This year as well, we merited the Shavuos 5785 Kibbutz (gathering) in the presence of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. A gathering of over a thousand people. We will review for you, the readers, that which we merited this past Shavuos in the presence of the Rav shlit"a.

As the holiday of the Giving of the Torah was sanctified, just minutes after sunset at 19:53, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered in his majestic beauty for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of the eve of the holiday. All of Anash (our community)—the massive crowd that arrived in droves for the Shavuos Kibbutz from all over the country and the world—sang 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' (Light is sown for the Tzaddik) for about twenty minutes with great joy and wonderful vitality. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a gave the signal by reciting Kaddish, and the Mincha prayer was offered. Immediately upon the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, the Rav recited the text of the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of spiritual connection to the Tzaddik). Shortly after, the Rav shlit"a began the melody preceding 'Barchu'; even from the walls of the Old City, one could hear the thunder of the melody as it was heard from all of Anash with a special sweetness. Then, a silent stillness descended. Only the majesty of the pure voice of the Rav shlit"a was heard: 'Bless Hashem who is blessed,' and the entire massive crowd responded, 'Blessed is Hashem who is blessed forever and ever.' Thus began the Maariv (evening) prayer of the night the Shavuos holiday was sanctified, with the entire prayer conducted in melodies with immense enthusiasm. After the Maariv prayer, the Rav shlit"a recited 'Mizmor LeDavid Havu L'Hashem Bnei Elim' (A Psalm of David, ascribe to Hashem, O sons of the mighty) as is customary to say on Shavuos. After 'Aleinu L'Shabeach' and Kaddish, he asked his attendant, R' Naftali Zucker, may Hashem protect him, to announce that the Shacharis (morning) prayer would take place at four in the morning, and at three, everyone should go to the Mikvah (ritual bath) to receive the light of 'Sha'ar HaChamishim' (the Fiftieth Gate of Holiness). The Rav shlit"a entered his holy chamber at 20:31 as the large crowd accompanied him into the sanctuary with the singing of 'Atah Nigleisa' (You were revealed).

"And they engage in my joy"

After the holiday meal on this holy night, our community members arrived to study and recite the Tikkun Leil Shavuos (traditional all-night study order) in the hall of our Beis Medrash (study hall) on Ido HaNavi Street. Our dedicated Beis Medrash administrators ensured seating for everyone; many tables and benches were added for the comfort of the hundreds of learners. Refreshments, including hot and cold drinks, were served throughout the night for those toiling in Torah, as is the custom of the House of Israel. It should be noted that in our Beis Medrash in the Old City as well, the Tikkun Leil Shavuos order took place throughout the night hours, with rich refreshments served for the learners within the Beis Medrash.

Beyond this, it is worth noting a once-a-year event that is worth traveling from the end of the world to see—a truly awesome wonder. We are speaking of the 'Yaldei HaTzaddik' (Children of the Tzaddik) group, led by the esteemed Avreich (young scholar) R' Naftali Bick, may Hashem protect him. In addition to the extensive and widespread activity that takes place daily and expands every Shabbos, Shavuos is one of the peak moments for the group. Over five hundred precious children sit and recite the Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification) and chapters of Tehillim (Psalms), singing songs of devotion and love for the Torah for five consecutive hours. All of this takes place in the courtyard of the 'Nechamat Zion' Talmud Torah (elementary school) under the 'Shuvu Banim' institutions. From afar, one could hear the singing of five hundred pure, innocent mouths singing and playing the Tikkun HaKlali to the melody of the Tzaddik.

The precious youth of our holy community also gathered on this holy night in the hall of the Kollel Hora'ah (institute for Rabbinic law). It was a most heart-warming sight as over one hundred and fifty holy and pure young men sat and engaged in the joy of the Torah. Of course, this holy study was made possible by the 'Chaburas Bnei HaNeurim' (Youth Fellowship) headed by R' Nachman Haas, who provided the youth with very rich refreshments throughout the night. As is the custom of Yeshiva students, every hour the young men rose for a dance to renew their Mochin (spiritual consciousness) and to thank Hashem for the immense merit that 'He distinguished us from those who stray and gave us His Torah.'

"And Your holy words are like flames of fire"

After all of Anash merited to fulfill the word of the Tzaddik, and after three in the morning everyone had already merited to immerse in the light of the Fiftieth Gate that is revealed during immersion at the dawn of Shavuos—as brought in the writings of the holy Arizal and his students—they gathered from all the places of study to the foot of the mountain which burns with holy fire: the plaza of our Beis Medrash prayer hall. They waited and anticipated receiving the Torah through the Tzaddik of the generation. And behold, as the clock struck 04:13, our teacher the Rav shlit"a appeared and was revealed in his holy majesty, his peyos (sidelocks) dripping with water, adding a dimension of purity that poured over all those who merited to participate in the uplifting Shavuos Kibbutz in his holy shadow. While the skyline was still blue and before the first glimmers of morning were seen in the skies of the Holy City, the Rav shlit"a began the Shacharis prayer. "When the morning stars sang together," hundreds of worshipers sang; melody followed melody. After the morning hymns, the order of 'Korbanos' (sacrificial readings) was recited, also with special holy melodies. At exactly 05:00, the Rav shlit"a announced 'Hodu' and the Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) were sung with feelings of joy, in a pleasant tune, with happiness and wonderful vitality. The love of Torah was felt strongly as the Rav shlit"a extended for over 5 minutes the singing of "They are more desirable than gold, even much fine gold; and sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb," as everyone merged in song with the holy words written by the master of the celebration, King David, peace be upon him, in Tehillim, which so clearly envision the day of receiving the Torah. Indeed, there is nothing in the world that compares to the study of Torah! The lengthiness did not end there; during the recitation of 'Nishmas Kol Chai' (The soul of every living being), he extended for twelve minutes in the song of thanksgiving and joy: 'For every mouth shall thank You, and every tongue shall praise, and every eye shall look to You!' As the sky turned red from the sun rising from behind the Mount of Olives, adding a grace of holiness to all those rejoicing and exulting in the receiving of the Torah. The hands of the clock had already advanced toward 06:20, and the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) of the Three Festivals.

At the conclusion of the Chazaras HaShatz (Cantor's repetition), the Rav recited the blessing over the complete Hallel (psalms of praise). Surprisingly, and unlike any Shavuos we have known in the last decade, there was a special and extraordinary lengthiness specifically during Hallel, and the joy of the holiday lasted over an hour. At the beginning of Hallel, the melody 'B'tzeis Yisrael MiMitzrayim' (When Israel went out of Egypt) was sung over and over with a flaming fire for about eight minutes; all of Anash jumped and danced, and the Rav, with his holy movements, revitalized the crowd—'The mountains skipped like rams.' The lengthiness intensified with the singing of the melody 'Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov' (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good), which was played for nearly half an hour. And how could we forget the stirring melody of 'Ana Hashem Hoshia Na' (Please Hashem, save us) as a closing chord to the wondrous lengthiness, with melodies of yearning for about ten minutes. As mentioned, the entire singing of Hallel in the holy courtyard lasted a full hour.

With the conclusion of Hallel, the Rav shlit"a recited the Song of the Day and conducted the order of opening the Ark for the Three Festivals with the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Here, the excitement reached its peak—the reading of the Torah and the standing of receiving the Torah through the Moshe Rabbeinu of the generation. Along with the excitement came the prayer; during the 'Berich Shmeih' prayer, the Rav shlit"a extended greatly in supplications on the day we are judged for a life of Torah: "May it be Your will to open my heart to the Torah..." When the Torah scroll was placed on the Teivah (lectern), the Rav shlit"a recited the blessing over the reading of the Megillah and the 'Shehecheyanu' blessing, and read Megillas Rus (the Scroll of Ruth) from a kosher scroll. With great awakening, it can be noted that unlike every Shabbos, the reading of the Megillah was heard very clearly; the Rav was in a holy flame to the extreme, and several times he even wept during the reading.

With the conclusion of the reading of Megillas Rus, which lasted about ten minutes, the Rav shlit"a burst into the Akdamus piyyut (liturgical poem) with the well-known melody, as per the words of our holy Rebbe zy"a (may his merit protect us) who said: "One who knows the greatness of the song of Akdamus with its melody, as the world is accustomed to sing it with the known melody, it is a wondrous thing and a very great innovation." Here too, during Akdamus, a massive awakening was recorded, and with a flaming fire, one could clearly hear the Rav shlit"a crying out the holy words of the soul-stirring poem.

After Akdamus, the Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading. The Rav added several more Aliyos (calls to the Torah) for those close to him and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing). When the fourth Aliyah arrived—the Ten Commandments—the Rav shlit"a was honored with the call to the Torah. A silence fell, and one could literally feel the receiving of the Torah, as no baby cried and no bird chirped. Thus, everyone merited to hear the pure voice of the Rav amidst voices and lightning. During the Haftarah (prophetic reading) as well, one could clearly hear the "Ma'aseh Merkavah" (the Vision of the Chariot) in the book of Ezekiel, which is read on Shavuos. The Torah reading and the Haftarah lasted about fifteen minutes.

After the Haftarah, the Rav shlit"a announced 'Yizkor' (the memorial prayer). The Rav instructed, as in years past, that one may place a Tallit over the head. Afterward, 'Av HaRachamim' was said, and immediately following was the melody 'Yah Eli V'Goali' (Hashem is my G-d and Redeemer) to the melody of the Rav shlit"a, followed by 'Ashrei' and the order of returning the Torah scroll to the Ark.

The Rav stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer. During the Chazaras HaShatz (Cantor's repetition), the Rav sang the melody of 'V'karev Pizuranu' (Bring our scattered ones close) and the melody 'V'havianu L'Tziyon Ircha' (Bring us to Zion Your city) together for about four minutes. After the conclusion of Musaf, the Rav shlit"a said "Hope to Hashem, be strong and let your heart take courage, and hope to Hashem." After the Kaddish, the Rav shlit"a finished the prayer in its order: 'Ana'im Zemiros', Adon Olam, and we also merited the Tikkun HaKlali in his holy presence.

After the conclusion of the prayer, the Rav made Kiddush and ate a little of the dairy foods as is the custom of Israel on Shavuos, and delivered his holy words for ten minutes. At 09:24, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy chamber after the holiday prayer which lasted five hours and ten minutes. Before entering, he asked his attendant to announce that the Mincha prayer would take place in ten hours; the boys should study ten pages of Gemara (Talmud) while the girls should complete the book of Tehillim twice.

Close to sunset at 19:42, the Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home and immediately began the Mincha prayer for the Three Festivals. After the Chazaras HaShatz, the Rav said 'Hashem Melech Ge'us Lavesh' (Hashem reigns, He is clothed in majesty) for about ten minutes after 'Aleinu L'Shabeach'. Close to the end of the Mincha prayer, the Rav played the melody of the night of the Yom Tov (holiday) preceding 'Barchu' and began the Maariv prayer which lasted about twenty minutes. After the Shemoneh Esrei, the Rav played 'Lamnatzeach Biniginos' for 5 minutes; it seemed this was so he would reach the time for Havdalah. After 'Aleinu L'Shabeach', he returned to recite the Shema in its proper time, and at its conclusion, with the time for the end of the holiday as written in the calendar for the Jerusalem horizon, he performed Havdalah over the cup. After Havdalah, he delivered his holy words at the close of the holiday for about three minutes, and then recited the 'Al HaGefen' blessing. At 20:26, he entered his holy home to the singing of 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' with great and immense vitality, after forty-three minutes of the holiday prayer. Thus, the holiday of the Giving of the Torah concluded with feelings of majesty and impressions of holiness in the holy shadow, totaling six and a half hours of prayers in the holy presence of our teacher the Rav shlit"a.

How fortunate are we that we merited!!