Rejoice and Be Glad in the Joy of the Torah

Festival prayers ○ Hakafos through the streets of Jerusalem ○ Second Hakafos until daybreak ○ A stunning first photo gallery

Simchas Torah in the presence of The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, has always been renowned and spoken about. The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, is bound to the holy Torah with every fiber of his soul and all his might—learning at every free moment, never lifting his head from the sefarim. The joy of Torah learning is visible to all on Simchas Torah. Everyone knows: whoever wants to rejoice on Simchas Torah until “the roof beams burst” should come to Shuvu Banim together with the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, and dance and rejoice in honor of the Torah and in celebration of completing it. This Simchas Torah as well, in His great mercy and immense kindness, we merited celebrating Simchas Torah together with The Rav shlit"a. Here is the full coverage—from the entrance of the festival until the conclusion of the Second Hakafos after the festival:

[caption id="attachment_52723" align="aligncenter" width="512"] The holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a — Second Hakafos, Motzaei Simchas Torah 5783. Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

The sanctified night of the festival

Close to 6:00 PM, The Rav arrived at the enormous sukkah where the yahrzeit celebration of Rebbe Nachman zy"a was held, and immediately began Minchah for the eve of the festival. Right after Minchah concluded, he began Ma’ariv for the sanctified festival night—with tremendous vitality and with the melodies as is customary.

[caption id="attachment_52708" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Minchah on the eve of the festival — Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

“Encircle Zion and go around her”

After Ma’ariv, The Rav shlit"a began “Atah Hareisa Lada’as” and started the Hakafos. First, The Rav circled inside the large tent, and afterward went out into the city streets together with the Sifrei Torah for Hakafos that lasted more than two and a half hours.

They first danced on Rechov HaChayim (the street where the large tent stood), going back and forth three times, completing three Hakafos. Between each Hakafah, The Rav would begin a song, and all of Anash would burst into stormy dancing—walking with vitality and tremendous enthusiasm.

Afterward, The Rav turned onto Rechov HaNevi’im, continued up the street toward the Russian Compound, and entered the plaza of Jerusalem City Hall. In the middle of Safra Square, The Rav shlit"a stopped for the fifth Hakafah, surrounded by more than a thousand people—men, women, and children—who came to rejoice in the joy of the Torah. The Rav shlit"a began the song “MiPi Kel,” and also “V’ye’esayu Lecha L’Avdecha,” as everyone jumped and danced with joy.

Then he turned back toward Rechov Shivtei Yisrael and returned to Rechov HaChayim with singing and dancing. Along the way, The Rav paused only for the sixth Hakafah and to begin the seventh Hakafah. Upon entering the large tent and reaching his place, The Rav completed the seventh Hakafah, and they began Krias HaTorah.

The Rav shlit"a received the aliyah of “Kol HaNe’arim” on the night of Simchas Torah. After Krias HaTorah concluded, he continued with Ma’ariv through Aleinu. After Ma’ariv, The Rav shlit"a announced that at 5:00 there would be Vasikin in the large tent, and he returned to his home, Neveh Kodesh, in the Third Wall area—accompanied by hundreds of Anash in song and dance.

[caption id="attachment_52706" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

Prayers and completing the Torah — Simchas Torah day

On Simchas Torah day, at 5:15 AM, The Rav shlit"a left his home, Neveh Kodesh, heading toward the large tent, with Anash accompanying him from his home. On the way, The Rav began singing “Baruch Hu Elokeinu…” After about ten minutes of walking, The Rav shlit"a arrived at the large tent and immediately began Chatzos with “Urah Na” and “Sha’arei Tzion,” as is customary to say on Shabbos and festivals.

Afterward came the morning zemiros with great vitality and powerful awakening. Then he began Korbanos and Shacharis as on every Shabbos and Yom Tov, lingering with melodies in “Hoshi’a Es Amecha,” and in “HaNechmadim MiZahav,” and also singing “Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh…” in Nishmas Kol Chai. Then came the blessings of Krias Shema and Shemoneh Esrei for the Three Regalim.

After the conclusion of the chazzan’s repetition, The Rav recited the blessing on Hallel and began singing Hallel with tremendous enthusiasm—close to an hour of Hallel sung in the melodies of The Rav shlit"a. After Hallel, The Rav shlit"a made Kiddush and delivered a short talk about the greatness of the dancing on Simchas Torah—that the matter of the dancing is even higher than the prayers of Rosh Hashanah. He then announced that there would be a break so that the entire congregation could receive aliyos.

He left the tent and entered an apartment prepared for him in advance so he could rest there. Due to his great weakness from the extensive walking and his medical condition—which constantly requires prayers—The Rav did not go out for Hakafos, and only at 1:15 PM did he leave the apartment for the tent, where he made seven Hakafos around the bimah.

Afterward, because of the late hour, he began Yizkor, and then Mussaf, which lasted more than half an hour, with the songs “V’karev P’zureinu” and “V’havi’einu L’Tzion Irecha” in the middle—while the huge crowd, close to a thousand people, sang together with vitality and tremendous enthusiasm. Then came the chazzan’s repetition with the Prayer for Rain in stirring melodies.

After the prayers concluded, Krias HaTorah began, with one honoree after another meriting to complete the Torah, while the Hakafos were sold for large sums in honor of the Torah and to fund the expenses of the Tishrei holidays, which total close to one million shekels.

[caption id="attachment_52713" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

The Rav shlit"a was honored as “Chassan Torah,” and after the introductory permission for the Chassan Torah, he went up to the Torah for the reading of “Me’onah.” At the end of the reading, the cry of “Chazak, chazak, v’nis’chazeik!” thundered all the way to the walls of the Old City.

Afterward, “Kol HaNe’arim” was a breathtaking sight, as tallisos were spread over everyone. After Krias HaTorah concluded, The Rav shlit"a finished the prayers, and after the prayers he recited The Tikkun HaKlali together with the entire congregation. He then returned to his home, Neveh Kodesh, saying that Ma’ariv on Motzaei Yom Tov would take place at 7:30.On Motzaei Yom Tov, close to 8:00, The Rav shlit"a indeed went out for Ma’ariv of Motzaei Yom Tov—nearly forty minutes of prayer. After the prayers, The Rav shlit"a delivered a short talk about the greatness of dancing all night until 5:00 AM. Afterward, one of his grandsons made Havdalah over the cup in a loud voice, and The Rav shlit"a entered his home, Neveh Kodesh.

[caption id="attachment_52712" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

“There is no joy like the joy of the Torah”

At 12:30 AM, The Rav shlit"a arrived from his home, Neveh Kodesh, to the large tent and immediately began reciting the verses of “Atah Hareisa…” and at once The Rav shlit"a, together with the entire congregation, began dancing. In the large tent, thousands from every walk of life danced and leapt in immense joy in honor of the Torah.

The dancing was accompanied by the legendary “Shuvu Banim” orchestra, led by R’ Moshe Revach and R’ Yalon Yitzchaki. In addition, well-known musicians joined in, filling the air with melodies of holiness and fiery joy.

[caption id="attachment_52710" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] The legendary Shuvu Banim orchestra — Second Hakafos 5783. Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

The Rav shlit"a danced for nearly two and a half hours almost without pause, with tremendous vitality. Between each Hakafah, The Rav would recite, in his pure voice, the verses of the Hakafah.

At 3:00, The Rav shlit"a left the Hakafos for his home, Neveh Kodesh, saying that the dancing would continue until 5:00 AM—Shacharis. He went to his home, Neveh Kodesh, while the dancing continued with full force and intensity until 4:30, when they left the large tent in a massive procession together with the Sifrei Torah toward our Beis Midrash, where they returned the Sifrei Torah to the Aron Kodesh with song and dance.

[caption id="attachment_52716" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Photo credit: Machon Keren HaTzaddik[/caption]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y1mUIKIYjk

Replay broadcast from the Second Hakafos with the participation of the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a

Fortunate are we that we merited to complete the Torah and to dance together with The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a—the Chassan Torah in the most literal sense, who learns and toils in his study day and night. All that remains for us is to say:

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