"And G-d Shall Give You" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Toldot in the Presence of

Before you is an extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Toldot - 29th of Marcheshvan 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 16:13, the Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat. Initially, the song "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) was sung for 18 minutes with great vitality, and afterwards, they stood for the Mincha prayer. After the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, the Rav shlit"a recited the Seder HaHishtakrut (the order of spiritual attachment) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms from "L'chu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lecha Dodi" (Come my beloved), which lasted 36 minutes. After the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "K'gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer describing the unification of the spiritual worlds) and they began the Maariv (evening prayer) for Friday night with vitality and a flaming fire! After the Maariv prayer, the Rav continued at the end of the service, as is his custom every Shabbat, with the Zemirot (liturgical songs) usually said before Kiddush (sanctification over wine). It is worth noting an interesting innovation: he extended the singing of "Shalom Aleichem" (Peace be unto you) for about 10 minutes. At 18:39, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of "Savanu MiTuvecha" (Satisfy us from Your goodness) after a prayer service of exactly almost two and a half hours (2:26).

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 4:49 and began with some of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot (the Midnight Lamentation) that are recited. The Rav extended the singing of "Ki Nicham Hashem Tzion" (For Hashem has comforted Zion) for 5 minutes, as well as the liturgical poem "Shaarei Tzion" (Gates of Zion) in the sections customarily said on Sabbaths and Festivals. Afterwards, the morning Zemirot were sung with wonderful vitality. At the conclusion of the morning Zemirot, the Rav shlit"a recited the blessing over the Tallit (prayer shawl), and they continued with the recitation of the Korbanot (readings regarding the ancient sacrifices). After a break of 38 minutes, at 06:29, he went down to the sanctuary of our Beit Midrash (study hall) and immediately began the recitation of "Hodu" and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. This Shabbat, there was an extension of many melodies: the tune for "Hanechmadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold) lasted about 4 minutes, "Gozer Yam Suf" (Who split the Reed Sea) for 5 minutes, and "L'Makeh Melachim Gedolim" (To Him who struck great kings) was extended for 8 minutes. "Baruch She'amar" (Blessed is He who spoke) was only reached at 07:05. The singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) lasted 6 minutes. During "Yotzer Or" (Creator of Light), he extended the singing of "HaManchil Menucha" (Who grants rest) for 3 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the Eighteen Benedictions) prayer at 07:48. Immediately after the Chazarat HaShatz (the Cantor's repetition of the Amidah), the Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson (shiur) lasting several minutes.

Kriyat HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the lesson, the Rav instructed to take out the Torah scroll. He began the Torah reading for Parshat Toldot, during which many people celebrating special occasions were called up, including the naming of a great-granddaughter born to the Rav shlit"a—a daughter to his grandson, Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Zucker shlit"a. Also called up were those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing). Among them was R' Shalom Meirav, son of the Chassid R' Eliyahu Meirav zt"l; the Rav remarked about him that "he was a very great Tzaddik." Also called up was R' Nachman Dan Shapira, son of the Chassid R' Shimon Shapira zt"l; the Rav remarked about him that "he was the R' Shmuel Shapira of the generation, and in his merit the war stopped and in his merit Jews will stop being killed." Additionally, many guests from out of town and veteran students were called up, whom the Rav shlit"a calls up personally. The Haftarah (prophetic reading) of "Machar Chodesh" (Tomorrow is the New Moon) was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy Nachman Haziz. The Torah reading along with the Haftarah lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for 7 minutes. Afterwards, they continued to the Blessing of the New Month—the month of Kislev. The Molad (birth of the new moon) was this morning—the conclusion of the Holy Shabbat at 4:28. The Rav shlit"a delivered a short lesson about the Molad and Rosh Chodesh (the New Month) and requested that "everyone should remain in their Shabbat clothes until the time of the Molad, and afterwards go to the Mikvah (ritual bath), and at 5:00 begin the Rosh Chodesh prayer." The Rav sang "Yechadeshu" (May He renew it) with the Breslov melody of the Third Meal. Afterwards, they continued with "Ashrei," "Ki Lekach Tov," and the Rav approached for the Musaf (additional) prayer at 09:00. After the Cantor's repetition, he finished the prayer until after the Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification). Then he recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the great daytime Kiddush) and delivered a lesson of about 8 minutes on the weekly Torah portion—words of the Living G-d. At 08:53, he entered his holy home after more than three and a half hours (3:44) that we were privileged to experience Shacharit, the Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon Prayer)

At 16:44—the time of sunset—the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home with the recitation of Kaddish, and began saying "Brich Shmeh" (Blessed be His Name) and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for 5 minutes. Afterwards, he read from the Torah—Parshat Vayetze—for three people called to the Torah. Immediately following that was the Shemoneh Esrei prayer.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, which lasted about twenty minutes, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Third Meal at his place on the balcony at 17:05. As is his holy custom, he began with the first Kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread) and started the Third Meal Zemirot for about twenty minutes. Following them, he sang "Yah Ribon" (G-d, Master of the world) for 24 minutes. Afterwards, he continued with the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem: he found grace in the wilderness) for three minutes, and immediately transitioned to the singing of "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich" (Thus says [Hashem]: I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for seven minutes. After that, he extended the singing of "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for 16 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" (Rock from whose food we have eaten) and led the Zimun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine. Since they washed their hands after sunset, the Rav included "Retzei" and even "Ya'aleh V'Yavo" in the Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals).

Maariv and Havdalah

At 18:20, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" (To the conductor with melodies) for 24 minutes. Afterwards, he continued with the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies and a flaming fire. During the recitation of "Vayehi Noam" (May the pleasantness), 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 25 minutes and the singing of "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for another 5 minutes. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews) for two minutes.

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest (Motzaei Shabbat)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the "Accompanying the Queen" meal)—which is the meal of David the King, the Messiah. The Rav shlit"a sang along with the entire public all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malkah, which our holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman) so strongly encouraged singing. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet), he delivered a lesson for about 17 minutes. After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and the entire "Ribon Kol HaOlamim" (Master of all worlds). At the conclusion, he led the Zimun over the cup and blessed with "Ya'aleh V'Yavo." He entered his holy home at 20:44 to the singing of "Rishon L'Tzion" (The first to Zion) after a duration of about four and three-quarter hours (4:44) that we were privileged to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, the Third Meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah. In total, the entire Shabbat was exactly like last week—close to eleven hours (10:48) during which we were privileged to take refuge in his holy shadow on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Toldot, 29th of Marcheshvan 5785.