• Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Toldot in the Presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Toldot, 2nd of Kislev 5786, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night - Holy Shabbat Eve

At 4:26 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, dressed in majestic Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 10 minutes. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a recited "Ashrei" and stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Erev Shabbat Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word by word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the reception of Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "Lekhu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lekha Dodi," which lasted approximately 30 minutes. Afterward, he recited "Kigavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Shabbat night with singing and melodies. At the end of Maariv, the Rav continued with the Zemiros (traditional songs) for Shabbat night. The Rav concluded the prayers at 6:30 PM, after nearly two hours of Shabbat night service.

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 5:00 AM, beginning with portions of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot (the Midnight Lamentation) that are customarily recited on Shabbat and holidays. The morning Zemiros and Korbanos (sacrificial readings) followed their usual order. At 5:45 AM, he began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u BiShmo" and the Pseukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great fervor. At 6:15 AM, he recited "Baruch She'amar." During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended the singing for about 15 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent Amidah prayer) at 7:15 AM, after more than two and a quarter hours of the Shacharit service.

Kriat HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (the cantor's repetition of the Amidah), they began the opening of the Ark, singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for 10 minutes, and as they took out the Torah scroll, they sang "Torat Hashem Temimah" (The Torah of Hashem is perfect) for several minutes. The Rav shlit"a instructed his grandson, R' Dov Zucker, to read from the Torah. One after another, those celebrating special occasions and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the Rav shlit"a's side during the prayer. The Torah reading and the Haftarah (prophetic reading) together lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began singing "Zera Chaya VeKayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for 7 minutes. Around 8:30 AM, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the repetition of the Amidah, he concluded the prayer and immediately after "Barchu," he recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat Kiddush) and delivered a lesson lasting less than a minute. During the lesson, the Rav became very weak and began to cough heavily; therefore, he entered his room immediately, and the prayer service concluded at 8:47 AM. He entered his holy home after nearly four hours (3:47) in which we merited Shacharit, the Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson during Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 4:20 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Shabbat Mincha prayer on his balcony and began with the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 10 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish, and they opened the Ark while singing "Yehei Ra'ava" for about 15 minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshat Vayetzei—for the three people called to the Torah. This was followed by the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 5:05 PM, while at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (the third meal). As is his holy custom, upon eating the first Kazayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Zemiros of the third meal for about 22 minutes. At the end of the Zemiros, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribon" (G-d, Master of the world) for a very long time—about 52 minutes! Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the wilderness) for 8 minutes, as well as "Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich" (I remember the kindness of your youth) for 15 minutes, and he extended the singing of "Ad Heina" (Until now) for 5 minutes. After nearly two hours of the third meal, the Rav shlit"a began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over a cup of wine with Sheva Brachot (seven wedding blessings).

Maariv and Havdalah

Close to 6:55 PM, immediately after Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals), the Rav shlit"a began singing "Lamnatzeach Binginot" for 10 minutes. After the singing concluded, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (the conclusion of Shabbat) with melodies of flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the "Vayehi Noam" order, extending the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He) for 10 minutes, and similarly the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (He will open) for an additional 10 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah (the separation ceremony) over the cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (Saturday Night)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Shabbat Queen)—which is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (King David the Messiah). Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang all the Melaveh Malkah Zemiros together with the entire public. Here, in the middle of "Adir Ayom VeNora," the Rav did not feel well and went inside. The followers thought the Rav would not return and continued the Zemiros. When they reached the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," during which the Rav usually delivers a lesson, they waited a bit. After realizing the Rav had not come out, they continued the song, but suddenly, in the midst of the song, through open miracles, the Rav emerged from his room to deliver the lesson, which lasted about 10 minutes, from the holy book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, the Rav continued the Zemiros of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." Following the songs, the Rav led the Zimun over the cup with Sheva Brachot. At the conclusion of Birkat HaMazon, the Rav delivered an additional lesson in which he instructed the order of study for this night. At 8:33 PM, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of over four and a quarter hours (4:18) that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, for the entire Shabbat, we spent over 10 hours meriting to take refuge in the holy shadow of the Rav during the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Toldot, 2nd of Kislev 5786.