And Moses Stretched Out His Staff • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Va'era in the Shadow of the Righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a
Below is an extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Va'era, 27th of Tevet 5786, in the shadow of the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:
Friday Night
At 16:15, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat eve, adorned in Shabbat garments. They sang for 15 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik'. Afterwards, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for the eve of Shabbat, he recited the order of connection word by word, and the entire congregation responded after him. Then, our teacher the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the psalms from 'Lechu Neranena' to 'Mizmor LeDavid'. Subsequently, he began singing 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 40 minutes. Afterwards, he recited 'Kegavna' and the Maariv prayer of Friday night with song and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, our teacher the Rav continued with the songs for Friday night 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. Initially, they sang for about 5 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik', and then our teacher the Rav began Tikkun Chatzot, morning songs, and sacrifices. At 05:20, he began reciting 'Hodu LaHashem Kiru Bishmo' in Pesukei Dezimra, extending as every week with melodies and songs. He especially extended in the song 'Hanechmadim Mizahav' for about 5 minutes, and in the song 'Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh' for about 7 minutes. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer exactly at sunrise. The length of the Shacharit prayer was about two hours and a quarter.
Torah Reading
After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began with the opening of the ark, singing 'Yehi Ratzon' for 5 minutes, and took out the Torah scroll. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and yahrzeits who merited to stand during the prayer alongside our teacher the Rav shlit"a 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 of Shevat, which will be born on Sunday at 14:45 and 11 parts.
Mussaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba
At the conclusion of the blessing of the month, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya Vekayama', extending for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, he recited Ashrei and around 08:15 proceeded to the Mussaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav concluded the prayer, and after An'im Zemirot, he sanctified on the cup at Kiddusha Rabba, and delivered a lesson of about 20 minutes in length.
At exactly 09:00, he entered his holy home after four hours and 25 minutes during which we merited to the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Mussaf, and a lesson at Kiddusha Rabba together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.
Immediately after the prayer, a brit took place at the residence of our teacher the Rav shlit"a for the son of R' Elisha Toledano, may he live, one of our community members. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sat as the Sandak and was honored with blessings, and the child's name in Israel was called Yehuda son of R' Elisha. May it be His will that just as he entered the covenant, so too may he enter into Torah, marriage, and good deeds.
Mincha Prayer
At 16:33, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home and began singing 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' extensively for half an hour. Afterwards, he recited Kaddish and opened the ark with the song 'Yehi Ratzon' for a few minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah – Bo – three aliyot. At the conclusion of the reading, they returned the scroll to the ark with the song 'Ki Lekach Tov' and stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of the Shabbat Mincha.
Ra'ava Deravin
At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 17:25, in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the third meal. In a change from his holy custom and surprisingly, our teacher the Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson for 35 minutes before the songs.
Only at the conclusion of the lesson did he begin, as every Shabbat, with the songs for the third meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the songs, he extended in the song 'Yah Ribono' for about 50 minutes, with great length, it should be noted. Afterwards, he began singing 'Nafshi Kasa Vagam Kaltah' for an additional quarter of an hour. At the end, the Rav shlit"a began with 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and blessed on the cup with seven blessings.
Maariv and Havdalah
Close to 19:30, immediately after Birkat Hamazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamnatzeach Binginot' for a quarter of an hour. Now, after Shabbat has ended, the singing is accompanied by musical instruments and lively dancing. After the singing concluded, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat with fiery melodies. After Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the order of 'Vayehi Noam', extending in the song 'Baruch Hu' for 5 minutes, and with even greater length in the song 'Hu Yiftach' for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and made Havdalah on the cup with the song 'L'Yehudim'.
On the Night After the Day of Rest
After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka – this is the meal of David, King Messiah. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang together with the entire congregation all the songs for Melaveh Malka. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi', he delivered a lesson for 19 minutes. After the lesson, the Rav continued with the songs 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim'. After the songs, the Rav blessed on the cup. At the conclusion of Birkat Hamazon, the Rav delivered another lesson for 5 minutes. At 21:35, he entered his holy home. After an extension of over five hours and two minutes, we merited to be with him from the Mincha prayer, three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.
Total for the entire Shabbat: approximately 12 hours and 12 minutes! We merited to shelter in the holy shadow on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Va'era – Shabbat Mevarchim, 27th of Tevet 5786.
Friday Night
At 16:15, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat eve, adorned in Shabbat garments. They sang for 15 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik'. Afterwards, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for the eve of Shabbat, he recited the order of connection word by word, and the entire congregation responded after him. Then, our teacher the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the psalms from 'Lechu Neranena' to 'Mizmor LeDavid'. Subsequently, he began singing 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 40 minutes. Afterwards, he recited 'Kegavna' and the Maariv prayer of Friday night with song and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, our teacher the Rav continued with the songs for Friday night 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. Initially, they sang for about 5 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik', and then our teacher the Rav began Tikkun Chatzot, morning songs, and sacrifices. At 05:20, he began reciting 'Hodu LaHashem Kiru Bishmo' in Pesukei Dezimra, extending as every week with melodies and songs. He especially extended in the song 'Hanechmadim Mizahav' for about 5 minutes, and in the song 'Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh' for about 7 minutes. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer exactly at sunrise. The length of the Shacharit prayer was about two hours and a quarter.
Torah Reading
After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began with the opening of the ark, singing 'Yehi Ratzon' for 5 minutes, and took out the Torah scroll. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and yahrzeits who merited to stand during the prayer alongside our teacher the Rav shlit"a 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 of Shevat, which will be born on Sunday at 14:45 and 11 parts.
Mussaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba
At the conclusion of the blessing of the month, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya Vekayama', extending for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, he recited Ashrei and around 08:15 proceeded to the Mussaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav concluded the prayer, and after An'im Zemirot, he sanctified on the cup at Kiddusha Rabba, and delivered a lesson of about 20 minutes in length.
At exactly 09:00, he entered his holy home after four hours and 25 minutes during which we merited to the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Mussaf, and a lesson at Kiddusha Rabba together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.
Immediately after the prayer, a brit took place at the residence of our teacher the Rav shlit"a for the son of R' Elisha Toledano, may he live, one of our community members. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sat as the Sandak and was honored with blessings, and the child's name in Israel was called Yehuda son of R' Elisha. May it be His will that just as he entered the covenant, so too may he enter into Torah, marriage, and good deeds.
Mincha Prayer
At 16:33, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home and began singing 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' extensively for half an hour. Afterwards, he recited Kaddish and opened the ark with the song 'Yehi Ratzon' for a few minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah – Bo – three aliyot. At the conclusion of the reading, they returned the scroll to the ark with the song 'Ki Lekach Tov' and stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of the Shabbat Mincha.
Ra'ava Deravin
At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 17:25, in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the third meal. In a change from his holy custom and surprisingly, our teacher the Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson for 35 minutes before the songs.
Only at the conclusion of the lesson did he begin, as every Shabbat, with the songs for the third meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the songs, he extended in the song 'Yah Ribono' for about 50 minutes, with great length, it should be noted. Afterwards, he began singing 'Nafshi Kasa Vagam Kaltah' for an additional quarter of an hour. At the end, the Rav shlit"a began with 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and blessed on the cup with seven blessings.
Maariv and Havdalah
Close to 19:30, immediately after Birkat Hamazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamnatzeach Binginot' for a quarter of an hour. Now, after Shabbat has ended, the singing is accompanied by musical instruments and lively dancing. After the singing concluded, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat with fiery melodies. After Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the order of 'Vayehi Noam', extending in the song 'Baruch Hu' for 5 minutes, and with even greater length in the song 'Hu Yiftach' for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and made Havdalah on the cup with the song 'L'Yehudim'.
On the Night After the Day of Rest
After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka – this is the meal of David, King Messiah. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang together with the entire congregation all the songs for Melaveh Malka. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi', he delivered a lesson for 19 minutes. After the lesson, the Rav continued with the songs 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim'. After the songs, the Rav blessed on the cup. At the conclusion of Birkat Hamazon, the Rav delivered another lesson for 5 minutes. At 21:35, he entered his holy home. After an extension of over five hours and two minutes, we merited to be with him from the Mincha prayer, three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.
Total for the entire Shabbat: approximately 12 hours and 12 minutes! We merited to shelter in the holy shadow on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Va'era – Shabbat Mevarchim, 27th of Tevet 5786.
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