In the Shadow of Iranian Missiles

HERE IS AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE PRAYERS AND SHIURIM THAT TOOK PLACE ON THE HOLY SHABBAT OF PARASHAT BEHA’ALOTECHA – 18 SIVAN 5785, IN THE PRESENCE OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A:

EREV SHABBAT KODESH

At 7:12 pm, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of Erev Shabbat, adorned in his Shabbat clothes. “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” was sung for 23 minutes. After that, the Rav shlit”a stood for Mincha. At the conclusion of Mincha for Erev Shabbat, he recited the order of Hitkashrut word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. He then began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the Mizmorim from “Lechu Neranena” until “Mizmor LeDavid.”

Following that was the singing of “Lecha Dodi,” which lasted for 41 minutes. Then he recited “K’Gavna” and continued with the Ma’ariv prayer of Friday night, with singing and melodies. It should be noted that before the Amidah, during the singing of “V’Shamru Bnei Yisrael,” a missile attack began. As we elaborated on elsewhere [https://ravberland.com/how-rabbi-eliezer-berland-shlita-worked-to-mitigate-the-iranian-attack/], Moreinu HaRav shlit”a continued to dance and clap his hands to sweeten the judgments. After ten minutes of singing and sweetening all the judgments, Moreinu HaRav continued with Ma’ariv. Later, during the Shabbat night Zemirot, as another missile attack began, the Rav was singing “Oz V’Hadar Levusha...” The prayer concluded at 9:45, after more than two and a half hours (2.33) of Friday night prayers amidst sirens and missiles.

SHACHARIT

Moreinu HaRav shlit”a came out for Shacharit at 5:15 am, later than usual. Immediately upon coming out, he began singing “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” for 20 minutes. At 5:35, two minutes after sunrise, he began reciting the verses from Tikkun Chatzot that are customarily said on Shabbat and festivals. Then came the morning Zemirot and the Korbanot in order. At 6:20, he began “Hodu L’Hashem Kiru Vishmo” and continued with Pesukei D’Zimrah with melody and fervor. “Baruch She’amar” was at 6:50. The singing of “Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh” was extended for about 9 minutes, and “Ein Aroch Lecha” for about 8 minutes. Moreinu HaRav shlit”a stood for the Amidah at 7:45.

TORAH READING

After the repetition came “Shir Shel Yom” and the singing of “Yehe Ra’ava” for a few minutes, followed by “Torat Hashem Temimah.” Then the Sefer Torah was taken out, and the Rav shlit”a began reading Parashat Beha’alotecha. One after another, those with celebrations or yahrzeits, who merited to stand next to Moreinu HaRav shlit”a during the prayer, came up. After the Torah reading, the Rav shlit”a read the Haftarah. The Torah reading and Haftarah together took about 40 minutes.

MUSAF AND THE MORNING KIDDUSH

Following the Haftarah, the Rav began singing “Zara Chaya V’Kayama” for about 13 minutes, followed by “Av HaRachamim.” At close to 9:20, he began Musaf. After the repetition of the Amidah, the prayer concluded in order, ending with the Tikkun HaKlali. He made Kiddush on a cup for Kiddusha Rabbah, and gave a five-minute shiur during which he spoke about the 23rd of Sivan – the day of the nullification of decrees – a day when everything turns around and the head of the Iranian serpent, a descendant of the wicked Haman and Achashverosh the Persian, is subdued. During the shiur, the Rav began singing “Vatosef Esther Vatedaber Lifnei HaMelech – Esther once again spoke before the king” for another five minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish and gave another one-minute shiur.

At 9:43, he entered his holy home, after nearly four and a half hours (4.27) that we merited to Shacharit, the Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabbah with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a.

MINCHA

At 7:21 pm, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a entered for Mincha of Shabbat Kodesh on the balcony of his home and began with the song “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” for 15 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish and the ark was opened with the singing of “Yehe Ra’ava” for about 8 minutes, followed by the Torah reading of Shelach Lecha with three aliyahs. Immediately afterwards, he stood for the Mincha Amidah of Shabbat during the minutes before sunset.

RA’AVA D’RA’AVIN

After Mincha, at sunset, still at his place on the balcony, the Rav washed his hands for Seudah Shelishit at 8:00 pm. As is his holy custom, with the first kezayit of bread, he began singing the Zemirot of Seudah Shelishit for about 22 minutes. At the end of the songs, he extended the singing of “Y-ah Ribon” for half an hour. He then sang “Ko Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar” for 2 minutes, “Ko Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach” for 3 minutes, and “Ad Henah” for another 3 minutes. After the singing, the Rav began “Tzur Mishelo Achalnu” and said Zimun over a cup.

MA’ARIV

At 9:05 pm, immediately after Birkat HaMazon and the Sheva Brachot, the Rav shlit”a began singing “Lamnatze’ach Binginot” at a wondrous length of 35 minutes, and then continued with the Motza’ei Shabbat Ma’ariv prayer with fiery melodies. After the Amidah, he recited “Vihi No’am,” and sang the songs “Hu Yiftach” and “Baruch Hu” at length for 11 minutes, concluding Ma’ariv in order. At the end of the prayer, the Rav shlit”a performed Havdalah over a cup with the singing of “LaYehudim” for about three minutes.

MOTZA’EI SHABBAT

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah – the meal of David, the King Mashiach. The Rav shlit”a sang all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire congregation. Before the song “Eliyahu HaNavi,” he gave over a 13-minute shiur from Chayei Moharan. After the shiur, he continued the songs “Eliyahu HaNavi” and “Ribon Kol HaOlamim.” After the songs, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a led the Zimun with Sheva Brachot. At the end of Birkat HaMazon, he recited the blessing “Al HaGefen.” It should be noted that precisely at the end of this blessing, another missile attack began. Moreinu HaRav shlit”a took the opportunity to give another shiur of about one minute, in which he said that now each page of Gemara repels a thousand missiles. At 11:15 pm, he entered his holy home, after nearly four consecutive hours (3.55) that we merited to be with him from Mincha, Seudah Shlishit, Ma’ariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, the entire Shabbat included 10 hours and 55 minutes that we merited to be in his holy shadow -- Shabbat Kodesh, Parashat Beha’alotecha, 18 Sivan 5785.

https://ravberland.com/how-rabbi-eliezer-berland-shlita-worked-to-mitigate-the-iranian-attack/