"The Scepter Shall Not Depart from Judah" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayechi

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayechi, 13th of Tevet 5786, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 4:26 PM, The Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, looking majestic in his Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 15 minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Erev Shabbat Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHis kashrus (order of spiritual connection) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms, from "Lechu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted approximately 40 minutes. Afterward, he recited "K'gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, The Rav continued with the Zemiros (Sabbath songs) for Friday night, as is his holy custom every Shabbat. At the end of the songs, unexpectedly, the Rav turned to his grandsons standing near him on the balcony and delivered a lesson for about five minutes. After the lesson, he recited Kaddish and concluded the prayer service at 6:58 PM, after two hours and thirty-two minutes.

Sheva Brachos Festive Meal

In the holy residence of The Rav shlit"a, the Friday night Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) meal was held for the groom, Naftali Hertz Erol, may his light shine, son of the Chassid R' Nachman Erol shlit"a and grandson of the Mashpia (spiritual mentor) R' Shimshon Wallach shlit"a, who married the great-granddaughter of The Rav shlit"a, the daughter of his grandson R' Avraham Zucker shlit"a. The meal was attended by family and close associates, filled with vitality and songs in the joy of the Tzaddik's house. The highlight was a wondrously long session of Shabbat Zemiros, singing "Vayehi Rachamecha" (May Your mercies be) for over fifty minutes! Afterward, The Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson for one hour and seven minutes with remarkable depth. The Rav shlit"a then concluded the Shabbat Sheva Brachos meal with Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals), and of course, The Rav shlit"a was honored with all seven blessings over the cup of wine. Shortly after 10:00 PM, he finished the meal after more than three hours.

Shacharis (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharis prayer at 5:04 AM. Initially, they sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for about 5 minutes, and then The Rav began Chatzos (the Midnight Lament), the morning Zemiros, and Korbanos (the section regarding sacrifices). At 5:48 AM, he began the recitation of "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo" and Pseukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. There was no special length to all the melodies. Before "Mizmor Shir Chanukat HaBayit," the Rav wrapped himself in a Tallit. They reached "Baruch She'amar" at 6:17 AM. During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh L'cha Yodeh," he extended the melody for about 4 minutes. Specifically, in the melody following Yishtabach, the Rav lengthened it for 12 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 7:18 AM. The length of the Shacharis prayer was approximately two hours and 14 minutes.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began the opening of the Ark and sang "Y'hei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for 5 minutes, and then took out the Torah scroll. One after another, those celebrating special occasions and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversary of a passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. The Torah reading and the Haftarah (prophetic reading) together lasted about 40 minutes.

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), extending it for about 5 minutes. Afterward, he recited Ashrei and, close to 8:20 AM, approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav finished the prayer in its proper order until the end, and afterward recited The Tikkun HaKlali and made Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the morning Kiddush), delivering a lesson for about 22 minutes in length.

At 9:17 AM, he entered his holy home after four hours and 13 minutes in which we merited the Shacharis prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson at Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 4:05 PM, relatively early—over fifty minutes before sunset—The Rav shlit"a entered the balcony of his home for the Shabbat Mincha prayer and began singing "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 10 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish, and they opened the Ark while singing "Y'hei Ra'ava" for several minutes. Then The Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshat Shemot—for three Aliyos. This was followed by the Shemoneh Esrei prayer for Shabbat Mincha.

Ra'ava D'Ra'avin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 4:38 PM—about fifteen minutes before sunset—at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishis (third meal). As is his holy custom, with the first Kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread), he began the third meal Zemiros for about 23 minutes. At the end of the songs, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribbon" (God of the world) for about 40 minutes—it should be noted this was very lengthy. Afterward, he began singing "Nichsefa V'Gam Kaltah Nafshi" (My soul yearns and pines) for another 40 minutes! At the conclusion, The Rav shlit"a began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over the cup with Sheva Brachos for the aforementioned groom.

Maariv and Havdalah

Close to 6:30 PM, immediately after Birkat HaMazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing "Lamnatzeach Binginot" for 13 minutes, accompanied by musical instruments with singing and dancing. After the conclusion of the singing, The Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies of fiery passion. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the "Vayehi Noam" order, extending the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He), as well as the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (He will open) for about 10 minutes. Afterward, he finished the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah (separation ceremony) over the cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (Saturday Night)

After Havdalah, close to 7:30 PM, the Rav washed his hands for Melave Malka (the meal accompanying the Shabbat Queen)—which is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (David the King Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang all the Melave Malka Zemiros together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for half an hour (!). After the lesson, the Rav continued the songs "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribbon Kol HaOlamim," and after the songs, The Rav led the Zimun over the cup. At the conclusion of Birkat HaMazon, the Rav delivered an additional lesson for 5 minutes. At 8:41 PM, he entered his holy home. This was after an extended period of over four hours and thirty-six minutes that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melave Malka.

In total, the entire Shabbat lasted approximately 11 hours and twenty-one minutes! During which we merited to take refuge in the holy shadow of the Tzaddik on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayechi—Chazak (Be strong), 13th of Tevet 5786.