Prayers of the Holy Day with the Participation of the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days) ○ The Gathering of Thousands in the New Building Specially Rented for the Yom Kippur 5784 Kibbutz (gathering) ○ Extended Coverage ○ The Appearance of the Kohen (High Priest)

Due to the increasing number of families arriving to seek shelter in the shadow of the High Priest, namely our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, on Yom Kippur 5784, it was decided by the 'Shuvu Banim - Breslov Chassidim Union' to rent a massive and magnificent building for the Yom Kippur prayer gathering. The building belongs to the 'Toldos Avraham Yitzchak' Chassidus and is located on Salant Street. It is worth noting that this is the third year the Shuvu Banim community has prayed in this complex. However, this year the complex was transformed into a magnificent structure following renovations carried out by the 'Toldos Avraham Yitzchak' Chassidus. The building was rented by the Shuvu Banim Union for a staggering sum of over two hundred thousand NIS. Thanks to the new structure, thousands were able to pray with yishuv hadaas (peace of mind), with the thousands finding their places both in the main sanctuary and in three special galleries that were established, in addition to the paranches (bleachers) for the young men and the children of the Tzaddik. How beautiful and pleasant it is for this community to sit in such a lovely and spacious place, enjoying the radiance of the Shechinah (Divine Presence) during the powerful prayers, some of which took place with the participation of the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, as we will now begin to cover the events of the Holy Day: On the eve of the Holy Day, the Rav shlit"a arrived at an apartment adjacent to the Beis Medrash (study hall) on Salant Street. However, after his arrival, he felt unwell and required medical treatment and monitoring. Consequently, he instructed his household to begin the prayers of the Holy Day in the Beis Medrash without him, and with Hashem's help, as he strengthened even slightly later in the Holy Day, he would come to participate in the prayers.

"By the Authority of the Omnipresent and the Authority of the Congregation"

Indeed, about an hour after the time of 'Kol Nidrei,' while the entire massive crowd that had arrived stood waiting for the arrival of the Rav shlit"a, the gabbai (attendant) and grandson of the Rav shlit"a arrived at the Beis Medrash and announced, as mentioned, that the Rav shlit"a had instructed to begin the prayers, and with Hashem's help later in the Holy Day, the Rav shlit"a would arrive to participate. Immediately upon hearing this announcement, the chazzan (cantor), the venerable Chassid Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter shlit"a, approached the podium and began in his loud and pleasant voice, 'Al Da'as HaMakom... (By the authority of the Omnipresent and the authority of the congregation...)'. The Kol Nidrei prayer was followed by the Maariv (evening) prayer of the night of the Holy Day. After the conclusion of the Selichos (penitential prayers) of the Maariv prayer on the holy night, the venerable Chassid Rabbi Shalom Fuchs shlit"a approached the podium to complete the 'Shir HaKavod' (Song of Glory) of all the days of the week, which is customary to recite on the night of Yom Kippur after the Maariv prayer. In practice, the Maariv prayer concluded only at 22:30, after three hours of prayer filled with awakening and spiritual elevation.

"His Compassion is Upon Israel"

By the grace of Hashem Yitbarach (the Blessed Creator) with us, Who in His great mercy and kindness magnified us and merited us to have the Rav shlit"a arrive on the morning of Yom Kippur to participate in the prayers of the Holy Day. At 06:50, he arrived at the Beis Medrash and began the Shacharis (morning) prayer. Until 'HaMelech' (The King), the Shacharis prayer of Yom Kippur resembled the Shacharis prayer of the Holy Shabbat in its melodies, vitality, and awakening—rejoicing with trembling. It is worth noting that a special length was recorded during the melody of 'HaNechemadim MiZahav' (more desirable than gold) for seven minutes, and the singing of 'Ki Chol Peh' (for every mouth) in 'Nishmat Kol Chai' lasted for thirteen minutes. When 'HaMelech' was reached, the Rav shlit"a signaled with his holy hand and presented the chazzan, the venerable Chassid Rabbi Moshe Galinsky shlit"a, who, with his heart-stirring voice, approached with the roar of 'HaMelech!', and all the thousands together with the Rav clapped their hands. Whose heart would not tremble...! The awakening and the sublime feeling continued throughout the Shacharis prayer in the Breslov nusach (prayer style), which is imbued with the outpouring of the souls of the great and giant members of our community from all generations and is soaked in tears throughout the ages. Of course, during the entire repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei by the Shliach Tzibbur (cantor), the Rav shlit"a looked into the Machzor (holiday prayer book) at all times, following the prayer, and despite his great weakness, participated in the piyutim (liturgical poems) and the order of the prayer. After the prayer, during the recitation of 'Avinu Malkeinu' (Our Father, Our King), the Rav shlit"a lengthened slightly the singing of 'Avinu Malkeinu, be gracious to us and answer us.' The Shacharis prayer concluded around 10:20 in the morning.

"And Your Righteousness Shall Go Before You"

After the Shacharis prayer, the aliyos (Torah honors) and honors for the Torah reading were sold. Naturally, the aliyah of the Rav shlit"a, the fourth aliyah which is the aliyah of our Holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman), was sold for a high sum as is customary in honor of the Tzaddik shlit"a. After the Rav shlit"a's aliyah, the gabbai Rabbi Dov Zucker performed a 'Mi Shebeirach' (blessing) for the Rav shlit"a and for the Rebbetzin tlit"a, and at the instruction of the Rav shlit"a, he also performed a 'Mi Shebeirach' for the important activists of the 'Shuvu Banim Union' who sacrificed themselves for this gathering, as well as for everyone who assisted in bringing the Yom Kippur 5784 Kibbutz from potential to reality. For the Maftir (final Torah portion), the venerable Chassid Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter shlit"a ascended and also read the Yom Kippur Haftarah (prophetic reading) from Isaiah.

"Pour Out Your Heart Like Water Before You"

It is impossible to describe the power and the immense emotion as we prepared with fear and trembling for the Musaf (additional) prayer with the Seder HaAvodah (the Temple service reenactment). The gabbai, the venerable Chassid Rabbi Dov Zucker shlit"a, approached the podium, and with his pleasant voice, as one expert and accustomed, arranged his prayer like the order of the Kohen in the Holy Temple on the Holy Day, as he recited the 'Hineni' (Here I am) prayer with an immense awakening that left no eye dry. Of course, the awakening intensified during the recitation of the 'Seder HaAvodah.' The Rav shlit"a ascended in sparks of holy fire and with self-sacrifice, despite his advanced age and health condition, which is entirely a supernatural miracle that in his state he fasts on the Holy Day. He forced himself to prostrate four times during 'Aleinu L'shabeach' and three times during the Seder HaAvodah as is customary! It is impossible to describe the yearning of the heart upon seeing the Rav shlit"a bowing and prostrating like the High Priest in his great hour as he emerged from the Holy of Holies. Indeed, this is the Tzaddik upon whom the world stands, in the merit of his Torah, his service, and his Chassidus which is great beyond measure and estimation! And it is not enough that he cares for his own spirituality; the Rav shlit"a cares for every single individual in the community like an only son. Seeing one of the young men of our community for whom the fast made it difficult to recite the piyutim, he strengthened and encouraged him like a father to his son to pour out his speech and say the piyutim from the Machzor. It can be noted that the Musaf prayer concluded only at 13:50 after eight hours of the Holy Day's prayers, with the Rav shlit"a announcing that the Mincha (afternoon) prayer would take place at 16:30.

"And in the Merit of the Pure One, May He Bring Our Judgment to Light Today"

The words of the Rav shlit"a have been known for many years in the name of the holy Ari"zal (Rabbi Isaac Luria) that the prayers of the men ascend starting from the time of Mincha and onwards. There is no doubt that on the evening of the Holy Day, when the body no longer belongs to the reality of the world, no eye remains dry in the sublime outpouring of the soul—Oy Tate (Oh Father)... 'And for all of them, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement...'! Even before the arrival of the Rav shlit"a, for about an hour, the aliyos and the most important Haftarah of all, 'Haftarat Yonah' (the Book of Jonah), were sold, which is capable of working many salvations and opening many gates and a good final sealing for the one who merits it. With the Torah reading and the Haftarah at 17:25, the Rav shlit"a entered the Beis Medrash and sat in his place. Afterward, the venerable Chassid Rabbi Yosef Schorr shlit"a approached as the chazzan, and with his loud and uplifted voice, conducted the Mincha prayer with renewed awakening. Even though the hour was pressing toward the end of the day, not a single piyut or Selicha was omitted—ah... whose heart would not tremble at the cry of 'We have sinned, our Rock, forgive us, our Creator...'!!

"Open the Gates of Heaven and Open Your Good Treasure to Us"

The peak moments of Yom Kippur in the shadow of the Rav shlit"a were, of course, during the supplication 'Open a gate for us at the time of the closing of the gate'—the Ne'ilah (closing) prayer in which all the good treasures are bestowed, when all of Israel is sealed for a good life and for peace, at the time of the final sealing of the judgment, and when the High Priest who is hidden in the Holy of Holies prays for the entire congregation of Israel in these sublime moments. It is impossible not to shed tears like water, to entreat and request to merit 'And seal for a good life all the children of Your covenant!'. At 18:25, the master of emotion who awakens the heart's yearning, the venerable Chassid Rabbi Yitzchak Halperin shlit"a, a Rosh Mesivta (dean) in the 'Chachma V'Daas' Yeshiva and possessor of a most trembling and awakening voice, approached the podium for these sublime moments. Before the Shmoneh Esrei of the Ne'ilah prayer, the Rav shlit"a said that now all sins are forgiven for everyone; one only needs to know that from now on he must take upon himself to do only mitzvos (commandments) and no longer return to folly. The repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei doubled the great awakening, especially during the recitation of the 13 Attributes of Mercy—ay, 'Hashem, Hashem, God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness and truth...'. It is impossible to describe the power and the sublime feeling during these moments while they entreat 'And You desire the repentance of the wicked and do not desire their death.' A moment before the closing of the gates and the final Shofar blast, during the recitation of 'Avinu Malkeinu...', the Rav shlit"a utilized these moments when the gates are still open to entreat in song 'Avinu Malkeinu, be gracious to us and answer us for we have no deeds... deal with us in charity and kindness and save us...' again and again for twenty-five minutes! While in all the houses of Israel they had long since finished the prayers of the Holy Day and turned from strength to strength, over two thousand people, with the Rav shlit"a standing at their head and sweetening every judgment at this most sublime time, requested and entreated "Deal with us in charity and kindness and save us!!!" Only at 20:00 did the Rav shlit"a signal with his holy hand, and the chazzan Rabbi Yitzchak Halperin shlit"a, with all the yearning of his heart, roared the acceptance of the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven with tears streaming down—'Shema Yisrael...!' 'Hashem Hu HaElokim!' 'Hashem Melech, Hashem Malach, Hashem Yimloch L'olam Va'ed!' And of course, like a flock with their shepherd at their head, the Rav shlit"a roared with all their soul and might the verses of the acceptance of the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven; this roar was heard with power throughout the Meah Shearim neighborhood. After the Kaddish and the Shofar blast by the venerable Chassid Rabbi Yosef Schorr shlit"a, the joy of 'For God has already accepted your deeds' broke out, and the conclusion of the Kaddish 'Tiskabel' was accompanied by singing from true joy, holy joy, joy that surely in the merit of the faithful shepherd we merited to be sealed for a good and sweet year!

"Upon His Exit from the Sanctuary"

Already after the conclusion of the fast, even according to the stringent opinion of Rabbeinu Tam, only then did the Rav shlit"a approach the Maariv prayer of the conclusion of the Holy Day with joy and vitality with all the melodies according to the Shuvu Banim nusach. The Maariv prayer lasted over twenty minutes, after which the Rav shlit"a performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of the holy day) over the cup along with the Havdalah candle. And so, how magnificent was the sight of the High Priest upon his exit from the sanctuary as the thousands accompanied him with the song 'Light is sown for the Tzaddik, and for the upright of heart, joy!'. Immediately upon his exit from the Beis Medrash, he performed Kiddush Levanah (Sanctification of the Moon). Afterward, he entered his vehicle while many accompanied him through the streets of Meah Shearim to his holy home with singing and dancing. It was clear to everyone that the piyut 'Like a tent stretched out among the dwellers on high' refers in all its words to the exit from the sanctuary of the Rav shlit"a at the conclusion of the Holy Day!!

"In truth, how magnificent was the High Priest as he emerged from the Holy of Holies"