"And Sarah's Life Was..." • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah in the

Below is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Chayei Sarah, 24 Kislev 5786, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night (Holy Shabbat Eve)

At 16:17, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat, dressed in majestic Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 20 minutes. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a recited Ashrei and stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Erev Shabbat Mincha, 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 (welcoming the Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "L'chu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." Afterward, he began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted about 45 minutes. He then recited "Kegavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer from the Zohar) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, the Rav continued with the Friday night zemirot (songs); the prayer ended at 18:55 after two hours and forty minutes.

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

For the Shacharit prayer, the Rav shlit"a came out at 04:51. He began with part of the verses of Chatzos (Midnight Lamentations) that are customarily said on Shabbat and holidays. The morning zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial readings) followed their usual order. At 05:40, he began reciting "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u Vi'shmo" and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as on every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh L'cha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended for about 10 minutes; in the melody following Yishtabach, he extended for another 10 minutes, while in "Ein Aruch" within the "Yotzer Or" blessing, he extended for about 6 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 07:10, after more than two and a half hours of the Shacharit prayer.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began the opening of the Ark, sang "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will), and took out the Torah scroll. The Rav shlit"a instructed his grandson, R' Dov Zucker, to read from the Torah. One after another, those celebrating special occasions and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) who merited to stand by the Rav's side during the prayer were called up. The Torah reading and the Haftarah (prophetic reading) together lasted about 50 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" (Living and enduring offspring), extending it for about 10 minutes. Around 08:50, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, he finished the prayer and immediately after "Aleinu L'shabach," he made Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the daytime Shabbat meal) and delivered a lesson for several minutes.

At 09:10, he entered his holy home after nearly four hours (3:53) during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson at Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 16:36, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Shabbat Mincha prayer on his balcony and began the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 7 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish, and they opened the Ark with the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" for about 5 minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Parshat Chayei Sarah—for the three called-up portions. This was followed by the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Raua D'Rauin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 17:07, at his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Shalosh Seudos (Third Meal). As is his holy custom, with the first kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Third Meal zemirot for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the zemirot, he extended at great length! In the singing of "Yah Ribon" (God, Master of the World) for about 57 minutes. Afterward, the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen Bamidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the wilderness) for 4 minutes, as well as the singing of "Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for one minute, and in the singing of "Ad Henah" (Until now) he extended for 10 minutes. After the singing, the Rav shlit"a began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Grace After Meals over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

Close to 19:00, immediately after the Grace After Meals, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach Binginot" for 10 minutes. After the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) Maariv prayer with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the "Vayehi Noam" order, extending the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He) for 10 minutes, and also the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (He will open) for another 7 minutes, after which he concluded the Maariv prayer as usual. Before Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat), the Rav shlit"a's great weakness was again evident as he went in for an additional break of about fifteen minutes, after which, to the joy of the holy congregation, he returned and performed Havdalah over the cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light and joy).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (Saturday Night)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (David the King, the Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang all the Melaveh Malkah zemirot together with the entire congregation. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 17 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, the Rav continued the zemirot "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, the Rav led the Grace After Meals over a cup. At the conclusion of the Grace After Meals, the Rav delivered another lesson in which he instructed the order of study for this night. At 20:50, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of over four hours (4:14) during which we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, the Three Meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

A total for the entire Shabbat of approximately 10 hours and 17 minutes during which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow of the Rav on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayera, 17 Marheshvan 5786.