All Who Take Refuge in You • Coverage of Shabbat Parshas Ki Tisa

This Shabbat was Shushan Purim Meshulash (the Triple Purim), and we merited to spend it in the shadow of our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). It is noteworthy that this special Shabbat, where the 15th of Adar—Shushan Purim—falls on Shabbat, will only occur again in twenty years, in the year 5805 (2045). This is a Shabbat dedicated entirely to increasing joy and dancing, a holy and very exalted Shabbat.

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and Shiurim (lessons) that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshas Ki Tisa - Purim Meshulash, 15th of Adar 5785, in the shadow of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night

At 5:18 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. The Rav began the holy Shabbat with the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for half an hour. Afterward, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (order of attachment to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, our teacher the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the reception of Shabbat) with all the psalms from "Lechu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted 33 minutes with special consciousness and vitality. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he said "K'Gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies following the prayer. Naturally, during the Shemoneh Esrei prayer, the Rav mentioned "Al HaNissim" (the Purim addition) out loud. It should be noted that during this Holy Shabbat, thousands literally stayed in the shadow of our teacher the Rav shlit"a; the entire plaza was filled to capacity, and this was even without the "Yaldei HaTzaddik" group of Rabbi Naftali Beek, which filled the entire hall on its own. Our teacher the Rav continued at the end of the prayer, as every Shabbat, with the Friday night songs of "Shalom Aleichem." The Rav extended this for 10 minutes while facing the public, concluding at 7:52 PM after two hours and 34 minutes.

Shacharit Prayer

On Shabbat morning, our teacher the Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit (morning) prayer at 4:50 AM. The Rav began with some of the verses of Tikkun Chatzos (the Midnight Lament) using the sections customary to say on Shabbats and festivals. Afterward, he began the Korbanos (sacrificial readings). Upon finishing the Korbanos, he began "Hodu L'Hashem" and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. "Baruch She'amar" was at 6:05 AM. The Rav extended the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) for about 5 minutes. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer at 6:50 AM, exactly one hour after sunrise.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition and the Song of the Day, they sang "Yehi Rava" (May it be the will) for about 5 minutes and brought out two Torah scrolls. After the Rav shlit"a returned, he began the Torah reading for Parshas Ki Tisa. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up. This week we were privileged to have four grooms who are merit to establish a Jewish home in the coming week, immediately after the Purim holiday. It is worth noting that although this is a special portion where the Kohen and Levi constitute most of the reading—the incident of the Golden Calf and the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy—in all the other Aliyos (ascents to the Torah) which are very short, our teacher the Rav shlit"a repeated for 32 (!) additional people called to the Torah. After finishing the reading of Ki Tisa, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went up to the Torah for the Purim day reading of "Vayavo Amalek" (And Amalek came). As every year, our teacher the Rav shlit"a announced to have the intention to fulfill the obligation of remembering Amalek. After the reading, he unexpectedly asked his grandson and Gabbai (attendant), Rabbi Dov Zucker, to read it again so it would be heard clearly. The special Haftarah (reading from the Prophets) from the Book of Samuel regarding Saul's war against Amalek and the execution of Agag, king of Amalek, by Samuel, was read by a Bar Mitzvah boy. It is noteworthy that this Haftarah, which is read two weeks in a row, only happens in Jerusalem and only during Purim Meshulash, and as we mentioned, the next time this will occur is in twenty years. The Torah reading, together with the Purim reading and the Haftarah, lasted a special duration of about an hour and five minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about 5 minutes. Afterward, he approached the Musaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, he concluded the prayer in order. At the end of the prayer, he recited Kiddush over a cup for the Kiddusha Rabba (the great Shabbat morning Kiddush) and delivered a Shiur (lesson) for about ten minutes. At 9:00 AM, he entered his holy home after four hours and ten minutes during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, the Torah reading with the Purim reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba, all together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.

After the prayer, a Kiddusha Rabba was held at the residence of our teacher the Rav shlit"a in honor of the birth of a daughter to Rabbi David Rubinstein, the grandson of our teacher Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, son of the Rav's son-in-law Rabbi Natan Rubinstein shlit"a, and son of the Mashpia (spiritual mentor) Rabbi Yehoshua Dov Rubinstein. Our teacher the Rav participated in the Kiddush celebration for the birth of his great-granddaughter and delivered a Shiur for about half an hour (27 minutes).

Mincha Prayer

At 5:45 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony, saying Kaddish and beginning "Berich Shmeih" and the singing of "Yehi Rava" for 25 minutes with special length. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshas Vayakhel—for three people called up. Immediately following, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of the Shabbat Mincha.

Ra'ava D'Ra'avin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Third Meal (Seudah Shlishit) around 6:30 PM. According to his holy custom, he began with the first Kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread) and started the Third Meal songs for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the songs, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribon" (Master of the Universe) for about 23 additional minutes. Afterward, the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the desert) for 5 minutes, as well as the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) for about 3 minutes, and the singing of "Ad Heina" (Until now) for about 12 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, after more than an hour, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 7:40 PM, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginos." Here, the joy of Purim was already strongly felt, as accompanied by music, our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang "Lamnatzeach BiNginos" at great length, over and over for 50 minutes! At 8:25 PM, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began the Maariv prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat Purim Meshulash. Here, "Al HaNissim" is no longer said, but this did not diminish the intensity of the melodies; the entire prayer was like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," our teacher the Rav shlit"a extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) for about 5 minutes, and the singing of "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for another 10 minutes. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (the separation ceremony) over the cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light...) for five minutes. Of course, everything was accompanied by stormy dancing with the joy of Purim!

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest (Melaveh Malkah)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah—this is the meal of David the King, the Mashiach. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang all the Melaveh Malkah songs together with the entire congregation. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a Shiur for about 10 minutes from Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman) regarding how Reb Noson (Rabbi Nathan) said that the days of Purim were harder for him than the service of Yom Kippur, among other topics. After the Shiur, he continued the songs "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, the Rav led the Grace After Meals over a cup. At the conclusion of the prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a delivered another Shiur for about a minute. Just seconds before entering his holy home, as he was already descending from his platform, he told the Gabbai to announce that the Shacharit prayer for the following day, the day of Purim DeMukafin Meshulash (the Triple Purim of walled cities), would take place at 4:30 AM, and the entire Shuvu Banim community rejoiced and was glad at hearing the wonderful news. The prayer concluded at 10:00 PM after a duration of four and a quarter hours that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, the Three Meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah. In total for the entire Shabbat—about ten hours (10:20), during which we merited to take refuge in the holy shadow on the Holy Shabbat, the day of Shushan Purim Meshulash, Parshas Ki Tisa, 15th of Adar 5785.

For the Jews there was light and gladness, and joy and honor!