"You Shall Be Holy, For I, Hashem

This Shabbat as well, Parshas Kedoshim 5784 (2024), we merited an uplifting Shabbat in the presence of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. Before you is the full report of the prayers, lessons, and meals in the holy presence:

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (the eve of the holy Shabbat), the Rav came out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer about five minutes before candle lighting, at exactly 6:52 PM. He began with the song "Ohr Zarua" (Light is sown for the righteous) for eleven minutes with great chayos (vitality), followed by the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik): "I thank You for setting my portion...", "I hereby hand over...", "I hereby connect...". Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, said it word by word with everyone repeating after him. Afterward, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming Shabbat) with "Lechu Neranena," psalm after psalm with all the fire and bren (burning enthusiasm). He then began the pleasant singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted about thirty-five minutes, repeating all the sections over and over with immense vitality. After finishing "Lecha Dodi," the Rav continued the prayer as usual, Arvit (the evening prayer) with all the melodies in the Shuvu Banim nusach (liturgical tradition).

They then continued with the Ma'ariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with all the melodies at the peak of excitement and bren (enthusiasm). At the end of Ma'ariv, Sefirat HaOmer (the counting of the Omer) for "Netzach shebeTiferet" took place, lasting about twenty-four minutes. After the counting of the Omer, the Shabbat Zemiros (songs) began, starting from "Shalom Aleichem," "Ribon HaOlamim," and "Eshet Chayil." He entered his holy home at 9:26 PM after a Friday night prayer service that lasted about two hours and thirty-four minutes.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer earlier than usual—at 4:16 AM. The Rav began the Shacharit (morning) prayer in order, starting from Tikkun Chatzos (the Midnight Rectification)—Tikkun Leah—followed by the morning Zemiros, Korbanos (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) with melodies, vitality, and true Shabbat joy. There was a special lengthiness during Pesukei D'Zimra; during "Nishmat Kol Chai," the Rav prolonged the singing of "For every mouth..." for about seven minutes, as well as the stirring melody of "There is none like You" for another three minutes. It should be noted that the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer) at 6:28 AM. After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (the cantor's repetition), the Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson including a story about the Tzaddik whose yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) it was, Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe of Kerestir zy"a. After the lesson, the Torah reading for Parshas Kedoshim began, including all the various honors, celebrations, and many Yahrtzeits. As is his holy custom, the Rav shlit"a personally called up guests and those close to him for the Torah reading. This lasted forty-five minutes.

After the Torah reading concluded, the Rav sang "Zera Chaya v'Kayama" (Living and Enduring Offspring) for about four minutes. At the end of "Zera Chaya," the Rav shlit"a sang "Ki Lekach Tov" (For I have given you a good teaching) and the Torah scroll was returned to the Ark. At 7:32 AM, about an hour after the Shacharit Shemoneh Esrei, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the conclusion of the Musaf repetition, he finished the prayer in order, from "Kaveh el Hashem" (Hope to Hashem) until after "Anim Zemiros" and "Adon Olam." Afterward, the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification) began. At the conclusion, our teacher the Rav shlit"a made Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered a lesson for about four minutes. After the lesson, at 8:05 AM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home after about three hours and fifty minutes of Shacharit, the Torah reading, Musaf, and the lesson.

At 7:15 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of the holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home. He immediately said Kaddish and began reciting "Berich Shmei" and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" for several minutes. Afterward, the Torah was read—Parshas Emor—with three people called up. Immediately following was the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, and at the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, while still on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for Shalosh Seudos (the third meal). It is noteworthy that this Shabbat, for the first time since he began coming out to his balcony, the Rav shlit"a sat on the balcony for the third meal, in the same place where he told the story of the Baal Shem Tov on the seventh day of Pesach, as was published here. As is his holy custom, he began with the first kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread) during the Seudah Shlishit (third meal) songs for about twenty minutes. Afterward, he sang "Yah Ribbon" for thirty-seven minutes, repeating the awesome verses dozens of times, particularly the verse "Ravrevin" (Great are Your works). He then continued with the song "Thus says Hashem: The people... found grace in the wilderness" for eight minutes, and then moved to the song "Thus says Hashem: I remember for you the kindness of your youth" for thirteen minutes. At 8:55 PM, the Rav shlit"a led the Zimmun (invitation to grace) over a cup of wine. At 9:00 PM, the Rav stood in his place for the Ma'ariv (evening) prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (the conclusion of Shabbat) and began the song "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" for fifteen minutes. Afterward, the Rav began the Arvit prayer of Motzaei Shabbat with melodies. After Ma'ariv, during the recitation of "V'yehi Noam," our teacher the Rav shlit"a prolonged the singing of "Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory" for several minutes. The innovation this Shabbat was that the Rav continued to the next melody, "He shall open our hearts," for eight minutes. After the conclusion of the prayer, Sefirat HaOmer (the counting of the Omer) for "Hod shebeTiferet" took place, lasting thirty-five minutes!

At the conclusion, the Rav performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the song "The Jews had light..." for a full minute. Immediately after Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—"This is the feast of David the King, the Mashiach." Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros (songs) with special vitality and pleasantness. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson from Chayei Moharan (the life of Rebbe Nachman) and also spoke again about the Tzaddik whose yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) it was, Rabbi Yeshayale of Kerestir zy"a. Afterward, he led the Zimmun over a cup of wine and entered his holy home at 10:40 PM, after we merited to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer until the end of Melaveh Malkah. In total, we merited nine hours and fifty minutes in the holy presence over the course of Shabbat Parshas Kedoshim, 3rd of Iyar—the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yeshaya ben Rabbi Moshe of Kerestir zy"a—5784 (2024).

Photos courtesy of the Hitchadshus Bulletin: