Reading Mishneh Torah (Deuteronomy) from the Torah Scroll that Released the Hostages ○ Shacharit (Morning Prayer) and Hallel (Psalms of Praise) ○ Hoshanot (Prayers for Salvation) and the Beating of the Aravah (Willow Branches) ○ Musaf (Additional Prayer) for the Day of the Final Seal ○ A Gut Kvittel (A Good Note/Judgment)

The holy day of Hoshana Rabbah, the fourth "Day of the Seal." As in previous years, this year we were also privileged to have Shacharit, Hallel, Hoshanot, and Musaf together with the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). Before you is the full report from the holy day:

"This Torah Scroll Will Release the Hostages"

On the holy night after Maariv (Evening Prayer), the family of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, gathered for the reading of Mishneh Torah (Deuteronomy) as is customary on this holy night. This year, this reading became the talk of the day because the Torah scroll they read from before our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was the Torah scroll whose writing began nearly two years ago on the King's Birthday, about three months after the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" war. Back then, at the start of its writing, the Rav shlit"a expressed himself to the astonishment of those present: "When they finish writing this Torah scroll, all the hostages will be released, and the war will end." At that time, about three months after the terrible massacre, the idea seemed detached from reality. The army was deep inside the Gaza Strip, and the chance of returning "all" the hostages was considered more than even a distant dream. But the Tzaddik shlit"a foresaw with his pure eyes what would occur upon the completion of the writing of the "Torah Scroll of all the People of Israel," as he called it.

And indeed, the unbelievable happened. Although the writing of the scroll was supposed to have ended long ago, it was completed exactly half an hour before it was finally announced that the agreement to release the hostages was approved by all sides. There is no doubt that the holy spirit of the Tzaddik is what proved once again the faith in the True Tzaddik and his holy spirit, which looks into the distance! Indeed, the Torah scroll brought about the release of all the hostages!!!

[caption id="attachment_66645" align="aligncenter" width="393"] Our teacher, the Rav Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, on the night of Hoshana Rabbah during the writing of the Torah scroll that brought about the release of the hostages[/caption]

Save Us Now—Gather Us to the House of Prayer

At 5:17 AM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Hoshana Rabbah prayer on the balcony of his home. All the hundreds—one could even say nearly a thousand people—who came to pray on the "Day of Judgment" together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood in the courtyard of our Beit Midrash (Study Hall)—the prayer hall. Everyone was wrapped in white with a Tallit (prayer shawl) and a Kittel (white robe), singing "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for about 22 minutes before the prayer. Afterward, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began the Shacharit (Morning Prayer), starting with the recitation of Tikkun Chatzot (Midnight Lamentation) with the verses customary to say on Sabbaths and Festivals. The morning songs and the recitation of the Korbanot (sacrificial offerings) were done with vitality and spiritual awakening. At 5:50 AM, at the time of wrapping the Tallit, he recited the blessing and wrapped himself. At 6:35 AM, he began saying "Hodu"—Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) along with the additions for Hoshana Rabbah, a prayer similar to the Shacharit of a Yom Tov (Festival). He extended the singing and melodies, such as the song "Hoshia Et Amecha" (Save Your people) for about 5 minutes, and "HaNechmadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold) for 8 minutes. In a side note, it should be mentioned that it is a great source of vitality to hear the Rav shlit"a sing these melodies through the loudspeaker, as this is essentially the only time of the year when the Rav shlit"a says these Pesukei D'Zimra, which are said on Shabbat and Yom Tov, through a microphone, and his pure voice is heard from afar. At 7:20 AM, he said "Baruch She'amar," and about fifteen minutes later, they reached the end of "Yishtabach." Here, by the Rav's instruction, the prayer leader, Rabbi Dov Zucker, sang "Berachot VeHoda'ot LeShimcha HaGadol" (Blessings and thanks to Your great Name) loudly in the High Holiday melody, as is customary on the Day of the Final Seal. Of course, after "Yishtabach," our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, said "Shir HaMa'alot" (Song of Ascents) verse by verse, and the entire massive crowd answered after him. They only stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (Silent Prayer) of Shacharit for the Day of the Final Seal at 7:54 AM—nearly three hours of Shacharit prayer.

As You Saved Those Who Circled the Altar

At 8:06 AM, our teacher, the Rav, recited the blessing "Al Netilat Lulav" (on the taking of the palm branch) under the holy Sukkah above him. Immediately following, while shaking the Lulav, he recited the blessing and began the singing of Hallel (Psalms of Praise)—holding the holy Four Species in his hands throughout the entire Hallel. As is his holy custom, he shook them many times to sweeten the judgments and difficult hours through the shakings, which contain hidden and exalted secrets. The entire Hallel was sung with melodies of immense vitality. Especially prominent was the singing of "BeTzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim" (When Israel went out of Egypt) for about 25 minutes. Afterward, with further length, the singing of "Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov" (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good) for another 25 minutes, while our teacher, the Rav, paused for the customary shakings. He concluded the lengthy Hallel with the stirring melody of "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na" (Please, Hashem, save us now), which he extended for about 8 minutes.

Upon finishing the singing of Hallel, which lasted over an hour (1:06), they reached the climax of the Day of the Final Seal: the holy Hoshanot (prayers for salvation). Our teacher, the Rav, circled in the Hakafot (circuits) with the Four Species around the platform of the Torah scroll on the balcony. At the end of each circuit, our teacher, the Rav, said the special verse for the Hoshana Rabbah circuits. The spiritual awakening grew and intensified: "Your children cry out, save us now!" And above all, at the peak of the moments of the Final Seal, "Kol Mevaser, Mevaser Ve'omer..." (A voice heralds, heralds and says...). His pure voice roared the verses, and the entire public was with him like a flaming fire! The entire Hakafot on the Day of the Final Seal, Hoshana Rabbah, lasted forty full minutes.

At the conclusion of the Hoshanot, before the beating of the Aravah (willow branches), our teacher, the Rav, sang "Hoshia Et Amecha" (Save Your people) for several minutes. After Kaddish Titkabal, our teacher, the Rav, beat the special large Aravot.

Save Us Now—Your Holy Torah

Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, instructed to open the Ark while reciting the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. The Torah reading for Hoshana Rabbah, "And on the seventh day," had four people called up; the third Aliyah (call to the Torah) was the venerable Chassid Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit"a. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, was of course honored with the fourth Aliyah—the Aliyah of our holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman). At 9:20 AM, our teacher, the Rav, began the Musaf (Additional) prayer, and during the Cantor's repetition, he further extended the melodies of "VeKarev Pezureinu" (And bring near our scattered ones) for about 10 minutes and the singing of "VeHavienu LeTziyon Ircha" (And bring us to Zion Your city) for another 14 minutes. After Musaf, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, said "Kaveh," "Aleinu," "Anim Zemirot," and the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). At the end of the Tikkun HaKlali, our teacher, the Rav, delivered a lesson for about 6 minutes on the greatness of the day and utilizing it specifically through the study of the holy Gemara (Talmud) on the holy Day of the Final Seal. At 11:06 AM, he entered his holy residence after nearly six hours (5:49) in which we were privileged to be sealed with a "Pitka Tava" (a good note/judgment) in the fourth seal by the Tzaddik!