For We Have Strength and Light ◇ Simchat Torah in the Shadow of the Gaon and

The New Prayer Tent ○ Lessons and Holiday Prayers of Wondrous Length ○ Hakafos (festive circuits) until the Late Night Hours and for the First Time in Years: Hakafos in the Morning as Well ○ Prayers and Lessons

Therefore, anyone who wishes to rejoice on Simchat Torah until the "roof bursts" (with extreme joy) knows to come to Shuvu Banim together with the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days), to skip and dance in honor of the completion of the Torah. Especially since on the eve of the holiday, everyone received the good news that "the redeemed of Hashem shall return and come to Zion with singing," and that the hostages who until now were languishing in the tunnels of the cursed, bloodthirsty Ishmaelites (referring to the captors), now exactly two years after the terrible massacre, merited to go from darkness to light.

There is no doubt that through the piyyut (liturgical poem) of the Sephardic communities who sing "Yom Simcha L'Yisrael" (A Day of Joy for Israel) on Simchat Torah, we merited to feel this well, and with even greater intensity, a complete joy. For also on Simchat Torah this year, we merited through His immense mercy and kindness to rejoice, dance, and complete the Torah together with the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days).

The 'Shuvu Banim website' presents before you a detailed report and moving documentation of the holiday of Simchat Torah in the shadow of the Chatan Torah (Groom of the Torah), the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

In My Heart I Will Build a Sanctuary

As is known to all, for the past two years, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) used to go to the Kotel (Western Wall) on the night of Simchat Torah to conduct the holiday prayers and Hakafos (festive circuits) there, returning to his holy home while "encircling Zion and walking around her." This year, due to the health condition of the Rav shlit"a—as for about a month now, the "leg in the Chariot" (a Kabbalistic reference to the Tzaddik's suffering) has been suffering and sweetening the sins of Israel—the Rav shlit"a decreed that the holiday prayers would be held near his holy home. As published here, on the eve of the last Yom Kippur, a prayer tent was erected in an area specially allocated for the Shuvu Banim community. However, ultimately, due to the Rav's health, the prayers were held from the balcony. During the holiday of Sukkot, all prayers and activities held in our Beis Medrash (study hall) were moved to the "Prayer Tent." Now, on the eve of Simchat Torah, the Rav shlit"a expressed his desire to come for the first time to the "Prayer Tent" to conduct the prayers and Hakafos (festive circuits) on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret. For this purpose, pranches (bleachers) were set up along the entire tent, and for the women's section, the nearby road section at the Prophets' Junction/Damascus Gate was closed. A high platform was prepared for the Rav shlit"a so that he could be seen even from the other side of the aforementioned junction.

[caption id="attachment_66690" align="aligncenter" width="857"] The new 'Prayer Tent' from a bird's-eye view, overlooking the walls of the Old City and the site of our Holy Temple[/caption]

For Out of Zion Shall Go Forth the Torah

At 6:10 PM, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) appeared in his majestic beauty above the holy platform of the "Prayer Tent," looking like an angel of Hashem Tzevaot. This was amidst the singing of "Or Zarua L'Tzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous), which lasted about half an hour. At 6:40 PM, he began the Mincha prayer for the eve of Shemini Atzeret. After Mincha, the Rav shlit"a said "Hashem Melech Ge'ut Lavesh" (Hashem reigns, He is clothed in majesty) and "Aleinu L'Shabeach." At the conclusion of Mincha, the Rav shlit"a began a lesson of fiery flame, which mainly mentioned the teaching of Rebbe Nachman that by saying "V'Emunah Kol Zos" (And all this is faith), one effects all the parnassah (livelihood) for the entire year. It should be noted that during the Maariv prayer, the Rav was like a fiery flame and increased his holy movements.

[caption id="attachment_66691" align="aligncenter" width="848"] The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), during the Mincha prayer on the eve of Simchat Torah 5786 in the new "Prayer Tent"[/caption]

After the Maariv prayer at 7:35 PM, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) began "Atah Hareisa Lada'at" (You have been shown to know) and the Hakafos (festive circuits) for the night of Simchat Torah with the singing of "Toras Hashem Temimah" (The Torah of Hashem is perfect). Initially, the Rav shlit"a went down for a fifteen-minute break, while the hall filled with circles upon circles, feet lifting in song and music in honor of the Torah, with each circle having one of the many Torah scrolls belonging to our holy community. When the Rav shlit"a returned to his holy platform, the joy only doubled and redoubled. The Rav shlit"a did not stop dancing and jumping, clapping his hands, skipping and whirling, like King David in his time before the Holy Ark. The intensity of the joy is beyond description or estimation! The echoes of the dancing were clearly heard across the walls of the nearby Old City. An hour passed, and while in most synagogues they had long finished the Hakafos, the Rav shlit"a was still holding at the fourth Hakafah (circuit), with the songs of Rebbe Nachman. One could not miss the tears streaming from his pure eyes as everyone danced with one heart, "Uman, Uman, Rosh Hashanah..." followed by "You brought us this far, bring the Rav to Uman."

Awake, My Glory; Awake, Harp and Lyre

After four hours of non-stop dancing, the Rav finished the seventh Hakafah (circuit) with the singing of "Ki MiTzion Tetzei Torah" (For out of Zion shall go forth the Torah). The Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) instructed the prayer leader, his grandson and attendant, Rabbi Dov Zucker, to read—this being, of course, the only Kriyas HaTorah (Torah reading) of the year held at night. The Rav shlit"a was honored with the "Kol HaNe'arim" (All the youths) aliyah (call to the Torah) of Simchat Torah night, accompanied by the singing of "Hamalach HaGoel Oti" (The angel who redeems me). Upon finishing the Torah reading, he continued with the Maariv prayer, saying "Shir HaMa'alos Samachti B'Omrim Li" (A song of ascents, I rejoiced when they said to me), as well as "Aleinu L'Shabeach," and at the end "Adon Olam" and "Yigdal Elokim Chai." At 11:53 PM, the Rav shlit"a finished the Maariv prayer and the Hakafos for the night of Simchat Torah. After six hours, the Rav shlit"a announced that at 5:00 AM, the Vasikin (sunrise) prayer would be held from his balcony. Upon leaving the "Prayer Tent," the Rav shlit"a returned to his holy home in the "Third Wall" neighborhood while singing "Awake, my glory, awake," with the feeling that the Hakafos had not yet ended, but were now continuing in the city streets, in the sense of "encircling Zion and walking around her." At 12:02 AM, after nearly six hours, the Rav shlit"a ascended to his holy residence.

And He Was King in Jeshurun

On the morning of the holiday, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) came out to his balcony at 5:02 AM. Ah! After the entire packed night, the time for the Shacharis (morning) prayer of Shemini Atzeret arrived. The order of prayer was as is customary every Shabbat and holiday, with melodies and great awakening. It began with the saying of Chatzos (midnight prayer) from "Urah Na" and "Sha'arei Tzion" as is customary on Sabbaths and holidays, followed by the morning songs with vitality and immense awakening, Korbanos (sacrificial readings), and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise). The Rav shlit"a lengthened the singing and melody of the prayer letters as is his custom every Shabbat, specifically during the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh..." (For every mouth shall thank You), which lasted about six minutes. Afterward, the blessings of Shema and the Shmoneh Esrei (standing prayer) for the Three Festivals were held at 7:18 AM.

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (repetition of the prayer), the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) recited the blessing over Hallel (psalms of praise) and began the singing of Hallel with immense enthusiasm using the well-known melodies for a full hour. With infinite length, the Rav extended each and every melody: first with the singing of "B'Tzet Yisrael MiMitzrayim" (When Israel went out of Egypt) for 14 minutes, and with the melody of "Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov" (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good), he extended it for 18 minutes. From the cry of "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na" (Please Hashem, save us), he extended the melody for another 14 minutes. Of course, all this was after the long night filled with prayers and dancing, and after minimizing his sleep to an immeasurable degree. The Rav shlit"a stands like a young lad and strengthens everyone to jump and dance during the song of thanksgiving in the complete Hallel. After finishing Hallel, the Rav shlit"a said "L'David Hashem Ori V'Yishi" (Psalm 27) and the Song of the Day, "Elokim Nitzav B'Adat El" (Psalm 82).

To Whom is the Song and Praise!

At 8:32 AM, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) began the opening of the Ark for the Hakafos (festive circuits) by saying "Atah Hareisa Lada'at" (You have been shown to know) and started the singing of "Toras Hashem Temimah" (The Torah of Hashem is perfect) for the first Hakafah. Here, a wondrous thing occurred on a historical scale, destined to be remembered and engraved for generations: the Rav shlit"a entered his residence, and everyone thought that, as is customary, the Rav shlit"a would enter his room and come out for the seventh Hakafah around 12:00 PM. But how great was the surprise, and how immense the astonishment, when after nine minutin (minutes), the Rav shlit"a entered again and stood in his holy place on the balcony. The Rav shlit"a participated, danced, and sang in all the Hakafos. We say this event is on a historical scale because, as the elders told us, since the year 5758 (nearly thirty years ago), this has not happened—that the Rav shlit"a continues the Hakafos immediately after Hallel and remains continuously until the end of the prayer (except for a short break when he entered the inner chamber for a few minutes). One must qualify this by mentioning the years 5778-5779, when the Rav shlit"a entered his home and came out two hours later for Hakafos in the streets of Jerusalem, but continuous Hakafos immediately after Shacharis is not the same as Hakafos after a break. Of course, the joy and gladness cannot be described, in the intensity of the salvation through His abundant mercy that we merited to dance with him during the morning Hakafos. Naturally, the Rav shlit"a does not skip any melody. It should be noted that even before the end of each Hakafah, the Rav shlit"a descends from his holy place and performs circuits with the Torah scroll inside the balcony together with his grandsons and those who merited to purchase the Hakafos in honor of the Torah and in honor of the Chatan Torah—the Tzaddik HaDor (Tzaddik of the generation) shlit"a.

In the Eyes of All Israel

At 11:50 AM, after three and a quarter hours of Hakafos (festive circuits) at the peak of joy and vitality, the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) finished the seventh Hakafah to the sound of the singing of "Sha'u She'arim Rasheichem..." (Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, that the King of Glory may come in). Immediately afterward, the Rav shlit"a instructed to open the Ark for the Torah reading, which is the opening of the Ark for the Three Festivals with the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy and the customary requests. The Torah reading was Parshat V'Zos HaBeracha, as one after another, the called-up individuals who merited to buy the privilege with significant funds—known as a segulah (spiritual remedy) for opening the gates of Torah and wisdom for the entire year—ascended. By the instruction of the Rav shlit"a, the Torah reading was performed by the attendant Rabbi Dov Zucker with a loud voice, so that the portion of the completion of the Torah could be heard from afar. The Rav shlit"a, of course, ascended as the Chatan Torah (Groom of the Torah) according to the custom of Rebbe Nachman. Before this, Rabbi Dov Zucker, with his pleasant voice, chanted the permission for the Chatan Torah: "Rise, rise, rise, our teacher the Rav shlit"a, the Chatan Torah! With the permission of all this holy and complete congregation, complete the Torah!" The walls of Jerusalem themselves will testify, as they shook from the intensity of the roar after the conclusion of the holy words of the Torah, "In the eyes of all Israel—" "Chazak, Chazak, V'Nischazek!" (Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!). As its conclusion is its beginning, the Chatan Bereishis (Groom of Genesis) ascended along with the reading customary for "Kol HaNe'arim" (All the youths). Truly, how wonderful it was to see, without exaggeration, nearly a thousand sweet children with sublime purity on their cheeks, from infancy to Bar Mitzvah age, all huddling under the giant Tallis (prayer shawl). This was created by the supervisor of the 'Yaldei HaTzaddik' organization, a man of action who gives his soul for the children of our holy community—Rabbi Naphtali Bick. Immediately after the Torah reading, Rabbi Dov Zucker read the Haftarah (prophetic portion) which begins the book of Nevi'im (Prophets)—the first chapter of Joshua. The entire Torah reading and Haftarah lasted nearly fifty minutes.

In Their Merit, Grant the Abundance of Water

Immediately following the Haftarah, the Rav announced "Yizkor" (memorial prayer), and the entire vast crowd who do not need to mention the souls of their parents (may they live long and good years) placed their Tallis (prayer shawl) over their heads, as has been the custom for several years. After Yizkor, they began the singing of "Yah Eli V'Goali" (G-d is my strength and redeemer), and immediately afterward, at 12:38 PM—long before the end of the time—the Rav shlit"a (may he live long and good days) stood for the Musaf prayer of Shemini Atzeret, having previously announced "Mashiv HaRuach U'Morid HaGeshem" (He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall). Of course, with the opening of the Chazarat HaShatz (repetition of the prayer), the Rav shlit"a conducted the Tefillat Geshem (Prayer for Rain) with great awakening, "For a blessing and not for a curse!" The Tefillat Geshem was accompanied by the melody of "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the world - Vizhnitz version). At the conclusion of the Musaf prayer, he finished the service in order. After "Barchu," the Rav shlit"a conducted Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and delivered a lesson for several minutes. At 1:02 PM, after exactly six hours! he returned to his holy residence, after we merited to increase and gain, besides the prayers and the completion of the Torah, also the morning Hakafos (festive circuits) in his participation and pure shadow. Ah, happy is the eye that saw, and the feet that merited to skip and dance in honor of the Torah!

There is No Segulah Like the Torah

At 6:20 PM, the Rav entered for the Mincha prayer of the Three Festivals, with the singing of "Or Zarua L'Tzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) which lasted about twenty minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish and "Ashrei" and stood for the Shmoneh Esrei. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he said "L'David Hashem Ori V'Yishi" (Psalm 27) for the last time and "Aleinu L'Shabeach." Immediately afterward, as is his holy custom in recent years, even at the conclusion of the holiday, he began the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of the holiday with the well-known "Barchu" melody. At the end of Maariv, he performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of the holiday). At the conclusion of Havdalah, he delivered a short lesson and entered his holy home at 7:15 PM, saying that the Hakafos Shaniyos (second circuits) would take place from his balcony in the coming hours.

In summary of all the prayers and Hakafos (festive circuits) of Simchat Torah, we merited nearly 13 hours of prayers, Hakafos, and dancing. Indeed, happy are we that we merited to complete the Torah and dance together with the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days), the Chatan Torah (Groom of the Torah) in the literal sense, who as the unique one in the generation learns and toils over his studies day and night, giving no sleep to his eyes. For all this, we can only say:

"Blessed is our G-d who has separated us from those who err, and gave us the Torah of truth, and planted eternal life within us"!!