A Righteous and Pure Man • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Noach in the Presence of

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Noach, 3rd of MarCheshvan 5786, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 17:33, our teacher, The Rav shlit"a, went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, dressed in majestic Shabbat garments. The crowd sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 27 minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a recited Ashrei and stood for the Mincha prayer at the time of sunset. At the conclusion of the Erev Shabbat Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of spiritual connection to the Tzaddik) word by word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "Lechu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lecha Dodi" (Come, my beloved), which lasted approximately 37 minutes. Afterward, he recited "Kegavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer describing the spiritual unification of Shabbat) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Shabbat night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, The Rav continued with Zemiros (traditional songs) for Shabbat night; the prayer service concluded at 20:21, after two and a half hours (2:48).

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 05:03, beginning with a portion of the verses of Tikkun Chatzos (the Midnight Lamentation) that are customarily recited on Shabbat and holidays. The morning Zemiros and Korbanos (sacrificial readings) followed their usual order. At 05:53, he began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kiru BiShmo" and the Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lacha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he sang for about 8 minutes. In the melody following Yishtabach, he sang for about 4 minutes. Here came the great innovation of this Shabbat: during the "Yotzer Or" blessing, The Rav sang "HaManchil Menucha, HaManchil Menucha L'Amo Yisrael BiKdushato" (He who grants rest to His people Israel in His holiness) for eight minutes (!). The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 07:23, after more than two hours of the Shacharit service.

Torah Reading (Krias HaTorah)

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began the opening of the Ark, singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will), and brought out the Torah scroll. The Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Parshat Noach. One after another, those celebrating special occasions and those observing a Yahrtzeit (anniversary of a passing) were called up, having the merit to stand beside The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the Torah reading, a Bar Mitzvah boy read the Haftarah (prophetic portion); the Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted for a long hour.

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 about fifteen minutes. Afterward, he continued with "Av HaRachamim." Before returning the Torah scroll to the Ark, The Rav shlit"a performed a "Mi Sheberach" (blessing) for those fasting BeHa"B (the traditional Monday-Thursday-Monday fasts). Close to 09:00, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, he concluded the prayer in its order, finishing with The Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He then recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the Shabbat morning Kiddush) and delivered a lesson for about 8 minutes.

At 09:23, he entered his holy home after nearly four hours (4:20) in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson during Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon Prayer)

At 17:05, about an hour before sunset (!), The Rav shlit"a entered the balcony of his home for the Shabbat Mincha prayer and began singing "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 17 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish, and they opened the Ark while singing "Yehei Ra'ava." The Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshat Noach—for the three people called to the Torah. This was followed by the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of the Shabbat Mincha.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 17:45, while in 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 k'zayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Zemiros (songs) of the third meal for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemiros, he sang "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the world) for 23 minutes. Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the desert) for fifteen minutes, and immediately The Rav shlit"a began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimmun (invitation to grace) over a cup of wine, including the Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) for three grooms.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 18:50—about fifteen minutes after the conclusion of Shabbat—immediately after the Grace After Meals, The Rav shlit"a began singing "Lamnatzeach Binginos" at great length for 28 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies of "fiery flame." After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the "Vayehi Noam" order, singing "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He) for 21 minutes, and "Hu Yiftach" (He will open our hearts) for an additional 17 minutes. He then concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (The Jews had light and joy).

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, The Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal accompanying the departing Shabbat Queen)—this is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (King David, the Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 20 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, unexpectedly, The Rav recited Kaddish and then continued the Zemiros of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribbon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, The Rav led the Zimmun over the cup. At the conclusion of the Grace After Meals, The Rav performed the Sheva Brachos for the aforementioned grooms. At 20:16, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of nearly three hours and ten minutes that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the third meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, for the entire Shabbat, we merited to take shelter in his holy shadow for approximately ten hours and twenty minutes during the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Noach, 3rd of MarCheshvan 5786.