Review of Shabbat Parashat Chukat in the Presence of Moreinu HaRav Eliezer

HERE IS AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE PRAYERS AND SHIURIM THAT TOOK PLACE ON SHABBAT KODESH OF PARASHAT CHUKAT – 9TH OF TAMMUZ, 5785, IN THE PRESENCE OF MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLIT”A:

SHABBAT NIGHT

At 7:06 PM, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a came out to the balcony of his home for the Minchah prayer of Erev Shabbat, adorned in his Shabbat garments. For half an hour, the song “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” was sung. Afterward, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a stood for the Minchah prayer. Upon completing Minchah of Erev Shabbat, he recited the Seder HaHitkashrut (the order of binding ourselves to Tzaddikim) word by word, with the entire congregation responding after him. Following this, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began Kabbalat Shabbat, reciting all the Tehilim from “Lechu Neranena” to “Mizmor LeDavid.”

He then began singing “Lecha Dodi,” which lasted approximately 24 minutes. Afterward, he recited “K’Gavna” and the Ma’ariv prayer of Shabbat night, with song and niggunim. Upon concluding Ma’ariv, Moreinu HaRav continued with the zemirot (Shabbat songs) for Shabbat night. The prayer concluded at 9:29 PM, after about two hours and twenty minutes (2:23).

SHACHARIT

For Shacharit, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a came out at 4:23 AM. Immediately upon coming out, he wrapped himself in his tallit and began saying the verses from Tikkun Chatzot customarily said on Shabbat and festivals. After that came the Morning Zemirot and the Korbanot according to their order.

Around 5:20 AM, he began “Hodu Lashem Kiru Vishmo” and Pesukei DeZimra as on every Shabbat, with niggunim and great arousal. During the singing of “HaNechemadim MiZahav,” he sang for about 7 minutes. Baruch She’amar was said at 5:45. He sang “Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh” for about 6 minutes. He repeated the singing of “Ein Aroch” again and again for about 7 minutes. The Rav shlit”a stood for the Amidah at 6:37.

THE TORAH READING

After the repetition of the Amidah and Song of the Day, the congregation sang “Yehei Ra’ava” for 5 minutes, and then the Torah scroll was taken out. Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began reading the Torah portion of Chukat. One after another, those with simachot and yahrzeits who merited to stand beside Moreinu HaRav shlit”a during the prayers went up for their aliyahs. After the reading, a Bar Mitzvah boy read the haftarah. The Torah reading and haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes, which it’s possible to say was shorter than usual.

MUSAF AND KIDDUSHA RABBA

Upon concluding the haftarah, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began singing “Zar’a Chaya V’Kayama” for about 7 minutes. Then, close to 7:45 AM, he began the Musaf prayer. After the repetition of the Amidah, he concluded the prayer in order and then said the Tikkun HaKlali. He recited Kiddush over a cup of wine for Kiddusha Rabba, and gave a shiur of about 20 minutes at great length.

At 8:40 AM, he entered his holy home, after over four hours and twenty minutes during which we merited to participate in Shacharit, the Torah Reading, Musaf, and a shiur at Kiddusha Rabba together with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a.

MINCHAH

At 7:40 PM, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a entered for Minchah of Shabbat Kodesh on his balcony, beginning with the singing of “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” for about 5 minutes. He then said Kaddish, and the ark was opened as the congregation sang “Yehei Ra’ava” for another 5 minutes. He then read from the Torah—Parashat Balak—three aliyot.

An interesting point to note: At one point, the Rav lifted his eyes to the clock, and seeing that it was the minute of sunset, he immediately said “Uv’Nucho Yomar…,” Kaddish, and began the Amidah of Shabbat Minchah precisely at sunset.

RAAVA DERAAVIN (THIRD MEAL)

At the conclusion of Minchah at 8:05 PM, in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit”a washed his hands for the Third Shabbat Meal. As is his holy custom, with the first k’zayit, he began singing the zemirot of the third meal, lasting about 22 minutes. After the zemirot, he sang “Y-ah Ribon” for about a half-hour.

He then sang “Ko Amar Hashem Matzah Chen BaMidbar” for 2 minutes, “Ko Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne’uraich” for 4 minutes, and “Ad Henah” for 6 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began “Tzur Mishelo Achalnu,” and led the zimun over a cup with the Sheva Berachot (seven blessings) for the groom Nachman ben HaRav Aharon Tzanani, grandson of the mashpia Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit”a.

MA’ARIV AND HAVDALAH

At 9:19 PM, immediately following Birkat HaMazon, the Rav shlit”a began singing “Lamnatzeach Binginot” with wondrous length for half an hour. He then continued with the Ma’ariv prayer for Motza’ei Shabbat with niggunim in fiery fervor. After the Amidah, he recited the order of “Vihi Noam” and extended the singing of “Baruch Hu” for half an hour. He then continued with the song “Hu Yiftach” for another 4 minutes. After that, he completed the Ma’ariv prayer and made Havdalah over a cup, accompanied by the singing of “LaYehudim.”

MOTZA’EI YOM MENUCHAH

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka – the meal of David, the King Mashiach. Moreinu HaRav shlit”a sang all the Melaveh Malka zemirot together with the entire congregation. Before the song “Eliyahu HaNavi,” he gave over a shiur of about 13 minutes from Chayei Moharan.

After the shiur, he continued with the songs “Eliyahu HaNavi” and “Ribon Kol HaOlamim.” Following the songs, Moreinu HaRav led the zimun over a cup with the Sheva Berachot for the aforementioned groom. After Birkat HaMazon, the Rav recited the blessing “Al HaGefen” and delivered another short shiur of about five minutes. At 11:46 PM, he entered his holy home, after more than four straight hours in which we merited to be with him from Minchah, through Seudah Shlishit, Ma’ariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total, the entire Shabbat contained about 10 hours and 50 minutes in which we merited to dwell in the holy presence -- Shabbat Kodesh, Parashat Chukat, 9th of Tammuz, 5785.