"And Its Top Reached the Heavens" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayetze in the

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayetze - 6th of Kislev 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night

At 4:10 PM, 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 20 minutes with great vitality, and afterward, they stood for the Mincha prayer. After the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, the Rav shlit"a recited the Seder HaHisksherus (order of spiritual connection to the Tzaddik) 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," which lasted for 30 minutes. After the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "Kigavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer), and they began the Maariv (evening) prayer for Friday night with vitality and like a blazing fire! After the Maariv prayer, the Rav continued at the end of the service, as he does every Shabbat, with the Zemiros (songs) customarily recited before Kiddush. It is worth noting an innovation that hasn't occurred in a very long time: he extended the singing of "Ki Malachav" (For His angels) between "Shalom Aleichem" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim" for about 10 minutes! At 6:40 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of "Savanu MiTuvecha" (Satisfy us from Your goodness) after a prayer service lasting exactly two and a half hours.

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

For the Shacharit prayer, the Rav shlit"a came out at 4:33 AM and began with part of the verses from Tikkun Chatzos (Midnight Lamentations) that are recited, using the sections customary for Shabbats and festivals. Afterward, he led the morning Zemiros and Korbanos (sacrificial readings). After a 15-minute break, he descended to the sanctuary of our Beit Midrash (study hall), recited the blessing over the Tallit (prayer shawl), and immediately followed with the recitation of "Hodu" and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. This Shabbat, there was no extension of the melodies except for the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), which, like last week, lasted 6 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 6:42 AM. Immediately after the Chazarat HaShatz (repetition of the prayer by the cantor)—before the Torah reading—the Rav shlit"a delivered a 2-minute lesson.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the lesson, the Rav instructed to take out the Torah scroll. He began the Torah reading for Parshat Vayetze, during which many people celebrating simchas (joyous occasions) and yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up. This Shabbat, we were blessed with two grooms and three Bar Mitzvahs. Additionally, as is his holy custom, the Rav shlit"a calls up guests from out of town and veteran students. Since there were many Bar Mitzvahs, the son of R' Yehuda Vazana recited the blessings for the Haftarah (prophetic reading), and the Haftarah itself of "Vayivrach Yaakov" (And Jacob fled) in the book of Hosea was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy Naftali Katz, may his light shine, son of Moshe Katz, may Hashem protect him. The Torah reading together with the Haftarah lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zera Chaya VeKayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for 5 minutes. Afterward, the Rav said "Ki Lekach Tov" (For I have given you a good teaching) and immediately approached the Musaf (additional) prayer at 7:55 AM. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer until after "Aleinu Leshabeach." He then recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat Kiddush) and delivered a lesson of about a minute and a half of the words of the Living G-d. At 8:08 AM, he entered his holy home after more than three and a half hours (3:35) during which we were privileged to experience Shacharit, the Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 5:03 PM, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home with the recitation of Kaddish. He began saying "Berich Shmeih" (Blessed is His Name) and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for 10 minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Vayishlach—calling up three people. Immediately following this, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei 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 Third Meal at his place on the balcony at 5:30 PM. As is his holy custom, after the first kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Zemiros of the Third Meal for about twenty minutes. Following them, he sang "Yah Ribon" (Master of the World) for about 30 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the wilderness) for 2 minutes, and immediately transitioned to the singing of "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) for 2 minutes. He then continued at great length with the singing of "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for 25 minutes. At the end of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu," "Shir HaMa'alos," and led the Zimun (formal invitation to Grace after Meals) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 6:55 PM, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNeginos" for 25 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies and a blazing fire. During the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," 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 4 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 ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews there was light) for about a minute.

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal accompanying the departing Queen Shabbat)—this is the meal of David, the King Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire public, which Rebbe Nachman so strongly encouraged singing. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 8 minutes. After the lesson, he continued the Zemiros of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and the entire "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." At the conclusion, he led the Zimun over the cup and recited the Grace after Meals with "Ya'aleh VeYavo" (the special insertion for festivals). After the Grace after Meals, the Rav shlit"a spoke several words of encouragement regarding the utilization of time and learning with one's wife. He entered his holy home at 8:45 PM to the singing of "Uman Uman Rosh Hashanah..." after a duration of three hours and forty-seven minutes (3:47) that we were privileged to be with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the Third Meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah. In total, the entire Shabbat was exactly like last week—nearly ten hours (9:52) during which we were privileged to take shelter in his holy shadow on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayetze, 6th of Kislev 5785.