In This I Trust • Zot Chanukah 5786 with the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer

Thousands at the Lighting of the Eighth Candle ○ Yom Kippur Piyutim (liturgical poems) in the Inner Sanctum ○ Distribution of Chanukah Gelt (traditional money gifts) to Family Members

As every year on Zot Chanukah (the eighth and final day of Chanukah), thousands of Anash (our community members) from all over the country arrived for the Zot Chanukah lighting ceremony performed by our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a. The plaza was filled to capacity, and the crowd merited to witness the Rav's lighting and the traditional songs sung with sparks of holy fire. After the lighting, the Rav shlit"a prayed the Maariv (evening) prayer and delivered a Torah lesson on the spiritual significance of the day.

In accordance with the custom of Breslov Chassidim on Zot Chanukah to sing the melodies of Yom Kippur, the Rav shlit"a also follows the practice of sitting with his family on this day of the "final sealing" (Gmar Chasimah), gathering together to recite the piyutim (liturgical poems) of Yom Kippur on the holy night of Zot Chanukah.

As mentioned, this year as well, the extended family of the Rav shlit"a (may they multiply) gathered for the lighting ceremony in his holy residence. About two hours after the conclusion of the Chanukah songs in the inner sanctum, the Rav shlit"a sat down for the Zot Chanukah night seudah (festive meal). They began reciting the piyutim and passages customarily said on the night of Zot Chanukah from the Yom Kippur prayer service with great spiritual awakening and enthusiasm. For over an hour and a half, they sang the Yom Kippur piyutim according to the Breslov nusach (tradition), with the Rav shlit"a occasionally serving as the chazzan (cantor) himself.

As is the custom, some of the piyutim are taken from the night service of Yom Kippur and some from the morning service. Between the poems of the night and those of the day, one could feel the awe of the holy day during the moments of the final sealing in the inner sanctum.

Only close to 11:50 PM, after the time of Chatzos (midnight), the Rav shlit"a concluded the gathering. During the proceedings, the Rav shlit"a distributed Chanukah gelt (traditional money gifts) to his family members and then entered his room to continue his pure study and regular daily schedule on this holy and sublime day—Zot Chanukah.