"I Seek My Brothers" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev in the Presence of

Presented before you is extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons (shiurim) that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayeshev - 20th of Kislev 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Holy Shabbat Night

At 4:28 PM, the Rav shlit"a came 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 20 minutes with great vitality (chayus), and afterwards, they stood for the Mincha prayer. After the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, the Rav shlit"a recited the Seder HaHisksherus (order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Afterwards, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms, from 'Lechu Neranena' to 'Mizmor L'David'. Then he began the singing of 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted 36 minutes. After finishing Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited 'Kegavna' (a Kabbalistic prayer) and they began the Maariv (evening) prayer for Shabbat night. After the Maariv prayer, the Rav continued at the end of the service, as every Shabbat, with the zemirot (songs) customarily said before Kiddush. He extended the singing of 'Shalom Aleichem' for about 10 minutes. At 6:56 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of 'Sabeinu MiTuvecha' (Satisfy us with Your goodness) after a prayer service lasting two and a half hours (2:28).

Shacharit Prayer

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit (morning) prayer at 5:06 AM and began with some of the verses of Chatzos (midnight lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customarily said on Sabbaths and festivals. Afterwards, the morning zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial readings). After a 10-minute break, he descended to the sanctuary of our Beit Midrash (study hall), recited the blessing over the Tallit (prayer shawl), and immediately began saying 'Hodu' and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. This Shabbat, there was no extension of the melodies except for the singing of 'Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh' (For every mouth shall thank You) for about 10 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 6:42 AM. Immediately after the Chazzan's (cantor's) repetition—before the Torah reading—the Rav shlit"a delivered a 5-minute lesson (shiur).

Torah Reading

After the lesson, the Rav instructed to take out the Torah scroll. He began the Torah reading for Parshat Vayetzei (the reading for the week) in which many people celebrating special occasions and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up. Also, as is his holy custom, the Rav shlit"a called up guests from out of town and veteran students for aliyos (Torah honors). The Haftarah (prophetic reading) "Al Michram BaKesef Tzaddik" from the book of Amos was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy, Eliyah n"y, son of R' Yisrael Assouline h"y. The Torah reading along with the Haftarah lasted about 55 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zara Chaya VeKayama' (Living and enduring offspring) for 7 minutes. Afterwards, the Rav said 'Ki Lekach Tov' and immediately approached the Musaf (additional) prayer at 8:15 AM. After the Chazzan's repetition, he finished the prayer, and before 'Kaveh el Hashem', he delivered a lesson of about 4 minutes. He then recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the morning Kiddush) and gave a one-minute lesson of "words of the Living G-d." At 8:37 AM, he entered his holy home after more than three and a half hours (3:41) during which we were privileged to experience Shacharit, the Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 4:55 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony, starting with Kaddish, then saying 'Brich Shmeh' and singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' (May it be the Will) for 10 minutes. Afterwards, he read from the Torah—Parshat Miketz—with three people called up. Immediately following, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

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 his place on the balcony at 4:55 PM. As is his holy custom, he began with the first kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread) and started the zemirot of the Third Meal for about twenty minutes. After them, he sang 'Yah Ribon' (Master of the World) for about 35 minutes. Afterwards, he continued with the song 'Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar' (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the wilderness) for 2 minutes, and immediately moved to the song 'Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich' (Thus says Hashem, I remember for you the kindness of your youth) for 7 minutes. Then he continued at great length with the song 'Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha' (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for 2 minutes. At the end of the singing, the Rav began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu', 'Shir HaMa'alot', and led the Zimmun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 6:30 PM, the Rav shlit"a began the song 'Lamnatzeach BiNginot' for 40 minutes (!). Afterwards, he continued with the Maariv (evening) prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies in a fiery flame. After the Shemoneh Esrei, there was a break of about 10 minutes, after which he returned for the recitation of 'Vihi Noam', where the Rav shlit"a extended the singing of 'Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo' (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) for 4 minutes and the song 'Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato' (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for another 6 minutes. At the end of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (separation ceremony) over the cup with the singing of 'LaYehudim' (For the Jews there was light...) for about a minute.

On the Departure of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the feast of David, the King Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang along with the entire public all the zemirot for Melaveh Malkah, which our Holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman) so strongly encouraged singing. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi', he delivered a lesson for about 14 minutes. After the lesson, he continued the zemirot 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and all of 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim'. After the zemirot, the Rav led the Zimmun over the cup along with Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) for one of the Anash (our community members). He entered his holy home at 8:44 PM to the singing of 'Uman Uman Halo Tishali...' after a duration of three hours and fifty minutes (3:49) during which we were privileged to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, the Three Meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah. In total for the entire Shabbat—about ten hours (9:58) during which we were privileged to take refuge in his holy presence on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayishlach, 20th of Kislev 5785.