"AND HE SAID: I AM JOSEPH!!" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshas Vayigash in the

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshas Vayigash, 7th of Teves 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 4:38 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat, looking majestic in his Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 13 minutes. Afterward, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha of Erev Shabbat, 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 Kabbalas Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with all the psalms, from "Lechu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." Afterward, he began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted approximately 40 minutes. He then recited "Kegavna" (a mystical prayer from the Zohar) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Shabbat night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, the Rav continued with the Zemiros (traditional songs) for Shabbat night, as is his holy custom every Shabbat. At the end of the Zemiros, the Rav finished the prayer service at 7:00 PM, after two hours and twenty-two minutes.

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 4:40 AM. Initially, they sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for about 4 minutes, and then the Rav began Chatzos (the Midnight Lamentation), the morning Zemiros, and the Korbanos (sacrificial readings). At 5:30 AM, he began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo" and the Pesukei D'Zimrah (verses of praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. Before "Mizmor Shir Chanukas HaBayis," the Rav shlit"a wrapped himself in his Tallit (prayer shawl). During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh," he extended the singing for about 4 minutes. Similarly, during the singing of "Ein Aruch Lecha," he also extended it for about 4 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent standing prayer) shortly after the time of Netz HaChama (sunrise) at 6:50 AM. The length of the Shacharit prayer was approximately two hours and ten minutes.

Torah Reading (Krias HaTorah)

After the conclusion of the Chazaras HaShatz (the Cantor's repetition), they began the opening of the Ark, singing "Y'hei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for several minutes, and brought out the Sefer Torah. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) who merited to stand by the side of the Rav shlit"a during the prayer were called up. The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zar'a Chaya V'Kayama" (May we have living and enduring offspring), extending it for 5 minutes. Afterward, he recited Ashrei, and close to 7:50 AM, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazaras HaShatz, the Rav made Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat Kiddush) and delivered a lesson for about 5 minutes.

At 8:15 AM, he entered his holy home after approximately three hours and thirty-five minutes during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, the Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson during Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon Prayer)

At 4:17 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered the balcony of his home for the Shabbat Mincha prayer and began the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 15 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish, and they opened the Ark while singing "Y'hei Ra'ava" for several minutes. Then, the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshas Vayechi—for the three called-up individuals. This was followed by the Shemoneh Esrei prayer for Shabbat Mincha.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 4:53 PM, while in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for Shalosh Seudos (the three meals of Shabbat). As is his holy custom, with the first Kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Zemiros of the third meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemiros, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribbon" (God, Master of the world) for about 52 minutes—it should be noted this was with great length. Afterward, he began the singing of "Nichsefa V'Gam Kalsa Nafshi" (My soul longs and even faints) for about 10 minutes, and then he changed from the songs he usually sings and began the singing of "Urah Kevodi" (Awake, my glory) for 15 minutes. At the end, the Rav shlit"a began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine with Sheva Brachos (seven blessings for a groom).

Maariv and Havdalah

Close to 6:35 PM, immediately after the Grace After Meals, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeiach BiNeginos" (Psalm 67) for 20 minutes, accompanied by musical instruments with singing and dancing. After the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the "V'yehi Noam" order, extending the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He) for 5 minutes, as well as the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (May He open) for 3 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah over the cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (Saturday Night)

After Havdalah, close to 7:10 PM, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Shabbat Queen)—this is the feast of David, the King Mashiach. 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 8 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, the Rav continued the songs "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim," and after the songs, the Rav led the Zimun over the cup. At the conclusion of the Grace After Meals, the Rav unexpectedly delivered another lesson for 12 minutes. At 8:30 PM, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of over four hours and five minutes that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, the entire Shabbat lasted exactly 10 hours! During which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow on the Holy Shabbat of Parshas Vayigash, 7th of Teves 5786.