"For from the top of the rocks I see him" • Shabbat Balak in the shadow of the

Also on Shabbat Parshat Balak 5784 (2024), we merited an uplifting Shabbat in the shadow of our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). Before you is the full report of the prayers, lessons, and meals in the holy presence:

On Erev Shabbat Kodesh (Friday afternoon), the Rav went out for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer about five minutes before candle lighting at 7:05 PM and began singing "Or Zarua" (Light is sown) for eighteen minutes. After the singing, they stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha, he recited the order of "Hiskashrus" (spiritual connection to the Tzaddik) - "I thank You for placing my portion...", "I hereby hand over", "I hereby connect." Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, says it word by word and everyone repeats after him. Afterward, the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming the Sabbath) with "Lechu Neranena," psalm after psalm with vitality, fire, life, and bren (burning enthusiasm). Then he began the pleasant singing of "Lecha Dodi" (Come my beloved), which lasted about half an hour (27 minutes), repeating all the sections again and again with immense vitality. After finishing "Lecha Dodi," the Rav continued the prayer as usual, Maariv (evening prayer) with all the melodies in the Shuvu Banim style at the peak of vitality and joy. After that, the Rav shlit"a finished the prayer with the singing of "Adon Olam" and "Yigdal Elokim Chai." Then, Shabbat songs were added which the Rav shlit"a is accustomed to reciting with the public—"Shalom Aleichem," "Ribon Kol HaOlamim," and "Eshet Chayil." He entered his holy home at 9:15 PM after a Friday night prayer service that lasted two hours and five minutes.

On Shabbat morning, the Rav shlit"a entered for prayer at 4:13 AM, about an hour before Netz HaChama (sunrise). Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, immediately recited the Birkat HaTorah (blessings over the Torah) and then began the Shacharit (morning) prayer in order, starting from Chatzos (the Midnight Lament) - Tikkun Leah, the morning songs, Korbanot (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) with melodies and great vitality. It should be noted that before "Nishmat," the Rav went out for a ten-minute break. He re-entered with a roar of "Nishmat" and extended the singing of "Ki Chol Peh" (For every mouth) for about twenty minutes. About two and a quarter hours after the start of Shacharit, at 6:30 AM, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shmoneh Esreh (silent prayer). After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (cantor's repetition), the Rav again entered his home for a break of about eight minutes, and then the Rav shlit"a began the reading of the Torah for Parshat Balak. The Torah reading, including both readings, lasted about half an hour.

After the Haftarah (reading from the Prophets), the Rav played the melody of "Zara Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about ten minutes. Afterward, the Rav sang "Ki Lekach Tov" (For I have given you a good teaching) and they returned the Torah scroll to the Ark. At 8:42 AM, the Rav shlit"a stood for the Musaf prayer. After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz for Musaf, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, finished the prayer from "Kaveh El Hashem," Adon Olam, Anim Zemirot, and The Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification). At the conclusion of the ten psalms, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, made Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered a lesson for about two minutes, speaking about Parshat Balak and how, in the merit of the Tzaddik, curses are turned into blessings. After the lesson, at 9:05 AM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered his holy home after nearly four hours of Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf, Kiddusha Rabba (the great Kiddush), and the lesson we merited.

At 8:05 PM, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, entered for the Mincha prayer of Shabbat Kodesh on the balcony of his home, saying Kaddish and beginning with "Berich Shmeih" and the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for five minutes. Afterward, he read from the Torah—Parshat Chukat—for three people called up. Immediately following was the Shmoneh Esreh prayer, and at the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, which lasted about fifteen minutes, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for Seudah Shlishit (the third meal) right there on the balcony. As is his holy custom, he began with the first kezayit (olive-sized portion of bread) and started the Seudah Shlishit songs for about twenty minutes. After them, he sang "Yah Ribon" (Master of the World) for fifty minutes (!), with the entire public repeating the sections "Ravrevin Ovdech V'Takifin" (Great and mighty are Your works), "Elaha Dileh Yekar V'Ravuta" (God to Whom belongs honor and greatness), and "L'Mikdashech Tuv" (Return to Your Sanctuary) dozens of times. Afterward, he continued with the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, he found grace in the wilderness) for about five minutes, then moved to the singing of "Koh Amar Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember for you the kindness of your youth) for another ten minutes. Then he sang "Ad Heina Azarunu Rachamecha" (Until now Your mercies have helped us) for another twenty minutes. The Rav shlit"a led the Zimun (formal invitation to grace after meals) over a cup of wine.

At 10:15 PM, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" (To the Chief Musician with stringed instruments) for twenty minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv (evening) prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (the conclusion of Shabbat) with melodies. After Maariv, during the recitation of "Vihi Noam," our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is He, our God, Who created us for His glory) for five minutes, and similarly, the next song "Hu Yiftach" (He will open [our hearts]), the Rav extended for about five minutes! Afterward, the Rav performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) with the singing of "Layehudim Hayta Ora..." (The Jews had light...) for about a minute. After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the post-Shabbat meal)—this is the feast of David, the King Mashiach. Our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, sang all the songs with vitality and a special pleasantness. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, he continued the songs until the end and led the Zimun over a cup of wine. At the conclusion of Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals), he entered his holy home at 11:55 PM, after a duration of nearly four hours (3:50) that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer until the end of Melaveh Malkah. In total, throughout the entire Shabbat, we merited about ten hours in the holy shadow [of the Rav] on Shabbat Parshat Balak, 14th of Tammuz, 5784.