To the Land That I Will Show You • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Lech-Lecha in the

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on Shabbat Kodesh (the holy Sabbath) Parshat Lech-Lecha, 9 Mar-Cheshvan 5786, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 16:45, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat (Friday afternoon), dressed in majestic Shabbat garments. They sang 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' (Light is sown for the righteous) for 20 minutes. Afterward, our teacher the Rav shlit"a said Ashrei and stood for the Mincha prayer at the time of sunset. At the conclusion of the Mincha of Erev Shabbat, he said the Seder HaHisksherus (order of connecting to the Tzaddik) 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' (Come my Beloved), which lasted about 32 minutes. Afterward, he said 'Kegavna' (a Kabbalistic prayer describing the spiritual unification of Shabbat) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, the Rav continued with Zemirot (songs) for Friday night; the prayer ended at 19:07 after nearly two and a half hours (2:22).

Shacharit (Morning) Prayer

For the Shacharit prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a came out at 4:42, beginning with part of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot (the Midnight Lamentation) that are customarily said on Sabbaths and festivals. The morning Zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial offerings section) followed their usual order. At 05:30, he began saying 'Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo' and Pseukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as on every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. During the singing of 'Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh' (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended for about 5 minutes. In the melody following Yishtabach, he added another 5 minutes of extension. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent standing prayer) at 06:50, after more than two hours of the Shacharit prayer.

Krias HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (the cantor's repetition of the Amidah), they began the opening of the Ark, singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' (May it be the Will), and took out the Torah scroll. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Parshat Lech-Lecha. One after another, the Ba'alei Simcha (those celebrating a joyous occasion) and those observing a Yahrtzeit (anniversary of a loved one's passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of the Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the Torah reading, a Bar Mitzvah boy read the Haftarah (the portion from the Prophets). The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya VeKayama' (viable offspring) for about 5 minutes. Afterward, he said Ashrei and at 08:13 approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer in its order, ending with the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He recited Kiddush over the cup at the Kiddusha Rabba (the Shabbat morning meal) and delivered a lesson (Shiur) for about 10 minutes.

At 08:48, he entered his holy home after more than four hours (4:06) during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson at Kiddusha Rabba together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon) Prayer

At 16:35, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of Shabbat Kodesh on his home's balcony and began singing 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' for 25 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish, and they opened the Ark while singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' for about 13 minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshat Vayeira—for three people called to the Torah. This was followed by the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of the Shabbat Mincha.

Re'ua D'Re'uin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Third Meal (Shalosh Seudos). As is his holy custom, with the first 'kezayit' (olive-sized piece of bread), he began the Zemirot of the Third Meal for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended the singing of 'Yah Ribon' (G-d, Master of the world) for about 40 minutes. Afterward, he sang 'Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar' (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the desert) for 2 minutes, as well as the song 'Ad Heina' (Until now) for another 2 minutes. After the singing, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' (Rock from whose food we have eaten) and led the Grace after Meals over a cup of wine with the Sheva Brachos (Seven Blessings).

Maariv and Havdalah

At 18:50—about fifteen minutes after the conclusion of Shabbat—immediately after the Grace after Meals, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamnatzeach Binginot' (To the Chief Musician with stringed instruments) with great length for 55 minutes!! It should be noted that for 18 minutes of this, the Rav shlit"a entered his home. After the conclusion of the long singing, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv (evening) prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies of 'burning fire.' After the Shemoneh Esrei, he said the 'Vayehi Noam' order, extending the singing of 'Baruch Hu' (Blessed is He) for 5 minutes, and likewise the singing of 'Hu Yiftach' (He will open) for another 5 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of 'LaYehudim' (For the Jews there was light and joy).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (The Night Following the Day of Rest)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Shabbat Queen)—which is the feast of David the King, the Mashiach (Messiah). Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire public. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi' (Elijah the Prophet), he delivered a lesson for about 15 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, the Rav continued the Zemirot of 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim' (Master of all worlds). After the songs, the Rav led the Grace after Meals over a cup. At the conclusion of the Grace after Meals, the Rav delivered another lesson in which he instructed the order of study for this night. At 20:55, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of nearly three hours and ten minutes during which we merited to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, the Third Meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, the entire Shabbat was about 10 hours and 48 minutes, during which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow on Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Lech-Lecha, 9 Mar-Cheshvan 5786.