This year as well, we merited the Shavuos 5784 Kibbutz (gathering) in the presence of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. A gathering with over a thousand people. We will review for you, the readers, what we merited this past Shavuos in the presence of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

On Erev Shavuos (the eve of Shavuos) at 7:52 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer, his entire presence radiating majesty in his kittel (white robe), tallis (prayer shawl), and white kippah (skullcap). He entered for Mincha as all of Anash (our community)—the massive crowd that arrived in droves for the Shavuos Kibbutz from all over the country—sang 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' (Light is sown for the righteous) for about twenty minutes with great vitality. Afterward, the Mincha prayer of Erev Shavuos took place, and after the Chazzan's (cantor's) repetition, our teacher, the Rav, began to sing the melody of 'Atah Nigleisa' (You were revealed) for about ten minutes. Immediately following this was 'Aleinu L'Shabeach.' It is worth noting that while the Rav shlit"a was singing 'Atah Nigleisa,' he read the 'Tefillah L'Ani' (Prayer for the poor) for the holiday of Shavuos from the new Machzor (holiday prayer book) published by the 'Keren HaTzaddik' institute, according to the Breslov version as per the opinion of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

After the Mincha prayer, our teacher, the Rav, recited the Seder HaHisksherus (order of connecting to the Tzaddik), and immediately afterward, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began the melody before 'Barchu' (the call to prayer). Even from the walls of the Old City, one could hear the thunderous melody as all of Anash sang the tune with such vitality and special sweetness. Then, a profound silence fell. Only the majestic, pure voice of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, could be heard: 'Barchu es Hashem HaMevorach' (Bless Hashem who is blessed), and the entire massive crowd responded 'Baruch Hashem HaMevorach L'olam Va'ed' (Blessed is Hashem who is blessed forever and ever). Thus began the Maariv (evening) prayer of the night the holiday was sanctified, with the entire prayer filled with melodies and immense enthusiasm. After the Maariv prayer, the Rav shlit"a again sang 'Atah Nigleisa,' followed by 'Aleinu L'Shabeach,' and our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered his home at 9:20 PM to the singing of 'Atah Nigleisa,' announcing that the Shacharis (morning) prayer would take place at 4:00 AM.

"And they engage in my joy"

On the night of Shavuos, our community members arrived to study and recite the Tikkun Leil Shavuos (order of study for Shavuos night) in the hall of our Beis Medrash (study hall) on Ido HaNavi Street. The dedicated gabbaim (synagogue administrators) of our Beis Medrash ensured seating for everyone; many tables and benches were added for the comfort of the hundreds of learners, with refreshments—hot and cold drinks—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, with rich refreshments served for the learners within the Beis Medrash.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning a once-a-year event that is worth traveling from the end of the world to see—this awesome wonder. We are speaking of the 'Yaldei HaTzaddik' (Children of the Tzaddik) organization, led by the esteemed young man R' Naftali Bick, may his light shine. Beyond the extensive daily activities that expand every Shabbos, Shavuos is one of the organization's peak moments. Over five hundred precious children sat and recited the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification) and chapters of Tehillim (Psalms) and sang songs for five consecutive hours. All of this took place in the courtyard of the 'Nechamas Zion' Talmud Torah (elementary school) of the 'Shuvu Banim' institutions. It is impossible to describe the power felt by those passing through HaChoma HaShlishis Street, hearing five hundred pure and innocent mouths singing and playing the Tikkun HaKlali to the melody of the Tzaddik.

The precious young men of our holy community also gathered on this holy night in the hall of the Kollel Hora'ah. It was a most heartwarming sight to see over a hundred and fifty holy and pure young men sitting and engaging in the joy of the Torah. Of course, this holy study took place thanks to 'Chaburas Bnei HaNeurim' (The Youth Group) led by R' Nachman Haas, who provided the young men 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 (intellect) and to thank Hashem for the immense merit that 'He has separated us from those who stray and given us His Torah.' During the night, several members of the group made siyumim (completion ceremonies) on Tractate Bava Basra, which they finished on Shavuos following the study schedule of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

It is worth noting the merit of the 'Chaburas Bnei HaNeurim' young men; shortly after 3:35 AM, they entered the inner sanctum to our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, to receive a gift for those who studied through the holy night, and they even merited to greet their teacher during the festival. One could not miss the radiance on the Rav's face upon seeing all the precious young men of our holy community after an entire night of immersion in the study of the holy Torah in preparation for the Giving of the Torah. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood in his holy residence and distributed to all the young men passing before him the elegant Machzor (holiday prayer book) for Shavuos published by the 'Keren HaTzaddik' institute. He wished 'Gut Yom Tov' (a good holiday) to all the young men with a wide smile from the light of his holy countenance. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, blessed the young men that they should merit to know the entire Torah.

"And Your holy words are like flames of fire"

On the morning of the festival of the Giving of the Torah, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Shacharis (morning) prayer at 4:04 AM, beginning from the morning songs, the Korbanos (sacrificial readings), and the wrapping of the tallis (prayer shawl).

It is impossible to describe the great density as the large crowd filled the hall of our Beis Medrash. Due to the lack of space, a significant portion of the public stood in the plaza of the prayer hall; estimates are that over a thousand people participated in the morning prayer of the festival of the Giving of the Torah. Thus, the prayer proceeded with melodies, joy, and immense vitality. Due to the weakness of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, the Rav did not prolong the melodies during Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise). However, while elsewhere Pesukei D'Zimra with the additions for the Three Festivals takes at most about twenty-five minutes, here Pesukei D'Zimra lasted over forty minutes with melodies in the style of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a. The melody 'HaNechemadim MiZahav U'miPaz Rav' (More desirable than gold and much fine gold) stood out, which our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sang together with the congregation for about six minutes, as everyone connected in song with the holy words written by King David, peace be upon him, in Tehillim (Psalms), which are so appropriate for the day of receiving the Torah—there is nothing in the world that compares to the study of Torah!

After the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer), our teacher, the Rav, recited the blessing over the full Hallel (prayers of praise). In Hallel as well, there was no special lengthiness, and it lasted about twenty-two minutes with melodies, except for the song 'B'tzeis Yisrael MiMitzrayim' (When Israel went out of Egypt), which was played again and again with a burning fire for about five minutes. All of Anash jumped and danced, and our teacher, with his holy movements, enlivened the crowd—'the mountains skipped like rams.'

After Hallel, which lasted about half an hour, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, recited the Song of the Day, delivered a short lesson, and began the reading of Megillas Rus (the Book of Ruth) with a blessing from a kosher scroll, with great awakening. After Megillas Rus, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, 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 Moses of the generation. After the Torah scroll was placed on the bimah (platform), our teacher, the Rav, read the Akdamus (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 in the known melody—it is a wonderful thing and a very great novelty." Indeed, our teacher, the Rav, read the Akdamus with immense awakening and a burning fire.

After finishing the Akdamus, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, read from the Torah. When it reached the fourth aliyah (Torah honor)—the Ten Commandments—our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was honored with the aliyah. A silence fell, and one could literally feel the receiving of the Torah, where no infant cried and no bird chirped. Thus, everyone merited to hear the pure voice of our teacher with thunder and lightning in a burning fire, reaching even the women's section. The Haftarah (prophetic reading) was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy Naftali Hertz, son of R' Nachman Diamant, whose birthday is on Shavuos. After the Haftarah, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, announced 'Yizkor' (the memorial prayer), and so that people would not have to leave, our teacher instructed, as in previous years, that one could place a tallis over their head. Afterward, they began 'Yah Eli V'Goali' (G-d, my Strength and Redeemer) with the melody of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, and immediately following that, our teacher stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer. During the Chazzan's repetition, our teacher sang the melody of 'V'karev Pzureinu' (Bring our scattered ones close) and the melody 'V'havianu L'Tzion Ircha' (Bring us to Zion Your city) together for about two minutes. After the conclusion of Musaf, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, recited the verse 'Kavei el Hashem chazak v'ya'ametz libecha v'kavei el Hashem' (Hope to Hashem, be strong and let your heart take courage, and hope to Hashem) and followed it with Kaddish. After the conclusion of Kaddish, the Rav shlit"a recited 'Aneim Zemiros' (Song of Glory), and we even merited the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification) in his holy presence. Our teacher made Kiddush and ate a little of the dairy foods, as is the custom of Israel, and immediately began delivering a lesson. For two minutes, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, spoke in the lesson about the mandrakes that Reuben brought from the field, which occurred on the holiday of Shavuos. Afterward, only at 7:44 AM, after nearly four hours (3:58) of prayer, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered and ascended to his holy residence.

On the afternoon of Shavuos, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, came out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer at 8:05 PM and immediately began the Mincha prayer for the Three Festivals. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav shlit"a again sang 'Atah Nigleisa' for about ten minutes, and afterward said 'Aleinu L'Shabeach.' After 'Aleinu L'Shabeach,' the Rav shlit"a began the Maariv (evening) prayer for the conclusion of the holiday with the singing of 'Lamnatzeach BiNginos' (To the Chief Musician with stringed instruments) before 'Barchu' for about five minutes. Afterward, the Maariv prayer lasted about twenty minutes. With the conclusion of the Maariv prayer, the Rav shlit"a performed the Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of the holiday) for the conclusion of the holiday. The special wonder was that the Rav shlit"a, who is known not to be particularly strict about the time of 'Rabbeinu Tam' (a later time for the end of the day) regarding either lengthening or shortening, here at 9:02 PM—exactly at the time the holiday ends according to Rabbeinu Tam—made Havdalah over the cup and entered his holy residence to the singing of 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' with great and immense vitality. Thus ended the festival of the Giving of the Torah in the holy shadow, with nearly seven hours of prayers in the holy presence of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

How fortunate are we that we merited this!!