"And on the Seventh Day it Shall be Holy for You" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayakhel - Parah, 22nd of Adar 5785 (2025), in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 5:16 PM, the Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, adorned in Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua Latzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 23 minutes. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer for Erev Shabbat, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (order of spiritual connection to the Tzaddik) word by 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 "Lechu Neranena" until "Mizmor L'David." Afterward, he began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted 35 minutes. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "Kegavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. After the prayer, the Rav continued as he does every Shabbat with the Zemiros (Sabbath songs) for Friday night. The prayer concluded at 7:45 PM after nearly two and a half hours.

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 4:43 AM. The Rav began with some of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot (Midnight Lamentations) that are recited, specifically the sections customary to say on Shabbat and Festivals. Afterward, he made the blessing over the Tallit (prayer shawl) and began the Korbanot (sacrificial readings). About half an hour after the start of the prayer, he began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo" and the Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. The Rav prolonged the singing of "Hanechemadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold) for about 5 minutes, and at 5:50 AM, he stood for Baruch She'amar; at the words "For every mouth shall thank You," he prolonged for 7 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the silent standing prayer) at 6:40 AM.

Torah Reading (Kriat HaTorah)

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (repetition of the Amidah) and the Shir Shel Yom (Psalm of the day), they sang "Yehi Rava" and took out two Torah scrolls. After the Rav shlit"a returned, he began the Torah reading for Parshat Vayakhel. One after another, those celebrating life events and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up, meritng to stand by the side of the Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the reading of Vayakhel, they raised the second Torah scroll for Parshat Parah (the portion of the Red Heifer). The Rav read in a loud voice that was clearly heard; afterward, he asked his grandson, Rabbi Dov Zucker, to read it again so that it would be heard with absolute clarity. The Torah reading, together with Parshat Parah and the Haftarah (prophetic reading), lasted together about 50 minutes.

Musaf and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, the Rav shlit"a began singing "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about 5 minutes. Afterward, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer in its order. At the conclusion, he recited the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He then recited Kiddush (sanctification over wine) for Kiddusha Rabba and delivered a lesson for about 5 minutes.

At 8:35 AM, he entered his holy home after three hours and 51 minutes in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon Prayer)

At 5:56 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 (sanctification prayer). He began the recitation of "Berich Shemeih" and the singing of "Yehi Rava" for 23 minutes—it should be noted this was done with great length. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Pekudei—for three people called to the Torah. Following this, he immediately 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 Seudah Shlishit (third meal) at his place on the balcony at 6:18 PM. As is his holy custom, with the first Kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread), he began the Zemiros (songs) of the third meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemiros, he prolonged the singing of "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the world) for about 27 minutes. Afterward, he sang "Thus says Hashem, he found favor in the wilderness" for 2 minutes, as well as the song "Thus says Hashem, I remembered for you the kindness of your youth" for about 3 minutes, and the song "Ad Heina" (Until now) for 17 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, after an hour and twenty minutes, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 7:30 PM, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach Binginot" for 33 minutes, and then continued with the Maariv (evening) prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," the Rav shlit"a prolonged the singing of "Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory" and the song "He shall open our hearts to His Torah" for about 8 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).

The Conclusion of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melave Malka (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the feast of David the King, the Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros for Melave Malka together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 6 minutes from Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman) with great awakening, regarding how a person must say that all troubles happen because of me. After the lesson, he continued the Zemiros of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the Zemiros, the Rav led the Zimun over the cup with Sheva Brachos (seven blessings for a wedding celebration). After the Sheva Brachos, the Rav recited the blessing "Al HaGefen" and delivered another lesson for about a minute. At 9:27 PM, he entered his holy home. This was after a duration of three hours and 23 minutes that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melave Malka.

In total for the entire Shabbat—nearly ten hours (9:43) in which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow during the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayakhel - Parah, 22nd of Adar 5785.