"So They Shall Multiply and So They Shall Spread" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Shemot - 18 Tevet 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

The Holy Shabbat Night

At 16:45, approximately half an hour before the onset of Shabbat, our teacher The Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, dressed in Shabbat finery. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 20 minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. Following this, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word by word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Then, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "Lekhu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted for 34 minutes. During "Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat," the Rav spoke with the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Brandstorfer shlit"a, who came to receive a "Gut Shabbos" (Good Shabbat) blessing from The Rav shlit"a. After concluding Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "K'gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer from the Zohar) and they began the Maariv (evening prayer) for Shabbat night. After the Maariv prayer, The Rav continued at the conclusion of the service with the Zemiros (songs) customarily recited before Kiddush. It is noteworthy that even during "Shalom Aleichem," he extended the singing for about 10 minutes. At 19:22, The Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of "Sabeinu MiTuvecha" (Satisfy us with Your goodness) after a prayer service of approximately two and a half hours (2:37).

The Shacharis Prayer

For the Shacharis (morning) prayer, The Rav shlit"a came out at 04:12, much earlier than usual; it should be noted that this is the earliest the Rav has come out since his release nearly three years ago. The Rav began with some of the verses of Chatzos (the Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customarily said on Shabbat and Festivals. This was followed by the morning songs and Korbanot (readings regarding the Temple sacrifices). After a 10-minute break, he went down to the hall of our Beit Midrash (study hall). Before entering the Beit Midrash, he spoke in the adjacent hallway with the young men for about 8 minutes. At 05:15, he ascended to his platform and began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kiru BiShmo" and the Pseukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. The Rav extended the singing of "Hoshia Et Amecha" (Save Your people) for 5 minutes. During "Mizmor Shir Chanukat HaBayit," the Rav delivered a lesson of eight minutes and then continued to "Baruch She'amar." During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh," he extended it with wonderful length for about 24 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer exactly at the moment of Netz HaChama (sunrise) at 06:34. During the Chazarat HaShatz (the Cantor's repetition), he extended the singing of "V'shamru" for about 5 minutes. Immediately after the Chazarat HaShatz—before the Torah reading—The Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson of about 10 minutes, while singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) during the opening of the Ark.

The Torah Reading

After the Hagbah (lifting of the Torah), the Rav began the Kriat HaTorah (Torah reading) for Parshat Shemot, during which many people celebrating joyous occasions or observing yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up. Additionally, as is his holy custom, The Rav shlit"a called up guests from out of town and veteran students. The Haftarah (prophetic reading) of "Haba'im Yashresh Yaakov" in Isaiah was read by a Bar Mitzvah boy. The Torah reading along with the Haftarah lasted about 50 minutes.

The Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began singing "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for 10 minutes. Afterward, The Rav delivered a lesson of about a minute, at the end of which he said "Ki Lekach Tov" and approached the Musaf prayer at 08:15. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer through "Aleinu L'Shabeach." Following this, a Bris Kodesh (circumcision) took place in the prayer hall; it is worth noting that it has been over a year since we were privileged to have a Bris in the presence of The Rav on the Holy Shabbat in the prayer hall with the entire public. During the Bris, the Rav recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Kiddush). Upon the conclusion of the Bris, the Rav delivered a lesson of about fifteen minutes while still sitting on the Sandak's chair (the chair of the one holding the infant), speaking words of the Living G-d. At 08:48, he entered his holy home after nearly five hours (3:48) during which we were privileged to experience Shacharis, the Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

The Mincha Prayer

At 17:10, The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony, starting with the recitation of Kaddish. He began saying "Berich Shmeih" and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" for 20 minutes with great length. Afterward, the Torah was read for Parshat Va'era with three people called up. Immediately following this, 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 17:40 while remaining in his place on the balcony. As is his holy custom, after the first kezayit (required amount of bread), he began the Zemiros (songs) of the Third Meal for about twenty minutes. Following these, he sang "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the world) for about 24 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the song "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the desert) for 4 minutes, and immediately transitioned to the song "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) for 2 minutes. Then, he extended the singing of "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for about 24 minutes. At the end of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu," "Shir HaMa'alot," and performed the Zimun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 18:50, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot" for about 20 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies of flaming 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) for 10 minutes, and further extended the singing of "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for about 20 minutes. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light).

On the Departure of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka (the "Escorting the Queen" meal)—which is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (King David the Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang together with the entire public all the Zemiros of Melaveh Malka that Rebbe Nachman so strongly encouraged us to sing. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 12 minutes from the book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the Zemiros of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, The Rav performed the Zimun over the cup with Sheva Brachos (Seven Blessings) and delivered another lesson for about a minute. He entered his holy home at 21:04, after a duration of about four hours (3:54) during which we were privileged to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the Third Meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total for the entire Shabbat—we were privileged to take refuge in his holy shadow for nearly twelve hours on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Shemot, 18 Tevet 5785.