"Deliver Me, Please, From the Hand of My Brother" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayishlach, 16 Kislev 5786, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 16:15, the Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat, appearing majestic in his Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 15 minutes. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHishtakrut (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word by word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the reception of Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "Lekhu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." He then began the singing of "Lekha Dodi," which lasted approximately 40 minutes. Afterward, he recited "Kigavna" (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 Zemirot (songs) for Friday night, as is his holy custom every Shabbat. However, an interesting event occurred at the beginning of the song "Shalom Aleichem." As he does every Shabbat, he turned to the Mekubal (Kabbalist) Rabbi Yehuda Sheinfeld shlit"a to converse with him in words of the "Living G-d." But here, the Rav shlit"a extended the conversation with him for over 25 minutes, and only then continued the song "Shalom Aleichem" for another 5 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, the Rav finished the prayer at 19:05, after two hours and fifty minutes.

Morning Prayer (Shacharit)

For the Shacharit prayer, the Rav shlit"a came out at 04:18. Initially, they sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 7 minutes, and then at 04:25, he began the morning Zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial readings) in their order. At 05:05, he began saying "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo" and Pseukei D'Zimra (verses of praise), as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. During the singing of "HaNechemadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold), he extended it for about 5 minutes. Likewise, during the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended it for about 5 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer exactly at Netz HaChama (sunrise) at 06:25, with the morning prayers lasting exactly two hours until that point.

Torah Reading (Kriat HaTorah)

After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began the opening of the Ark, singing "Yehi Rava" (May it be the will) for several minutes, and brought out the Sefer Torah. The Rav shlit"a instructed his grandson, R' Dov Zucker, to read from the Torah. One after another, those celebrating life events and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversary of a passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of the Rav shlit"a during the prayer. The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 45 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and the Great Kiddush (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 20 minutes (during which the Rav shlit"a entered his residence for a 17-minute break – but the public continued to sing). Close to 08:00, he approached the Musaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, he finished the prayer, and after many weeks, we also merited to recite the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). At the conclusion, he recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba and delivered a lesson for about 10 minutes.

At 08:40, he entered his holy home after four hours and twenty minutes in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson during Kiddusha Rabba together with the Rav shlit"a.

Afternoon Prayer (Mincha)

At 16:10, the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony and began with the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 15 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish, and they opened the Ark with the singing of "Yehi Rava" for several minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah – Parshat Vayeshev – for the three called-up individuals. Following this was the Shemoneh Esrei prayer for the Shabbat Mincha.

The Will of Wills (Rava D'Ravin - The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 16:45, while in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Third Meal (Seudah Shlishit). As is his holy custom, with the first Kazayit (olive-sized portion of bread), he began the Zemirot of the third meal for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended at great length! He sang "Yah Ribon" (G-d, Master of the world) for a long hour. Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the desert) for 5 minutes, as well as the song "Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich" (I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for another 5 minutes, and during the song "Ad Heina" (Until now), he extended for 20 minutes.

And here arrives the great innovation of this Shabbat, for the first time in this period which has lasted, with Heaven's help, for nearly four years. The Rav shlit"a began to sing many songs during the Third Meal with great length: immediately after the singing of "Ad Heina" as mentioned above, the Rav shlit"a began, as a surprise, to sing "Nichsefa V'Gam Kalta Nafshi" (My soul yearns and even pines) for about 20 minutes, and continued to the singing of "V'Haya K'Etz Shatul Al Palgei Mayim" (And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water) for about 8 minutes. From there, the Rav shlit"a moved to the songs of Simchat Torah, "Urah Kevodi Urah" (Awake, my glory, awake) for half an hour, as well as the song "Elokim Shir Chadash Ashira Lach" (O G-d, a new song I will sing to You) for another half hour. At the conclusion of the lengthy singing, the Rav shlit"a began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over the cup with Sheva Brachot (seven wedding blessings). In total, the Rav shlit"a extended the Third Meal for about three hours and eighteen minutes. (318 is the numerical value of Eliezer)

Evening Prayer (Maariv) and Havdalah

Close to 20:05, 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 Maariv prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he said the order of "Vayehi Noam," extending the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He), as well as the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (He will open) for 10 minutes. Afterward, he finished the Maariv prayer in its order, which lasted an hour and twenty minutes. He then performed Havdalah over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews there was light and joy).

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest (Melaveh Malka)

After Havdalah, close to 20:45, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka (the meal accompanying the departing Shabbat Queen) – this is the meal of David the King, the Mashiach. The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malka together with the entire congregation. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 20 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, the Rav continued the Zemirot of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the Zemirot, the Rav led the Zimun over the cup with Sheva Brachot. 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 21:55, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of over five hours (5:10) that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total, the entire Shabbat lasted approximately 12 hours and 20 minutes during which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow [of the Tzaddik] on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayishlach, 16 Kislev 5786.