Majestic Truth Was the Kohen Gadol

The prayers of the holy day were held with the participation of more than two thousand people ○ Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a did not feel well during the fast, yet aside from Mussaf and Minchah he took part in all the prayers of the holy day ○ Kiddush Levanah with a great multitude as he emerged from the holy

We were privileged that The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, was with us on the most sanctified day of the year—Yom Kippur. For most of the time he stood on his feet, continuing to shine his light and vitality upon all those present at the largest gathering of Breslov Chassidim on Yom Kippur.

In the days leading up to Yom Kippur, the organizers of “Ichud Chassidei Breslov” tried to arrange an enormous venue in the Musrara neighborhood. Unfortunately, they were not successful. Only a few hours before the holy day, they rented the “Toldos Aharon–Yitzchak” sukkah complex in Meah Shearim, at the intersection of Slant Street and Slonim Street. The dedicated organizers worked until just minutes before the holy day began, to provide for the thousands and hundreds who came to the Yom Kippur gathering in the presence of Rabbi Berland shlit"a—ensuring ventilation and seating in the best possible way.

[caption id="attachment_52589" align="aligncenter" width="618"] The Toldos Aharon–Yitzchak tent that served the Yom Kippur gathering 5783[/caption]

At 18:50, The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, entered the great tent, wrapped entirely in pure white garments. The thousands welcomed his radiant face—glowing with light—by singing “Or Zarua LaTzaddik.” He came to his place on a special platform near the amud, in the middle of the tent, packed from end to end. On both sides were large bleachers: on one side for the community’s children and bochurim, and on the other side—and throughout the entire lower area—crowded with avreichim from all over the country, all the way to the entrance of the tent. Even outside, people stood due to lack of space, because of the sheer number of thousands who arrived.

‘In the Heavenly Yeshivah’

As soon as The Rav reached his place, he signaled to Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter shlit"a, who immediately began reciting “Kol Nidrei” in his strong, pleasant voice, in the original Breslov nusach as we received from The Rav shlit"a—who received it from his teacher, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bender zy"a. After “Kol Nidrei” came the Ma’ariv prayer of the night of the holy day. It was an elevated, unique prayer, with wondrous awakening together with The Rav shlit"a, who—despite his age and his well-known medical condition—stood throughout the entire prayer, and with his holy hand-motions stirred the great congregation.

After Ma’ariv, they began to say Shir HaYichud for all the days of the week: the chazzan, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter, recited a section and the entire congregation repeated after him. For a long hour they continued through the entire lengthy Shir HaYichud, with melody. After close to two hours of prayer, The Rav shlit"a left the tent for an apartment rented nearby, so he could sit with a settled mind and learn close to the place of prayer, without needing to be transported back and forth from his home to the tent each time.

‘HaMelech’

On the morning of the holy day, The Rav shlit"a arrived at the tent at 06:20 and began the full Shacharis. The Rav served as chazzan up to “HaMelech.” Shacharis was like every Shabbos—with all the niggunim, and with even greater length: the morning songs and the Korbanos, and Pesukei D’Zimrah. The niggun of “Hoshi’a Es Amecha” lasted about twenty minutes, and the niggun on the verse “Har’einu Hashem Chasdecha” lasted about a quarter of an hour. Especially on the niggun “HaNechemadim MiZahav U’MiPaz Rav,” The Rav extended it for about twenty-five minutes of singing with vitality. The Rav looked over everyone on both bleachers, strengthening all to jump, clap, and sing—so it went through all of Shacharis with a special liveliness.

Then, at “HaMelech,” Rabbi Moshe Glinski shlit"a approached the amud, began with the introductory niggun, and then cried out “HaMelech!” The entire tent, together with The Rav shlit"a, clapped as is the custom. After that came the entire Shemoneh Esrei and the long chazzan’s repetition—everything with niggunim, in the original Breslov nusach, in his pleasant voice. After five hours of Shacharis, at 11:15—still before the Torah reading—The Rav shlit"a did not feel well. Because of the fast, despite his medical condition, he became weak, and he left the tent for the nearby apartment, where he continued the avodah of the holy day with his prayers.

[caption id="attachment_52587" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Part of the congregation at Havdalah—Motzaei Yom Kippur[/caption]

‘Lifnai V’Lifnim’

By The Rav’s instruction, our people continued with the Torah reading in its proper order. After the Torah reading and the sale of aliyos, the chazzan Rabbi Dov Zucker shlit"a approached the amud—The Rav’s grandson and attendant in holiness. With his pleasant, sweet voice he led Mussaf: first the prayer “Hineni HeAni MiMa’as,” and then Shemoneh Esrei and the chazzan’s repetition, and the Seder HaAvodah—everything with heart-awakening niggunim in the original Breslov nusach. The entire congregation participated, and the sound of thousands praying could be heard from afar each time the congregation repeated after the shaliach tzibbur, such as “Achas, achas v’achas.” This continued throughout Mussaf, which concluded only at 15:40.

‘As Minchah Rises’

Immediately after Mussaf, they began Minchah of the holy day. The chazzan Rabbi Yosef Shor shlit"a approached the amud. The Torah was read, with the maftir of Yonah sold for a high sum, as is customary—while all the money from the sale of aliyos went toward the tremendous expenses of “Ichud Chassidei Breslov,” who provided for the Yom Kippur gathering, which cost more than 100,000 NIS. Afterward came Shemoneh Esrei with the chazzan’s repetition; Minchah lasted more than an hour, with melody and awakening.

‘Open for Us a Gate at the Time the Gate Is Closing’

At 17:10, The Rav shlit"a returned to the great tent for Ne’ilah. The chazzan Rabbi Dov Zucker shlit"a approached the amud, with The Rav shlit"a participating. The great awakening—especially when The Rav is present—multiplies itself in these exalted moments. The chazzan’s repetition included all the Selichos and the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Only a few minutes before sunset, at 18:20, they reached Birchas Kohanim. At the end of the prayer, after Kaddish, the ba’al toke’a—Rabbi Yosef Shor shlit"a—blew the shofar. Afterward, all of Anash together with The Rav shlit"a burst into the song “L’Shanah HaBa’ah BiYerushalayim.” After Ne’ilah, The Rav shlit"a served as chazzan for Ma’ariv, with the niggunim of Motzaei the holy day.

[caption id="attachment_52588" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Rabbi Berland at Kiddush Levanah, Motzaei Yom Kippur[/caption]

‘As He Emerged from the Holy’

After Ma’ariv, The Rav shlit"a recited Krias Shema in its proper time. Then he instructed his grandson and gabbai, Rabbi Dov Zucker shlit"a, to make Havdalah over the cup. Immediately afterward he went out for Kiddush Levanah outside the tent, with thousands together with him. After Kiddush Levanah—which lasted more than twenty minutes, mainly with the singing of “LaMenatze’ach BiNeginos…”—The Rav left in his car toward his home, Neveh Kodesh, on HaChomah HaShlishis Street. Truly, how majestic was this sight: The Rav, Rabbi Berland shlit"a, entirely wrapped in white as he emerged from the holy, leaving while thousands escorted him, singing “Or Zarua LaTzaddik,” through the streets of Meah Shearim all the way to his home, Neveh Kodesh. Fortunate are we that we merited this!

[caption id="attachment_52586" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Kiddush Levanah together with Rabbi Berland on Motzaei Yom Kippur[/caption]