Coverage and Documentation of the Shabbat of Receiving the Torah - Parshat Yitro 5784 in the Presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days)

"Torah from Sinai"—we were privileged this Shabbat, the Shabbat of Receiving the Torah, to pray in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. For nearly nine hours, we merited to be in the presence of the Rav shlit"a.

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (the eve of the holy Sabbath), the Rav went out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer shortly before candle lighting (16:28). This was followed by Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath), where 'Lecha Dodi' lasted over forty-two minutes with an incomparable sweetness. We must note that for an hour and a half, throughout Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, and 'Lecha Dodi,' nearly a thousand people—men, women, and children—stood under the open sky amidst the drizzling rains of blessing that descend on Shabbat nights. After the Kabbalat Shabbat service, which lasted about an hour, the Rav continued with the Maariv (evening) prayer and the Shabbat night Zemiros (songs). After two hours and thirty minutes, he returned to his holy home at 18:40.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer early, about two hours before the Netz HaChama (sunrise) at 4:30. The Shacharit (morning) prayer lasted about two hours, beginning with Chatzos (midnight lamentations) and the morning Zemiros, Korbanot (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) with great vitality. All the melodies were sung with enthusiasm; however, this Shabbat the Rav shlit"a was weak and hurried the melodies slightly. Yet, even the shortest prayer in Shuvu Banim lasts many hours, with each melody taking about three to four minutes. A Shabbat of the "delight of souls!" The Rav shlit"a reached the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer) at the exact minute of sunrise at 6:30, two hours after the prayer began. Following the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition by the Rav shlit"a.

The highlight of the Shabbat was, of course, the reading of the Ten Commandments. The Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading at ten to seven in the morning, as those celebrating special occasions and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up one after another. Then, when it came time for the Aliyah (Torah honor) of the Ten Commandments, the Rav shlit"a was, of course, honored with the Aliyah. After the blessings, the entire large crowd fell silent—men, women, and children. Not a bird chirped, and not a baby cried. The Moshe Rabbeinu of the generation would speak, and G-d would answer him with a voice during "I am Hashem." It is impossible to describe the loftiness and awe during the reading of the Ten Commandments. The Torah reading was concluded by the Bar Mitzvah boy, Shmuel Isaac Levit, may his light shine, who also completed the Haftarah (prophetic reading) of "The Vision of Isaiah" in a loud, clear, and lucid voice.

Shortly before 8:00 AM, they stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer. After Musaf, the Rav shlit"a continued the prayer service in its order, from 'Kaveh el Hashem' until the Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification). After completing the recitation of the ten psalms established by Rebbe Nachman with melody and song, the Rav shlit"a made Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered Divrei Elokim Chayim (words of the Living G-d). He spoke about King David, who wanted to conquer as far as Rome, and the secret within the difference between the verses "Who will lead me to the besieged city (Metzor)" and another time where it is written "Who will lead me to the fortified city (Mivtzar)." At 09:00, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy home after four and a half hours of prayer.

At the time of sunset, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat, followed by the Tish (holy table) and the conducting of Shalosh Seudos (the third meal). For many long minutes, the Rav shlit"a distributed Shirayim (remnants of the Tzaddik's meal). He then began the third meal Zemiros in his holy way for about twenty minutes, after which he sang 'Yah Ribon' for about a quarter of an hour. At the conclusion of the singing, he performed the Zimun (invitation to grace after meals) over a cup of wine and began delivering the weekly lesson from the book 'Pele Yoetz' on the topic of awakening human holiness for fifteen minutes. Before the Maariv prayer, they sang 'Lamnatzeach BiNginot' for half an hour (!). Afterward, the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) was held with singing and melodies. He then performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of 'The Jews had light...'. This was followed by Melave Malka (the post-Shabbat meal), during which he gave a lesson in Chayei Moharan. He entered his holy home after eight in the evening, after exactly three hours that we merited to be together with him on this Shabbat of Receiving the Torah - Parshat Yitro 5784.

Before you is a photo gallery from Motzaei Shabbat: (Photos courtesy of the WhatsApp group: "Rabbi Berland Tzaddik HaDor")