"I Am Joseph" • A Coverage of Shabbat Parshas Vayigash in the Presence of the

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshas Vayigash - 4th of Teves 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night, the Eve of the Holy Shabbat

At the time of candle lighting—16:12—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 about fifteen 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 Kabbalas Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms, from "L'chu Neranena" until "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "L'cha Dodi," which lasted 25 minutes—slightly shorter than usual, but anyone accustomed to this knows that even the "short" version is exceptionally long and profound. After finishing "L'cha Dodi," the Rav entered his chamber, and after 10 minutes, he completed Kabbalas Shabbat with "Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat," "K'gavna," etc., and they began the Ma'ariv (evening) prayer for Friday night. After Ma'ariv, the Rav continued at the conclusion of the prayer, as he does every Shabbat, with the Zemiros (songs) customarily recited before Kiddush. At 18:25, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of "Savanu MiTuvecha" (Satiate us from Your goodness) after a prayer service of approximately two hours and fifteen minutes (2:13). It is worth noting that after the prayer ended, the Rav remained in his place for another fifteen minutes and spoke with his grandchildren; while most of the public did not notice, the Rav could be seen for that additional quarter hour as mentioned.

Shacharis (Morning Prayer)

For the Shacharis prayer, the Rav shlit"a came out at 04:17, much earlier than usual. The Rav began with some of the verses of Chatzos (the Midnight Lament) that are recited, specifically the sections customarily said on Shabbat and Festivals. This was followed by the morning Zemiros and Korbanos (sacrificial readings). After a fifteen-minute break, he descended to the hall of our Beis Medrash (study hall), and immediately upon arrival, he began the recitation of "Hodu" and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. The Rav prolonged the singing of "Hoshia Es Amecha" (Save Your people) for 5 minutes, and likewise, he prolonged "L'Gozer Yam Suf L'Gzarim" (To Him who divided the Red Sea) for an additional 5 minutes. This was in addition to the singing of "Ki Chol Peh L'cha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) for about 10 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer at 6:22. Immediately after the Cantor's repetition—before the Torah reading—the Rav shlit"a delivered a Shiur (lesson) of about 10 minutes.

Krias HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the Shiur, the Rav directed that the Torah scroll be removed from the Ark. He began the Torah reading for Parshas Vayigash, during which many people celebrating simchas (joyous occasions) and yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up. Additionally, as is his holy custom, the Rav shlit"a calls up guests from out of town and veteran students. It is noteworthy that there were four Bar Mitzvahs this week within the inner circle, including two of the Rav's great-grandsons; one of them is the esteemed youth Mordechai Meir, son of Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Zucker shlit"a. The Haftarah of "V'Atah Ben Adam" (And you, son of man) in Ezekiel was read by the Rav's second great-grandson, the esteemed youth Nachman, son of Rabbi David Rubinstein shlit"a. The Torah reading along 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 singing of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for 2 minutes. Immediately following this, the Rav said "Ki Lekach Tov" and approached the Musaf prayer at 07:30. After the Cantor's repetition, he concluded the prayer until after The Tikkun HaKlali. He then recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat Kiddush) and delivered a Shiur of about 8 minutes consisting of words of the Living G-d. At 08:08, he entered his holy home after nearly four hours (3:51) during which we merited the Shacharis prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 17:03, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony, starting with the recitation of Kaddish. He began the recitation of "Brich Shmeh" and the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for 5 minutes. Afterwards, the Torah was read—Parshas Vayechi—with three people called to the Torah. Immediately following this, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Ra'ava D'Ra'avin (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 Shlishis (the third meal) at his place on the balcony at 17:30. As is his holy custom, he began with the first Kezayis (olive-sized portion of bread) and started the Seudah Shlishis songs for about twenty minutes. Following these, he sang "Yah Ribon" for about 25 minutes. Afterwards, he continued with the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem: He found grace in the wilderness) for 7 minutes, and immediately transitioned to the singing of "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'uraich" (Thus says Hashem: I remember for you the kindness of your youth) for 10 minutes. He then continued with the singing of "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for about 5 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu," "Shir HaMa'alos," and led the Zimmun (Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine, including the Sheva Brachos (seven wedding blessings) for the important groom, R' Natan, son of Rabbi Moshe Kalov shlit"a.

Ma'ariv and Havdalah

At 18:30, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNeginos" for about half an hour (!). Afterwards, he continued with the Ma'ariv (evening) prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies and a blazing fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," the Rav shlit"a sang "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) and "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for about 4 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 and joy).

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—which is the meal of David the King, the Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang along with the entire public all the Zemiros for Melaveh Malkah, which Rebbe Nachman so strongly encouraged us to sing. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a Shiur for about 17 minutes from Chayei Moharan regarding the great spiritual value of dancing and melodies. After the Shiur, he continued the Zemiros of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and the entire "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, the Rav led the Zimmun over the cup along with Sheva Brachos for one of our community members. He entered his holy home at the same time as last week—20:45. This followed a duration of about three hours and forty minutes (3:42) during which we merited to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Ma'ariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total for the entire Shabbat—nearly ten hours (9:44) during which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow of the Rav on the Holy Shabbat of Parshas Vayigash, 4th of Teves 5785.