As the holy and awesome days of Pesach (Passover) dawned upon us, all our community members were privileged to take shelter in the great shadow of the Rav, who is like an angel of Hashem Tzeva-ot. Before you is a fascinating report, a mere drop in the ocean, of what we merited in the presence of the Tzaddik during the holy days of Pesach.

It is a Night of Watching:

With the conclusion of the Mincha (afternoon) prayer for the Holy Shabbat, exactly at the time of the sanctification of the night of the Festival of Freedom—19:27—our teacher the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) played the melody before 'Barchu' that he customarily plays on every festival and occasion. He began the Maariv (evening) prayer of the festival night with special vitality. After Maariv, it was the first time on this holy and awesome night that we say the complete Hallel (songs of praise). The Hallel was recited with melodies and an immense b're'en (fiery enthusiasm). Our teacher the Rav shlit"a, with his holy movements, revitalized the entire congregation during 38 minutes of song and thanksgiving to Hashem for all the miracles and wonders within the verses of Hallel and praise.

After Hallel and the Kaddish that followed, the Rav began singing 'Bezeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim' (When Israel went out of Egypt) for about 10 additional minutes, as the entire crowd repeated the verses again and again, which take on a special meaning on this holy night. Afterward, the prayer concluded with Kaddish, Aleinu L'shabeach, Adon Olam, and Yigdal, word by word, letter by letter. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered his home to the singing of 'Karev Yom' (Bring near the day) at 20:45, after a duration of one hour and forty-five minutes of the holy night prayer. Everyone then turned to their homes to conduct the Seder (festive Passover meal), charged with energies of holiness from the special prayer.

To Thank and Praise:

After our teacher the Rav shlit"a sat with his family throughout the 'Seder Nacht' (Seder night) to conduct the Seder, clearly fulfilling what is said, "And whoever tells more..." with the story of the Exodus from Egypt, songs, and Torah insights, at 4:30 AM they came to say that the time for the morning Kriat Shema (recitation of the Shema) had arrived.

The Rav shlit"a entered the Mikvah (ritual bath) before the prayer and immediately entered at 4:35 AM for the Shacharit (morning) prayer of the holiday. He began with the verses said on Shabbat and festivals from the Tikkun Chatzos (midnight rectification). After Tikkun Chatzos, the Rav began the Shacharit prayer—the morning songs of 'Odeh L'Kel' (I will thank G-d) with special vitality, followed by the Korbanot (sacrificial offerings) and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) with melodies and special life. Afterward, 'Nishmat Kol Chai' (The soul of every living thing) was recited with a special, lengthy awakening to the melody of 'Ki Chol Peh' (For every mouth), where we merited a duration of over five minutes as the Rav revitalized the entire crowd with his holy movements. At 06:25, nearly two hours after the start of Shacharit, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shmoneh Esrei (silent prayer) of the Three Festivals. Immediately after the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav recited the blessing over the Hallel, as the entire congregation, with immense enthusiasm, played, sang, and jumped during the singing of Hallel. Who can estimate the "voices and lightnings" and the immense joy during Hallel? For 'Bezeit Yisrael' alone, he repeated it seven times, again and again, with a vitality that soared and rose anew each time. The melody that revives every soul in 'Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov' (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good), and if that wasn't enough, at the end of Hallel came the deeply stirring melody between the verses of 'Ana Hashem Hoshia Na' (Please Hashem, save us). Thus, the singing of Hallel with immense vitality lasted over half an hour (38 minutes). After the conclusion of Hallel, the Rav shlit"a recited the order for 'Taking out the Torah Scroll for the Three Festivals' with the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy during the opening of the Ark, and immediately began the Torah reading for Pesach. Although on a holiday that falls on a weekday there are usually four Aliyot (Torah honors), as on every Shabbat with the Rav, there were many celebrating special occasions and, lehavdil (to distinguish), those observing yahrtzeits (anniversary of passing), so about ten Aliyot were given. They read "Vayehi Bachatzi HaLayla" (And it was at midnight), the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt, and the portion of the Korban Pesach (Passover offering) from Parshat Bo. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a took the fourth Aliya, which is associated with our holy Rebbe zy"a (may his merit protect us)—the attribute of Netzach (Victory/Eternity). The Torah reading and the Haftarah (prophetic reading) lasted 15 minutes. After the conclusion of the Torah reading, the song "Ya Eli V'Goali" (G-d, my Power and Redeemer) was sung to the reviving melody of the Rav, which he customarily sings on every festival and occasion. Slightly after 07:30, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer, including Tefillat Tal (the prayer for dew) to the Vizhnitz melody of 'Yah Ribbon' during the Chazzan's repetition, with special awakening and vitality. Also, during Musaf, they sang all the melodies that revive one anew each time they are sung on every festival together with the Rav: "V'Kabetz Pezureinu..." (And gather our dispersed...), "V'Havienu L'Tzion Ircha..." (And bring us to Zion Your city...). Every melody was sung by the entire congregation with b're'en (fiery enthusiasm) and immense joy. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav concluded the prayer in its order, from 'Kaveh El Hashem' (Hope to Hashem) through 'Aleinu L'shabeach,' 'Anim Zemirot,' and finished with 'Adon Olam' and 'Yigdal Elokim Chai.' Upon the conclusion of the prayer, the Rav shlit"a delivered a three-minute lesson in which he spoke about the greatness of the Seder night. After the lesson, he said Kaddish and returned to his holy home at 08:33, after nearly four hours (3:58) of the holiday morning prayer.

"And You Shall Count for Yourselves":

At 19:27, we were privileged as our teacher the Rav shlit"a came out for the Mincha prayer of the Three Festivals. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav shlit"a played 'Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot' for 5 minutes. It is told of the early Tzaddikim that they would yearn so much to already bless the Sefirat HaOmer (Counting of the Omer) that they had to literally restrain themselves so it wouldn't appear as if they were trying to flee from the holiness of the Yom Tov (holiday). And so, exactly on time, our teacher the Rav shlit"a said 'Barchu' in the Maariv prayer of the conclusion of the festival with vitality and melodies. After the Shmoneh Esrei of Maariv, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Bezeit Yisrael' for 10 minutes and concluded the prayer with 'Aleinu L'shabeach'.

The first day of Sefirat HaOmer 5785—'Chesed shebeChesed' (Kindness within Kindness)—our teacher the Rav shlit"a began the 'Leshem Yichud' (for the sake of unification) together with the singing of "Hineni Muchan U'Mezuman..." (Behold, I am prepared and ready to fulfill the positive commandment...) for about 10 minutes, preparing ourselves for the great moment—the first counting. And then, the Rav signaled with his holy hand, and only the pure voice of the Rav shlit"a, which pierces the heavens, blessed: "...Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer." A roar of "Amen!!!" erupted from the crowd, followed again by absolute silence. "Today is one day of the Omer..." and like a thunderstorm, the entire large crowd roared, as our Rebbe said—Sefirat HaOmer with strength! Immediately afterward, the singing of 'Lamnatzeach Bin'ginot' for about 5 minutes, as well as 'Ana B'Koach...' seven times to the melody of the holy Baal Shem Tov. After the conclusion of the melodies for Sefirat HaOmer, the Rav said aloud, word by word, "Ribono Shel Olam" (Master of the Universe) with awesome awakening. The conclusion of the singing of "And through this, may abundant bounty be influenced upon all the worlds" lasted about five minutes. After over an hour and twenty minutes of Mincha, Maariv, and Sefirat HaOmer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a performed Havdalah (separation ceremony) over the cup with the single blessing of 'Borei Pri HaGafen' and returned to his home at 20:48.

With this, the first day of the Pesach holiday in the presence of our teacher the Rav shlit"a concluded, with over eight hours that we merited to be in the pure presence of the Tzaddik during the holiday.