“And Moses Blessed Them” • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Pekudei

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Pekudei - HaChodesh, 29th of Adar 5785, in the shadow of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 18:17 (Daylight Savings Time), 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 garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 15 minutes. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha of the eve of Shabbat, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of connecting oneself to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "L'chu Neranena" until "Mizmor L'David." Afterward, he began the singing of "L'cha Dodi," which this Shabbat was particularly long, lasting exactly one hour. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "K'gavna" (a mystical Zohar passage) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. After the prayer, the Rav continued at the conclusion of the service, as he does every Shabbat, with Zemirot (songs) for Friday night. The prayer concluded at 21:06, after nearly three hours (2:49).

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 04:45. The Rav began with part of the verses of Chatzos (the midnight lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customary to say on Shabbat and holidays. It is noteworthy that he extended the singing of "Ki Nicham Hashem Tzion" (For Hashem has comforted Zion) for about 5 minutes. After the morning Zemirot, he wrapped himself in a Tallit (prayer shawl) and continued with the Korbanot (sacrificial readings) in order. Nearly an hour after the start of the prayer, he began the recitation of "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo" and Pseukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise), as every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. The Rav extended the singing of "HaNechemadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold) for about 5 minutes, and at 06:15, he stood for Baruch She'amar. During "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended the singing for 3 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent Amidah prayer) at 06:55.

Kriyat HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (the Cantor's repetition), the Psalm of the Day was recited, and they sang "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for 8 minutes, and then two Torah scrolls were removed from the Ark. The Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Parshat Pekudei. One after another, the Ba'alei Simcha (those celebrating life events) and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of the Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the reading of Pekudei, they raised the second Torah scroll for Parshat HaChodesh. The Torah reading, together with Parshat HaChodesh and the Haftarah (prophetic reading), lasted together about 45 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Viable and enduring offspring) for about 10 minutes. Afterward, he blessed the new month—"It shall be the first for you of the months of the year," the New Month of Nissan—and announced the Molad (the birth of the new moon). At the conclusion of the announcement of the month—which was shortly after the time of the Molad—he approached the Musaf prayer. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer in its order, finishing with the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He recited Kiddush immediately over a cup of wine for Kiddusha Rabba (the Shabbat morning Kiddush) and delivered a lesson (shiur) for about 5 minutes.

At 09:13, he entered his holy home after four hours and 32 minutes in which we merited to experience the Shacharit prayer, the Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 18:24, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home and unexpectedly began the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 10 minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Vayikra—with three people called to the Torah. Immediately following this, 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 third meal (Seudah Shlishit) at his place on the balcony at 18:52. As is his holy custom, with the first Kazayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Zemirot of the third meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the world) for 42 minutes. Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, he found favor in the desert) for 3 minutes, as well as the song "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for 9 minutes, and the song "Ad Heina" (Until now) for 14 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, after about an hour and forty minutes, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 20:25, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" for 20 minutes, and afterward continued with the Maariv prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies of flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," the Rav shlit"a extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory) and the song "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 over a cup of wine with the singing of "Layehudim" (The Jews had light and joy).

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

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka (the meal escorting the Shabbat Queen)—this is the meal of David the King, Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malka together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson (shiur) for about 10 minutes from the book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribbon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, the Rav led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine with Sheva Brachos (seven wedding blessings) for the groom Natan, son of Rabbi Aaron Richter, with his bride, the daughter of Rabbi Shalom Fuchs. After the Sheva Brachos, the Rav recited the blessing "Al HaGafen" and delivered an additional lesson for about a minute. At 22:35, he entered his holy home. This was after a continuous duration of four hours and 11 minutes that we merited to be together with him consecutively from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total, throughout the entire Shabbat, we spent over eleven and a half hours (11:32) in which we merited to take refuge in the shadow of holiness on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Pekudei - HaChodesh, 29th of Adar 5785.