"From Hashem the Matter Came Forth" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Chayei Sarah - 22nd of MarCheshvan 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 4:22 PM, our teacher The Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat. Initially, the song "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) was sung for 18 minutes with great vitality, and afterwards, they stood for the Mincha prayer. After the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, The Rav shlit"a recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "Lekhu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lekha Dodi," which lasted for 30 minutes. After the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "K'Gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer), and they began the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with vitality and a flaming fire! After the Maariv prayer, The Rav continued at the conclusion of the service, as is done every Shabbat, with the Zemirot (songs) usually recited before Kiddush. It is worth noting an interesting innovation: he extended the singing of "Shalom Aleichem" for about 20 minutes. At 6:53 PM, The Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the song of "Saveinu MiTuvecha" (Satisfy us with Your goodness) after a prayer service of exactly two and a half hours (2:31).

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

For the Shacharit prayer, The Rav shlit"a came out at 4:38 AM and began with part of the verses of Chatzos (the Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, as well as the liturgical poem "Shaarei Zion" (Gates of Zion) in the sections customarily said on Shabbat and holidays. Afterwards, the morning Zemirot were sung with wonderful vitality, followed by the recitation of the Korbanot (sacrificial readings). After a 5-minute break, he went down to the hall of our Beit Midrash (study hall) and delivered a lesson in the inner room to a number of young men. After ascending to his pure place on the Bimah (platform), he delivered another lesson on the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Hirsh Liepel zt"l (of blessed memory). Following this, he began the recitation of Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. There was no extension of any melody except for the song "Hoshia Et Amecha" (Save Your people), which lasted about 5 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer at 6:55 AM. Immediately after the Chazzan's (cantor's) repetition, The Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson lasting several minutes.

Torah Reading (Kriat HaTorah)

After the conclusion of the lesson, The Rav instructed to take out the Torah scroll. He began the Torah reading for Parshat Chayei Sarah, during which many people celebrating joyous occasions or observing yahrtzeits were called up, as well as many guests from out of town and veteran students whom The Rav shlit"a calls up himself. The Haftarah (prophetic reading) of "V'HaMelech David" (And King David) was read by a Bar Mitzvah boy. The Torah reading together with the Haftarah lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began the song "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for 5 minutes. Afterwards, they continued to "Av HaRachamim" and sang "Harninu Goyim Amo" (Sing out, O nations, for His people) for one minute. Here came the innovation of this Shabbat: for about a quarter of an hour, they sang "Nikmat Dam Avadecha HaShafuch" (The vengeance for the spilled blood of Your servants). Afterwards, they continued with "Ashrei," "Ki Lekach Tov," and The Rav approached for the Musaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, he concluded the prayer until after the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). Then he recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the Great Kiddush) and delivered a 5-minute lesson of the words of the Living G-d. At 8:53 AM, he entered his holy home after nearly four and a quarter hours exactly, during which we were privileged to experience the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon Prayer)

At 4:53 PM, The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home, beginning with the recitation of Kaddish. He then began saying "Berich Shmeih" and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for 5 minutes. Afterwards, the Torah was read for the upcoming portion of Toldot with three people called up. Immediately following this was the Shemoneh Esrei prayer.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, which lasted about twenty minutes, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (Third Meal) at 5:15 PM at his place on the balcony. As is his holy custom, he began with the first Kezayit (measure of bread) and started the Third Meal Zemirot for about twenty minutes. Following them, he sang "Yah Ribon" (Master of the Universe) for 18 minutes. Afterwards, he continued with the song "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found favor in the desert) for one minute, and immediately transitioned to the song "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) for 5 minutes. After that, he extended the singing of "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for 20 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Akhalnu" and led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 6:30 PM, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" (To the conductor with melodies) twice. Afterwards, he continued with the Maariv (evening) prayer for Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies of flaming fire. During the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," The Rav shlit"a extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) and the song "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for 20 minutes. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (the separation ceremony) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews there was light...) for one minute.

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest (Melaveh Malkah)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal following Shabbat) - this is the meal of David the King Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang together with the entire public all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malkah that our holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman) so strongly encouraged to sing. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 10 minutes. After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and the entire "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." At the conclusion, he led the Grace After Meals over the cup with Sheva Brachot (seven blessings). He entered his holy home at 8:00 PM after an extension of about three hours (3:07) during which we were privileged to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, the Third Meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah. In total, throughout the entire Shabbat, we were privileged to take refuge in his holy shadow for nearly eleven hours (10:48) on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Chayei Sarah, 22nd of MarCheshvan 5785.

Photos courtesy of the Hitchadshut Bulletin: