"And I Will Meet With You There" • Coverage of Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Adar

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Rosh Chodesh (the New Month of) Adar, Parshat Terumah - Shekalim, 1st of Adar 5785, in the shadow of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

The Eve of the Holy Shabbat

At 5:09 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of the eve of the glorious Shabbat, dressed in Shabbat attire. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 20 minutes. Afterward, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for the eve of the Holy 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 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," which lasted 30 minutes. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "Kegavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Shabbat night with singing and melodies. After the prayer, the Rav continued as he does every Shabbat with the Zemiros (songs) for Shabbat night, concluding at 7:47 PM after two hours and 38 minutes.

The Shacharis Prayer

Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, came out for the Shacharis (morning) prayer at 4:24 AM. The Rav began with some of the verses of Tikkun Chatzos (the Midnight Lament) that are recited, specifically the sections customarily said on Shabbat and Festivals. This was followed by the morning songs and the Korbanos (sacrificial offerings section). After about 45 minutes, at the conclusion of the Korbanos, he recited the blessing over the Tallit (prayer shawl) and began "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShemo" and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great fervor. Our teacher, the Rav, extended the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) for 10 minutes. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) exactly at 6:25 AM.

Hallel for Rosh Chodesh

Immediately after the Chazzan's (cantor's) repetition, he began the recitation of Hallel for Rosh Chodesh (the New Month). During Hallel, the Rav shlit"a extended the prayer with joy and vitality, particularly in the sections: "B'Tzes Yisrael MiMitzrayim" (When Israel went out of Egypt) for about 15 minutes, "Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov" (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good) for about 20 minutes, and "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na" (Please Hashem, save us) for about 5 minutes. The entire Hallel lasted approximately forty-five minutes.

The Torah Reading

After the conclusion of Hallel, the Rav entered his home for a break of about 10 minutes; meanwhile, the congregation sang "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) and three Torah scrolls were removed from the Ark. After the Rav shlit"a returned, he began the Torah reading for Parshat Terumah. One after another, those celebrating special occasions and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up, meriting to stand beside our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, during the prayer. After the conclusion of the Terumah reading, they read the Maftir for Rosh Chodesh, followed by the reading for Parshat Shekalim, for which the Bar Mitzvah boy was called up and also read the Haftarah (prophetic portion). The Torah reading, together with the Rosh Chodesh and Parshat Shekalim portions and the Haftarah, lasted together about 45 minutes.

The Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began singing "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (viable offspring) for about 7 minutes. Afterward, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer for Rosh Chodesh. After the Chazzan's repetition, he concluded the prayer in its order. At the end of Aleinu L'Shabeach, he recited Kiddush (sanctification over wine) nearby for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat Kiddush) and delivered a lesson for about 5 minutes. At 8:57 AM, he entered his holy home after four hours and 33 minutes, during which we merited to experience the Shacharis prayer, Hallel, the Torah reading, Musaf for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, and Kiddusha Rabba together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

The Mincha Prayer

At 5:34 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his home's balcony, starting with Kaddish. He then began "Brich Shmeih" and the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" for 12 minutes. Afterward, the Torah was read for Parshat Tetzaveh with three people called up. Immediately following, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of the Shabbat Mincha.

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 Shalosh Seudos (the three meals/third meal) at his place on the balcony at 6:05 PM. According to his holy custom, he began with the first "kezayit" (olive-sized portion of bread) and started the Zemiros (songs) for the third meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the songs, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribon" (Master of the world) for about 18 minutes. Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the wilderness) for 3 minutes, as well as "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) and "Ad Heina" (Until now), each for an additional 3 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 7:00 PM, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach Binginos" for half an hour; it should be noted that during this time, the Rav entered his home for about 7 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sang "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) and "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for about 20 minutes. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (the separation ceremony) over a cup of wine with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light and joy).

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah at 8:15 PM, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka (the meal accompanying the departing Queen) - this is the feast of David, the King Mashiach. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sang all the Zemiros for Melaveh Malka together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 15 minutes from the book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the songs "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." Following the songs, the Rav led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine with Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) for the groom Nachman, son of Rabbi Ilan Lefkowitz, and delivered another lesson for about a minute. He entered his holy home at 9:10 PM. This followed a duration of nearly four hours (3:46) that we merited to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total for the entire Shabbat - about ten hours (9:57), during which we merited to take refuge in the holy shadow on the Holy Shabbat of Rosh Chodesh Adar, Parshat Terumah - Shekalim, 1st of Adar 5785.