"And Moshe Finished the Work" • A Review of Shabbos Parshas "Vayakhel-Pekudei" in the Shadow of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland

The Holy Friday Night

At 17:16, Morinu HaRav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Minchah (afternoon) prayer of Friday afternoon, adorned in his Shabbos garments. They sang 'Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik' for 15 minutes. Afterward, Morinu HaRav shlit"a stood for the Minchah prayer. At the conclusion of the Friday afternoon Minchah, he recited the Seder HaHiskashrus (prayer of connection to the Tzaddikim) word for word, with the entire congregation answering after him. Following this, Morinu HaRav began Kabbalas Shabbos (welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms, starting from 'Lechu Neranena' until 'Mizmor LeDavid'. He then began the singing of 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 28 minutes. Afterward, he recited 'Kegavna' and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the end of Maariv, Morinu HaRav continued with the zemiros (Shabbos songs) for Friday night, as is his holy custom every Shabbos, and prolonged the singing of 'Shalom Aleichem' for about 5 minutes. After 'Shalom Aleichem', he recited Kaddish, and the prayer concluded at 19:35, after two hours and 20 minutes.

Shacharis Prayer

For the Shacharis (morning) prayer, Morinu HaRav shlit"a came out at 05:16. He sang "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" for fifteen minutes, and immediately Morinu HaRav began Chatzos (the midnight lament over the Temple) and the morning zemiros, wrapped himself in his tallis at the appropriate time, and continued the prayer in its regular order. At 06:20, he began reciting 'Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u Bishmo' in Pesukei D'Zimrah (Verses of Praise). He prolonged it with melodies and songs as he does every week, though there was no significant prolongation lasting more than 5 minutes. Morinu HaRav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent devotion) prayer at 07:34. The duration of the Shacharis prayer alone (from Chatzos) was exactly about two hours.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began opening the Holy Ark, singing "Toras Hashem Temimah" for 2 minutes, and took out the Sefer Torah. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and those observing a yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) went up for an aliyah, meriting to stand alongside Morinu HaRav shlit"a during the prayer. It is worth noting that this was the longest Torah reading. For the concluding "Chazak" aliyah, Morinu HaRav shlit"a was called to the Torah, and the roar of "Chazak Chazak V'Nischazek" (Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened) from the thousands present was heard from afar. This was followed by the reading for Parshas HaChodesh and the Haftarah of "BaRishon B'Echad LaChodesh".

From the opening of the Ark until the conclusion of the Haftarah blessings took an hour and a quarter.

At the end of the Haftarah, Morinu HaRav shlit"a began reciting 'Yekum Purkan', prolonging the singing of 'Zera Chaya V'Kayama' (viable offspring) for about 10 minutes, followed by the blessing of the new month of Nissan.

Mussaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

Afterward, he recited Ashrei, and close to 09:15, he approached the amud for the Mussaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav concluded the prayer in its regular order. Following The Tikkun HaKlali, he recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the great Kiddush), and delivered a shiur (Torah class) for about 8 minutes with great elaboration.

At 09:40, he entered his holy home after about 4 hours and 25 minutes in which we merited to experience the Shacharis prayer, the Torah reading, Mussaf, and the shiur at Kiddusha Rabba together with Morinu HaRav shlit"a.

Minchah Prayer

At 16:56, Morinu HaRav shlit"a entered the balcony of his home for the Minchah prayer of the holy Shabbos and began singing 'Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik' for 20 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish and they opened the Ark. Then, the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshas Vayikra—calling up three people. At the conclusion of the reading, they returned the Sefer Torah to the Ark while singing 'Ki Lekach Tov', and stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbos Minchah.

Ra'ava D'Ra'avin

At the conclusion of the Shabbos Minchah prayer at 17:35, in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for Shalosh Seudos (the Third Meal). He immediately began, as is his holy custom, with the zemiros of the Third Meal for about 23 minutes. At the end of the zemiros, he began singing 'Kah Ribbon', and in the middle of it, the Rav began a shiur for his grandchildren on the balcony for about 20 minutes.
Following this, he began singing the melodies:
"Nichsefa VeGam Kalta Nafshi" for 25 minutes. "Urah Chevodi" for 17 minutes. "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" for 8 minutes. "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich" for 5 minutes. "Ad Hena Azarunu Rachamecha" for 13 minutes.
At the conclusion of the melodies at 20:15, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over the cup with Sheva Brachos (the seven marital blessings).

Maariv and Havdalah

Immediately after Birkas HaMazon (Grace After Meals), the Rav shlit"a began singing 'LaMenatzeach BiNeginos' for fifteen minutes. Now—after the departure of Shabbos—the singing was accompanied by musical instruments and stormy dancing. After the singing concluded, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbos (Saturday night) with melodies sung with fiery enthusiasm. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the order of 'Vihi Noam', prolonging the singing of 'Baruch Hu' and 'Hu Yiftach' for about 10 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its regular order, and performed Havdalah over the cup with the singing of 'LaYehudim' for several minutes.

On the Departure of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Sabbath Queen)—which is the meal of David, the King Mashiach. Morinu HaRav shlit"a sang all the zemiros for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire congregation. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi', he delivered a shiur for 27 minutes. After the shiur, the Rav continued with the zemiros 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribbon Kol HaOlamim'. Following the zemiros, Morinu HaRav led the Zimun over the cup with Sheva Brachos. At the conclusion of Birkas HaMazon, the Rav delivered an additional shiur for 2 minutes. Around 21:40, he entered his holy home, after a prolonged period of over 4 hours and 45 minutes in which we merited to be together with him from the Minchah prayer, Shalosh Seudos, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, the entire Shabbos spanned about 11 and a half hours, during which we merited to take refuge in the holy shadow on the holy Shabbos of Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei-HaChodesh, the 25th of Adar 5786.