To Make Known That All Who Hope In You • Shushan Purim in the Shadow of the Gaon

On the day of Shushan Purim, we merited the Shacharis (morning) prayer, the reading of the Megillah (Scroll of Esther), and the Purim Kiddush (festive gathering) together with the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Before you is a special report on the Shushan Purim prayer:

At 4:44 AM, the Rav shlit"a went out for the Shacharis prayer of Purim. Since this is the time for wrapping in the Tallis (prayer shawl) and donning the Tefillin (phylacteries), our teacher the Rav shlit"a, together with the entire congregation, conducted the order of putting on Tefillin, starting from 'Hareini Mekasher' (I hereby bind myself) and 'Leshem Yichud' (for the sake of unification), word by word. Adorned in Tallis and Tefillin, the Rav shlit"a began with the sections customarily recited from Tikkun Leah (part of the midnight lamentation) on days when Tachanun (supplications of forgiveness) is not said, such as Purim, and then continued with the morning Zemiros (songs of praise). 'When the morning stars sang together' (Job 38:7) under the blue and clearing skies to the sound of chirping birds—ah, it was Gan Eden (Paradise) on earth. The rest of the prayer continued with melodies, the Korbanos (sacrificial offerings), and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise), all with vitality and pleasantness. This Purim was special; as we have already written, our teacher the Rav shlit"a conducted all the prayers with moderation, word by word, with such sweetness, literally like one counting precious coins, with longing and yearning. This is the prime example of how to utilize the day of Purim in the aspect of 'Yom Kippurim' (a day like Kippur) for prayers and supplications. In the middle of Pesukei D'Zimra—during the singing of 'Lamnatzeach Binginos Mizmor Shir' (Psalm 67)—the gladness and joy intensified as our teacher the Rav shlit"a, despite his advanced age (may he be protected from the evil eye) and health condition, jumped and jumped and clapped his hands with even greater strength, with vitality and tremendous joy. There is no way for our pen to convey the joy and gladness that were present in general, but specifically during the aforementioned singing, which he extended for over fifteen minutes. After this, 'Baruch She'amar' (the blessing opening Pesukei D'Zimra) began at exactly 6:00 AM, and the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent standing prayer) took place about half an hour later—at 6:30 AM. After the Shemoneh Esrei, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went for a break during which he went to immerse again in the Mikvah (ritual bath) before putting on the Tefillin of Rabbeinu Tam. After about twenty minutes, he returned for the Chazaras HaShatz (the Cantor's repetition of the Amidah). After the Chazaras HaShatz, the Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Purim, 'Vayavo Amalek' (And Amalek came), with three people called to the Torah. Of course, before and after this was the order of opening the Ark with the singing of 'Yehei Ra'ava' (May it be the Will) for many long minutes, followed by 'Ki Lekach Tov' (For I have given you a good teaching). At the conclusion of the Torah reading, our teacher the Rav shlit"a said that everyone should have the intention to fulfill the obligations of the day, which are: the reading of the Megillah, Mishloach Manos (sending portions) with a value of about thirty shekels, Matanos L'Evyonim (gifts to the poor) of thirty shekels for each poor person, and the Mishteh (the wine feast). He added from his own insight that the 'Joy of Purim' itself is a commandment of the day to be counted in its own right. The reading of the Megillah on the morning of Purim, as in all years, is shorter than the night of Purim, and lasted about half an hour. It should be noted that during the Megillah, tears flowed from the holy eyes of our teacher the Rav shlit"a, particularly at the verses "And Mordechai knew all that was done..." etc., and even at the verse read with the 'Munach Munach' (specific cantillation notes), "And when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Avichayil the uncle of Mordechai... arrived." At the conclusion of the Megillah reading, they sang 'Shoshanas Yaakov' (The Rose of Jacob) for several minutes. During the singing, with immense joy, our teacher the Rav shlit"a did not delay and fulfilled the commandments of the day with Mishloach Manos and Matanos L'Evyonim before everyone's eyes. After the singing, the Rav shlit"a finished the prayer in its order, starting from 'V'Atah Kadosh' (And You are Holy) with the singing of 'Baruch Hu' (Blessed be He) for about ten minutes. It was special that the Rav shlit"a continued to the song 'Hu Yiftach Libenu B'Torato' (May He open our hearts to His Torah) after many months in which we did not merit to sing this together with the Rav shlit"a. Afterward, the Song of the Day, 'Kavei el Hashem' (Hope in Hashem), Aleinu L'Shabeach, Adon Olam, and Yigdal Elokim Chai. At the conclusion of the prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a conducted the Purim 'Kiddush' as he does every year. The Rav shlit"a began with the words "Vayechulu HaShamayim V'HaAretz..." (And the heavens and the earth were finished) and continued with Millei D'Bedichusa (words of holy humor). After the conclusion of the lesson, the Rav shlit"a began singing and dancing in the joy of Purim with the songs of Rabbeinu (Rebbe Nachman) in order, as in the Maariv (evening) prayer. Throughout the entire prayer, as we mentioned, the Rav was in a state of awesome vitality and immense joy, jumping and clapping, and even making many movements with gladness and a flaming fire! After many long minutes of singing and dancing, the Rav shlit"a said an additional Kaddish, and at 8:20 AM, after three hours and twenty minutes, the Shacharis prayer, Megillah reading, and 'Purim Kiddush' concluded, along with many other gifts we merited on this great, holy, and awesome Purim, for 'whoever stretches out a hand, they give to him!'

The Shuvu Banim website wishes all our community, the students of the Tzaddik, on Purim of the walled cities,

and the entire House of Israel wherever they may be, a blessing of

PURIM SAMEACH! A FREILICHEN PURIM!!! (HAPPY PURIM!)