like You..." the Rav repeated with great awakening the melody that stirs every Jewish heart for about twenty minutes!! Again and again with the entire congregation. The Rav shlit"a only stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 7:10 AM—about an hour after sunrise. After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading, which lasted over fifty minutes, as those celebrating joyous occasions and various yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) went up one after another, totaling over twenty-five aliyos (Torah honors). It should be noted that this Shabbat, the Rav shlit"a repeated the fifth and sixth aliyos many times; likewise, the Rav gave names to the babies of three happy fathers, naming them Esther after Queen Esther.

After the Torah reading, the Rav sang "Zara Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about 5 minutes, and the Rav shlit"a stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer at 8:20 AM. After the Musaf prayer, the Rav shlit"a continued the prayer in its order, including the entire conclusion of the service from "Kaveh el Hashem" until after "Adon Olam." After the conclusion of the prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a made Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered a shiur (Torah lesson) where he spoke about Parshas Ki Tisa and the Sin of the Golden Calf—how the Satan showed the Jewish people the bier of Moshe Rabbeinu in the heavens and everyone thought Moses had died. The Rav said forcefully that the Tzaddik never dies; the Tzaddik is alive and enduring! At 8:40 AM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home after three hours and forty-five minutes of Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and the lesson.

At 5:30 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat. What was special this Shabbat was that the Mincha prayer lasted a full hour!! The Rav entered and began singing "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He) for about 42 minutes with great vitality. Afterward, the Torah reading—Parshas Vayakhel—with three people called up, and the Shemoneh Esrei. At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer—which was arguably the longest in recent times—the Rav shlit"a went down to his room to wash his hands for Seudah Shlishis (the third meal). Seven minutes later, he entered to conduct the "pure table" (Tish) of the third meal. For several minutes, the Rav shlit"a distributed shirayim (leftovers from the Tzaddik's meal) consisting of fruits and sweets. Afterward, he began the songs of the third meal as is his holy custom for about twenty minutes, followed by the singing of "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the world) for a full hour, repeatedly returning to the stirring passage "Great and mighty are Your works... He humbles the haughty and straightens the bent"!! At the end of the singing, the Rav shlit"a led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine, along with Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) for the important groom, Yosef Karo, may his light shine. After the Sheva Brachos, he began delivering the weekly lesson from the book "Pele Yoetz" on the entry regarding "Human Holiness" for about 8 minutes. After the lesson, the Rav began—and if the previous length wasn't enough, then before the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (the conclusion of Shabbat), the Rav extended the singing of "Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot" (Psalm 67) for an additional forty-five minutes! After Maariv, the Rav performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of "The Jews had light...". After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the feast of David, the King Mashiach. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a, together with all the Anash (members of our community), sang all the songs with vitality and a special pleasantness, while distributing shirayim and blessing those who came to his pure 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 Grace After Meals over a cup of wine along with Sheva Brachos for the aforementioned groom. He entered his holy home at 10:08 PM, after three hours and forty-five minutes that we merited to be together with him since the Mincha prayer.

In total, the entire Shabbat amounted to about eleven and a half hours that we merited in the holy shadow during Shabbat Ki Tisa, 22nd of Adar I, 5784.

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