"And Moshe Finished the Work" • A Review of Shabbat Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei in the Shadow of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland

The Holy Friday Night

At 18:28, Rabbi Berland shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home for the Minchah (afternoon) prayer of Friday evening, adorned in his Shabbat garments. They sang "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" for 17 minutes. Afterward, Rabbi Berland shlit"a stood for the Minchah prayer. At the conclusion of the Friday afternoon Minchah, he recited the Seder HaHiskashrus (prayer of connection to the Tzaddikim) word for word, with the entire congregation answering after him. Following this, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the psalms, starting from "Lechu Neranena" until "Mizmor LeDavid." He then began singing "Lecha Dodi," which lasted for about 45 minutes. Afterward, he recited "Kevgavna" and the Friday night Maariv (evening) prayer with singing and melodies. At the end of Maariv, the Rav began Sefirat HaOmer (Counting of the Omer) for the day of Gevurah shebeGevurah, which lasted about twenty minutes. After Sefirat HaOmer, he continued with the Friday night zemiros (Shabbat songs) as is his holy custom every Shabbat, and prolonged the singing of "Shalom Aleichem" for about 5 minutes. After reciting "Ki Malachav Yetzaveh Lach," he recited Kaddish, and the prayer concluded at 21:10, after two hours and 42 minutes.

Shacharit Prayer

For the Shacharit (morning) prayer, Rabbi Berland shlit"a came out at 04:15—much earlier than usual. The Rav began the prayer by singing "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" for 5 minutes. Afterward, the Rav began Chatzos (the midnight lament over the Temple) and prolonged the singing of "Ki Nicham Hashem Tziyon" for 5 minutes. He then continued with the morning zemiros and Korbanot (sacrificial readings). At 05:20, he began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u Bishmo" in Pesukei D'Zimrah (Verses of Praise), prolonging it with melodies and songs as he does every week. In particular, he prolonged the singing of "HaNechemadim MiZahav" for 7 minutes. At the proper time, he wrapped himself in his tallit and continued the prayer in its regular order. At 05:50, they recited "Baruch She'amar," and during the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh," he prolonged it for about 10 minutes. Rabbi Berland shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent standing prayer) at 06:35. The duration of the Shacharit prayer alone was about two hours and twenty minutes.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began opening the Holy Ark and sang "Yehei Ra'ava Kadamach" for 10 minutes. During this time, the Rav went inside his home and came out 10 minutes later, and they immediately lifted the Torah scroll (Hagbah). The Rav's grandson, R' Dov Zucker, may Hashem protect and preserve him, began the Torah reading. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and observing a yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) were called up to the Torah, meriting to stand beside Rabbi Berland shlit"a during the prayer. The Torah reading, along with the Haftarah, lasted about 50 minutes.

At the conclusion of the Haftarah, Rabbi Berland shlit"a began reciting "Yekum Purkan," prolonging the singing of "Zera Chaya VeKayama" (a prayer for viable offspring) for about 10 minutes.

After the Torah reading, they blessed the new month of Iyar, and then recited "Av HaRachamim," as is customary during the days of Sefirat HaOmer. The Rav shlit"a prolonged the melody of "Harninu Goyim Amo" slightly, as well as the cry of "Nikmat Dam Avadecha HaShafuch" (avenging the spilled blood of Your servants), for about 5 minutes altogether.

Mussaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

Afterward, he recited "Ashrei," and close to 08:15, he approached the Mussaf (additional) prayer. Following the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav concluded the prayer in its regular order. After reciting The Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification), he made Kiddush over a cup of wine for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Kiddush) and delivered a deeply expansive Torah class for about 10 minutes.

At 08:43, he entered his holy and beautiful home after about 4 hours and 28 minutes in which we merited to experience the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Mussaf, and the Torah class during Kiddusha Rabba together with Rabbi Berland shlit"a.

Minchah Prayer

At 18:41, Rabbi Berland shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home for the Shabbat Minchah prayer and began singing "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" for 10 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish and they opened the Holy Ark. The Rav shlit"a then read from the Torah—Parshat Tazria—calling up three people. At the conclusion of the reading, they returned the Torah scroll to the Ark while singing "Ki Lekach Tov" and stood for the Shabbat Minchah Shemoneh Esrei.

Ra'ava D'Ra'avin (The Time of Ultimate Will)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Minchah prayer at 19:10, from his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for Shalosh Seudos (the Third Meal). He immediately began, as is his holy custom, with the zemiros of the Third Meal for about 23 minutes. At the end of the zemiros, he began singing "Kah Ribbon" for about 25 minutes. Afterward, the Rav began delivering a Torah class to his grandchildren on the balcony for half an hour.

Surprisingly, at the end of the songs, the Rav did not continue with the usual melodies. Instead, at 20:25, he began singing "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

Immediately after Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals), the Rav shlit"a began singing "LaMenatzeach BiNeginot" for 10 minutes. After the singing concluded, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) Maariv prayer, singing with a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the "Vihi Noam" sequence, prolonging the singing of "Baruch Hu" for 10 minutes, and then even more extensively during the singing of "Hu Yiftach" for exactly 30 minutes. After the singing, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its regular order. He then began Sefirat HaOmer for the day of Tiferet shebeGevurah; the counting of the Omer lasted for about half an hour. At its conclusion, the Rav shlit"a made Havdalah (the separation ceremony ending Shabbat) over a cup of wine, accompanied by the singing of "LaYehudim."

Upon the Departure of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, at 22:15, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the meal of David, the Anointed King (Mashiach ben David). Rabbi Berland shlit"a sang all the zemiros for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire congregation. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a Torah class for 7 minutes. After the class, the Rav went inside his home, and the congregation continued singing "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribbon Kol HaOlamim." At the conclusion of the zemiros, the Rav shlit"a returned and led the Zimun over a cup of wine. At the end of Birkat HaMazon, the Rav delivered another Torah class for 2 minutes. Around 22:57, he entered his holy and beautiful home, after a duration of 4 hours and 16 minutes in which we merited to be together with him from the Minchah prayer, Shalosh Seudos, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.