In the Beginning G-d Created • Shabbat Bereishit in the Shadow of the Gaon and

Also on Shabbat Parshat Bereishit 5785, we merited an uplifting Shabbat in the shadow of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). Before you is the full report of the prayers, lessons, and meals in the holy shadow:

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (the eve of the holy Sabbath), the Rav came out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer about twenty minutes before sunset at 5:35 PM and began singing "Or Zarua" (Light is sown for the righteous) for about ten minutes. After the singing, they stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, he recited the order of Hiskashrus (spiritual connection to the Tzaddik)—"I thank You for setting my portion...", "I hereby hand over", "I hereby connect." Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, says it word by word, and everyone repeats after him. Afterward, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with "Lechu Neranena," psalm after psalm with vitality, with all the fire, life, and bren (burning enthusiasm). Then he began the pleasant singing of "Lecha Dodi" for fifty-two minutes!! Repeating all the sections over and over with immense vitality. After finishing "Lecha Dodi," the Rav continued the prayer in its order, Maariv (evening prayer) with all the melodies in the Shuvu Banim nusach (prayer style) at the peak of vitality and joy. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a finished the prayer with the singing of "Adon Olam" and "Yigdal Elokim Chai." Then, Zmiros (songs) for Shabbat Kodesh were added, which the Rav shlit"a is accustomed to saying together with the public—"Shalom Aleichem," "Ribon Kol HaOlamim," and "Eshet Chayil." He entered his holy home at 8:05 PM after the Friday night prayer service, which lasted exactly two and a half hours.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer at 4:27 AM, more than two hours before Netz HaChama (sunrise). Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, immediately said the Birchot HaTorah (blessings over the Torah) and then began the Shacharit (morning) prayer in its order, starting from Chatzos (Midnight Lament)—Tikkun Leah, the morning songs, and the Korbanot (sacrificial readings). At 5:20 AM, the Rav shlit"a appeared on the platform and began delivering a lesson for about five minutes. Here we must note the highlight of Shabbat Bereishit—the Shabbat on which we begin the Torah anew. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, did not stop for a moment delivering lesson after lesson. At every opportunity that arose, he only bestowed his words—words of the Living G-d coming from the "Flowing Brook, Source of Wisdom," joy, and faith. The sign of this was that as soon as he entered, he gave a lesson, and if that wasn't enough, he explicitly said at the end of the lesson that before "Baruch She'amar," he would give another lesson.

During Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise), with melodies and great vitality. It should be noted that the Rav shlit"a was moving like flames of holy fire in a very special way this Shabbat. A unique vitality, such that it is impossible to describe these awesome intensities or put them into writing. During the singing of "HaNechmadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold), he extended the singing and melody for about twelve minutes. Before "Baruch She'amar," the Rav wrapped himself in his Tallit (prayer shawl) and delivered a lesson for about ten minutes, as he had said when he entered the Beit Midrash (study hall). After the lesson, he continued with "Baruch She'amar," and during the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), the Rav shlit"a extended it for about seven minutes.

The Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) of Shacharit was stood at the time of sunrise, 6:55 AM. After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (cantor's repetition), the Rav shlit"a delivered another lesson for about five minutes. Immediately afterward, he began the Torah reading of Bereishit. In addition to those celebrating occasions and those with yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing), as is his way, the Rav shlit"a called up guests and other invitees on his own. The Torah reading along with the Haftarah (reading from the Prophets) lasted about forty-five minutes.

Immediately after the Haftarah, the Rav sang "Zara Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, he began the Blessing of the Month; during the announcement of the Molad (new moon), he gave another lesson of about a minute on the greatness of the month of MarCheshvan, which is considered the sign of Scorpio (Akrav), and this is the secret of King Solomon's words, "And I will chastise you with scorpions (akrabim)." After finishing the announcement of the month, the Rav sang "Ki Lekach Tov," they returned the Torah scroll to the Ark, and he stood for the Musaf prayer. After the conclusion of the Musaf repetition, our teacher the Rav shlit"a said "Aleinu L'Shabeach," made Kiddush (sanctification over wine), and gave a lesson for about fifteen minutes. At 8:57 AM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home after four and a half hours of Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf, Kiddusha Rabba (the morning Kiddush), and the lesson we merited.

At 6:00 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of Shabbat Kodesh on the balcony of his home, saying Kaddish and beginning with the recitation of "Berich Shmeh" and the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for five minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Noach—for three people called to the Torah. Immediately after, the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, and at the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer which lasted about twenty minutes, in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (Third Meal) at the minute of sunset. As is his holy custom, he began with the first kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread) and started the Zmiros of the Third Meal for about twenty minutes. After them, he sang "Yah Ribbon" for twenty-five minutes, with the Rav shlit"a repeating all the verses over and over. Then he continued with the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the wilderness) for five minutes, then moved to the singing of "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for another five minutes. Afterward, "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for ten minutes. At the end of the melody, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine.

Afterward, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot," extending it for an exceptionally long time—about thirty-five minutes of singing and dancing. Then he continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (the conclusion of the Sabbath) with melodies of flaming fire. During the recitation of "V'yehi Noam," our teacher the Rav shlit"a extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory) for five minutes. And here was the serious extension—the next song, "Hu Yiftach" (He will open [our hearts]), for forty-five minutes over and over again; now that we have received the Torah on Simchat Torah, all that remains for us is to ask that He open our hearts to His Torah and place His love and fear in our hearts.

Only after the long extension in song did the Rav perform Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of "LaYehudim Hayta Ora..." (The Jews had light...) for about a minute. After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the meal of David the King Mashiach. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang all the Zmiros with special vitality and pleasantness. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for seventeen minutes. Afterward, he continued the Zmiros until the end, and at the conclusion, he led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine. 10:15 PM, after four and a quarter hours that we merited from Mincha, Seudah Shlishit, Maariv, Havdalah, and Melaveh Malkah continuously. In total, we merited eleven and a quarter hours of prayers, meals, and lessons in the holy shadow this Shabbat Parshat Bereishit, 24th of Tishrei, 5785.