The Emotional Yom Kippur 5781 in Breslov Shuvu Banim in Jerusalem - In the Sukkah of Toldot Avraham Yitzchak

Yom Kippur 5781 in the Breslov chassidut 'Shuvu Banim' was very emotional. After the Rosh Hashanah prayers, where the community's prayer hall was, Baruch Hashem, filled with worshippers, the community rented the large sukkah of the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak chassidut. The sukkah, located in Meah Shearim just above the location of the shul, the synagogue of the Breslov chassidim in Jerusalem, hosted the Yom Kippur prayers. Everyone rejoiced at the great effort to prepare a large space to accommodate all the numerous worshippers, but to our joy, there was a great Kiddush Hashem, and even the enlarged space could not contain the nearly two thousand worshippers who came to the great gathering of Yom Kippur.

In the sukkah, two large and high bleachers were set up, one served for seating the holy children, the community's children who sweetened the prayer with their voices. Next to it, another bleacher was set up for the young chassidim who were given a special place during the wonderful prayers. In the middle, benches with tables were set up for the rest of the Breslov 'Shuvu Banim' chassidim, who enjoyed peace of mind throughout the long Yom Kippur prayers. A big thank you is extended from all the worshippers to all those involved in the work, yet the great effort was not enough for the many worshippers who continued to arrive at the sukkah. Hundreds of worshippers crowded the aisles and the entrance to the prayer sukkah, some even brought folding chairs from home.

After the special Mincha prayer with the confession of Erev Yom Kippur, each prayed in their place, the chassid, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter, led the Kol Nidrei and Maariv prayers of Yom Kippur with his voice that inspires teshuvah (repentance). A tremor passed through the hearts of the worshippers who truly felt the spirit of our teacher, the esteemed Rav Berland shlit"a, present in the prayer and assisting the prayer leader in the sacred task. The prayer service followed the special tradition of the Breslov chassidim, passed down since the days of the great 'ovdim' of Uman. The holy congregation naturally connected to the special melody of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, which was added in the appropriate places, such as in the blessings of the Shema and the verses of praise.

The Yom Kippur prayer until 'HaMelech' was opened by Rabbi Naftali Zucker, the grandson of our teacher Rav Berland, from there R' Moshe Galinsky continued to sweeten with his prayer.

For the Torah reading in the first section, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter approached, and in the second section, it was again Rabbi Moshe Galinsky. For the order of the High Priest's service, Rabbi Duvd'le Zucker, also a grandson of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, approached, who in fact also prayed the entire Mussaf prayer of Yom Kippur.

In the Mincha prayer, Rabbi Yosef Shor stood at the podium, and the Yom Kippur prayers were concluded by Rabbi Yitzchak Halperin, who was precise in the Ne'ilah prayer with the well-known and beloved tradition.

Rabbi Moshe Levinson approached the Maariv prayer of the end of Yom Kippur.

How fortunate we are to have gathered together as students of our esteemed teacher Rav Berland shlit"a for the Yom Kippur prayers. The feeling of the intensity of the holy and awesome day, the day when the multitudes of the House of Israel stand in awe before their Creator, strengthened the hearts that see in Breslov Shuvu Banim the fulfillment of the verse "And as they afflicted them, so they multiplied and so they spread." With great self-sacrifice, all the thousands of students of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a continue to stand firm, and not only that, more and more newcomers come to seek Hashem and continue to draw close to the light of emunah (faith) that is with our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a.