And Moses Stretched Out His Staff • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Va'era in the

Before you is extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on the holy Shabbat Parshat Va'era, 27 Tevet 5786, in the shadow of the tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Shabbat Eve

At 16:15, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of Shabbat Eve, adorned in his Shabbat garments. They sang 'Or Zaru'a Latzaddik' for 15 minutes. Afterward, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for Shabbat Eve, he recited the order of 'Hitkashrut' (connection) word for word, with the entire congregation responding after him. Following this, our teacher, the Rav, began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the psalms, starting from 'Lechu Neranena' until 'Mizmor LeDavid'. Then, he began the singing of 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 40 minutes. Afterward, he recited 'Kegavna' and the Maariv prayer for Shabbat night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, our teacher, the Rav, continued with the Shabbat night zemirot (hymns) as is his holy custom every Shabbat. The prayer concluded at 19:00, after two hours and forty-five minutes.

Shacharit Prayer

For the Shacharit prayer, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, went out at 04:25. First, they sang 'Or Zaru'a Latzaddik' for about 5 minutes, and then our teacher, the Rav, began Tikkun Chatzot, the morning zemirot, and the Korbanot. At 05:20, he began reciting 'Hodu LaHashem Kir'u Vishmo' in Pesukei D'zimra, extending it as he does every week with melodies and songs. In particular, he extended the singing of 'HaNechmadim MiZahav' for about 5 minutes, and likewise, he extended the singing of 'Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh' for about 7 minutes. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer exactly at the time of sunrise. The length of the Shacharit prayer was about two and a quarter hours.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began opening the Ark, singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' for 5 minutes, and took out the Torah scroll. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and Yahrtzeits, who had merited to stand beside our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, during the prayer, were called up. This week there were about 40 aliyot; the Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about an hour. At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sanctified the upcoming month—the month of Shevat, whose molad (new moon) will be on Sunday at 14:45 and 11 chalakim.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabbah

At the conclusion of the blessing for the new month, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began the singing of 'Zera Chaya VeKayama', extending it for about 10 minutes. Afterward, he recited Ashrei, and close to 08:15, he approached the Musaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav finished the prayer, and after 'Anim Zemirot', he made Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabbah and delivered a lesson for about 20 minutes at length.

At exactly 09:00, he entered his holy abode after four hours and 25 minutes during which we merited to have Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson during Kiddusha Rabbah together with our teacher, the Rav shlit"a.

Immediately after the prayer, a Brit Milah took place at the residence of our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, for the son of R' Elisha Toledano, may Hashem protect him, one of our community members. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sat as the Sandek and was honored with the blessings, and he named the infant Yehuda, son of R' Elisha. May it be His will that just as he entered into the covenant, so may he enter into Torah, the Chuppah, and good deeds.

Mincha Prayer

At 16:33, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of holy Shabbat and began the singing of 'Or Zaru'a Latzaddik' at length for half an hour. Afterward, he recited Kaddish, and they opened the Ark while singing 'Yehei Ra'ava' for several minutes. Then, the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshat Bo—for three people. At the conclusion of the reading, they returned it to the Ark while singing 'Ki Lekach Tov' and stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Ra'ava D'ra'avin

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 17:25, at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the three meals. Departing from his holy custom and unexpectedly, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, began to deliver a lesson for 35 minutes before the zemirot.

Only at the conclusion of the lesson did he begin, as on every Shabbat, the zemirot for Seudah Shlishit for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the zemirot, he extended the singing of 'Ya Ribon' for about 50 minutes, which should be noted for its great length. Afterward, he began the singing of 'Nechsefa VeGam Kalta Nafshi' for another quarter of an hour. At the conclusion, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and led the Grace After Meals over the cup with the seven blessings.

Maariv and Havdalah

Close to 19:30, immediately after the Grace After Meals, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of 'LaMenatzeach BiNeginot' for a quarter of an hour. Now—after the departure of Shabbat—the singing was accompanied by musical instruments and stormy dancing. After the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat with melodies of fire and flame. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the order of 'Vayehi Noam', extended the singing of 'Baruch Hu' for 5 minutes, and with even greater length, the singing of 'Hu Yiftach' for about 20 minutes. Afterward, he finished the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah over the cup with the singing of 'LaYehudim'.

On the Evening of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah—this is the meal of David, the King Mashiach. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sang together with the entire public all the zemirot for Melaveh Malkah. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi', he delivered a lesson for 19 minutes. After the lesson, the Rav continued the zemirot 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim'. After the zemirot, our teacher, the Rav, led the Grace After Meals over the cup. At the conclusion of the Grace After Meals, the Rav delivered an additional lesson for 5 minutes. At 21:35, he entered his holy abode after a duration of over five hours and two minutes that we merited to be together with him from Mincha, the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total, the entire Shabbat was about 12 hours and 12 minutes! During which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow on holy Shabbat Parshat Va'era—the Shabbat of blessing the month, 27 Tevet 5786.