Ki Seitzei LaMilchama • Extensive Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Ki Seitzei in the

Presented before you is extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Ki Seitzei - 13th of Elul 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 18:55, our teacher, The Rav shlit"a, came out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, dressed in majestic Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for fifteen minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a recited Ashrei and 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 the Sabbath) with all the psalms, from "Lechu Neranena" to "Mizmor LeDavid." Afterward, he began the singing of "Lecha Dodi" (Come my beloved), which lasted approximately 37 minutes. He then recited "Kigavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer describing the spiritual unification of Shabbat) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Shabbat night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, The Rav continued with the Zemirot (traditional songs) for Friday night; the prayer service concluded at 21:20, after two hours and twenty-five minutes.

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 5:04 and immediately began with part of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot (the Midnight Lament) that are customarily recited in sections on Shabbat and festivals. During this, he extended the singing of "Ki Nicham Hashem Tzion" (For Hashem has comforted Zion) for about 5 minutes. From there, he continued the morning Zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial readings) in their proper order. Close to 6:00, he began the recitation of "Hodu L'Hashem Kiru BiShmo" and Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) as is done every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm; he extended the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) for about 7 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer) at 7:30, after about two and a half hours of the Shacharit service.

Kriat HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (the cantor's repetition of the Amidah), they recited "LeDavid Hashem Ori V'Yishi" (Psalm 27) and the Shir Shel Yom (Psalm of the day). Afterward, during the opening of the Ark, they sang "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for 5 minutes, and the Torah scroll was removed. The Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Parshat Ki Seitzei. One after another, those celebrating milestones and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the Torah reading, a Bar Mitzvah boy read the Haftarah (prophetic portion); the Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zera Chaya VeKayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about fifteen minutes. Afterward, he continued to say "Av HaRachamim" (Father of Mercy) and extended it wonderfully for five minutes with the melody of "Harninu Goyim Ammo Ki Dam Avadav Yikom" (Sing out, O nations, for His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants) as well as the melody of "Nikmat Dam Avadecha HaShapuch" (The vengeance of the spilled blood of Your servants). Close to 9:00, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the repetition of the Amidah, he concluded the prayer in its order, ending with The Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the Shabbat morning Kiddush) and delivered a lesson for about 10 minutes with great depth.

Only at 10:00 did he enter his holy home, after nearly five hours in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a lesson during Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Kiddush in Honor of the Birth of His Great-Granddaughter

After entering his holy residence, he came out for a Kiddusha Rabba in honor of the birth of his great-granddaughter, the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Knapler, may his light shine, son-in-law of the Chassid Rabbi Meir David Isaac shlit"a, the son-in-law of the Rav. During the Kiddusha Rabba, The Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson for about 15 minutes.

Mincha Prayer

At 18:30, relatively early compared to recent weeks, The Rav shlit"a entered the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat and began with the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 5 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish and they opened the Ark with the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" for about 5 additional minutes, at the conclusion of which he read from the Torah—Parshat Ki Tavo—for three people called to the Torah. It is worth noting an interesting point: at this stage, the Rav raised his eyes to the clock, and upon seeing that it was the exact minute of sunset, he immediately said "U'Venucho Yomar..." (And when it rested, he would say), recited Kaddish, and stood exactly at sunset for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at 20:05, while in his place on the balcony, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (third meal). As is his holy custom, with the first Kazayit (olive-sized piece of bread), he began the Zemirot of the third meal for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribon" (G-d, Master of the world) for about half an hour. Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the desert) for 2 minutes, and extended the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for 4 minutes. He sang "Ad Heina" (Until now) for 6 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" (Rock from whose food we have eaten) and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over a cup of wine.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 21:19, immediately after the Grace After Meals, the Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot" (Psalm 67) with wonderful length for half an hour, and afterward continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the order of "Vayehi Noam" (May the pleasantness), and in the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He), he extended for half an hour, concluding with the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (May He open) for 4 additional minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah (the separation ceremony) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews there was light).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (Melaveh Malka)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka (the meal accompanying the departing Queen)—this is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (David the King Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malka together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 13 minutes from the book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." Following the songs, The Rav led the Zimun over the cup with Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) for the aforementioned groom. At the conclusion of the Grace After Meals, the Rav recited the blessing "Al HaGafen" (over the wine) and delivered another lesson for about five minutes. At 23:46, he entered his holy home. This followed a continuous period of over four hours in which we merited to be together with him consecutively from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total, the entire Shabbat consisted of eleven and a half hours during which we merited to take refuge in the holy shadow of the Rav on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Ki Seitzei, 13th of Elul 5785.