It Has All Turned Pure • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Tazria-Metzora in the

Presented before you is extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Tazria-Metzora, 5th of Iyar 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night, the Holy Shabbat

At 18:36, our teacher, 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 25 minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Erev Shabbat Mincha, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (the order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (the service welcoming Shabbat) with all the psalms, from 'Lechu Neranena' to 'Mizmor L'David'. Afterward, he began the singing of 'Lecha Dodi,' which was particularly lengthy this Shabbat, lasting 55 minutes. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited 'K'gavna' (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the end of Maariv, Sefirat HaOmer (the counting of the Omer) for the day of Yesod she'be'Tiferet took place, lasting exactly half an hour. After the prayer, The Rav continued with the conclusion of the service as he does every Shabbat, with the Friday night Zemirot (songs). With 'Shalom Aleichem,' the prayer concluded at 22:00, after nearly three and a half hours (3:34).

Shacharit Prayer

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit (morning) prayer at 04:45. The Rav began with part of the verses of Tikkun Chatzos (the Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customary to say on Shabbat and Festivals. Afterward, the morning Zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial readings) followed in order. At 5:35, he began the recitation of 'Hodu l'Hashem Kir'u vi'Shemo' and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. The Rav extended the singing of 'Hanechmadim mi'zahav' (More desirable than gold) for about 4 minutes, and at 06:15, he said Baruch She'amar. During the singing of 'Ki chol peh lecha yodeh' (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended it for about 4 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah prayer) at 06:55.

Torah Reading

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (the cantor's repetition), the Shir Shel Yom (Psalm of the day) was recited, and they sang 'Yehei Ra'ava' (May it be the will) for several minutes as the Torah scroll was taken out. The Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Parshat Tazria-Metzora. One after another, the Ba'alei Simcha (those celebrating milestones) and those with Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) ascended, having merited to stand by the side of The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the reading of the eighth Aliyah, a Bar Mitzvah boy read the Haftarah (prophetic portion). The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted exactly one hour.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya v'Kayama' (Living and enduring offspring) for about 5 minutes. Afterward, Av HaRachamim (Father of Mercy) was recited. The Rav shlit"a also performed a 'Mi Sheberach' (blessing) for those fasting the 'Behab' fasts (the traditional Monday-Thursday-Monday fasts following the holidays). Following this, he said Ashrei and approached the Musaf prayer. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer in its order, finishing with The Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He then performed the Kiddusha Rabba (the Shabbat morning Kiddush) over a cup of wine and delivered a lesson for about 15 minutes.

At 09:20, he entered his holy home after exactly four hours and 35 minutes in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 19:00, The Rav shlit"a entered the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat. He began with the singing of 'Yehei Ra'ava' for about 10 minutes, at the conclusion of which the Torah was read—Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim—with three people called to the Torah. Immediately following, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Ra'ava d'Ra'avin

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, while still in his place on the balcony, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (the third meal) at 19:27. As is his holy custom, upon eating the first 'Kaza'is' (required amount of bread), he began the third meal Zemirot for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended the singing of 'Yah Ribon' (G-d, Master of the world) for 45 minutes. Afterward, he sang 'Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar' (Thus says Hashem: He found grace in the wilderness) for 2 minutes, as well as 'Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'uraich' (Thus says Hashem: I remember the kindness of your youth) for 7 minutes, and 'Ad Heina' (Until now) for 5 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, The Rav began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' (Rock from whose food we have eaten) and led the Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 20:50, immediately after the Birkat HaMazon, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of 'Lamnatzeach BiNginot' (To the conductor with melodies) for 5 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies of flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of 'Vayehi Noam,' The Rav extended the singing of 'Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo' (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) for 13 minutes and the singing of 'Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato' (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for about 10 minutes. Following this, Sefirat HaOmer for the day of Malchut she'be'Tiferet took place, lasting about fifteen minutes (it is noted that this was the shortest Sefirat HaOmer ever). After Sefirat HaOmer, The Rav shlit"a went for a break of about 15 minutes, and then returned to conclude the prayer and perform Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over a cup of wine with the singing of 'LaYehudim' (For the Jews there was light).

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, The Rav washed his hands for the Melaveh Malka (the meal accompanying the departing Shabbat)—which is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (King David, the Messiah). 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 8 minutes from Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim.' Following the songs, The Rav unexpectedly delivered a lesson for about 3 minutes and then led the Birkat HaMazon over a cup of wine. At the conclusion of Birkat HaMazon, The Rav recited the 'Al HaGefen' blessing and delivered another lesson for about a minute. At 23:05, he entered his holy home. This followed a continuous period of four hours and 5 minutes that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

The total time for the entire Shabbat was 11 hours and 14 minutes, during which we merited to take shelter in the holy shadow on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Tazria-Metzora, 5th of Iyar 5785.