The Emotional Yom Kippur 5781 in Breslov Shuvu Banim in Jerusalem

Yom Kippur 5781 in the Breslov Shuvu Banim community was very moving. After the Rosh Hashanah prayers, where the community's prayer hall was, thank Hashem, packed with worshippers, the community rented the massive Sukkah of the Toldos Avraham Yitzchak Chassidut. The Sukkah, located in Mea Shearim slightly above the location of the Shul—the synagogue of the Breslov Chassidim in Jerusalem—hosted the Yom Kippur prayers. Everyone was happy about the great effort to prepare a large space to accommodate all the many worshippers, but to our joy, there was a great Kiddush Hashem, and even the expanded space could not contain the nearly two thousand worshippers who arrived for the great Kibbutz of Yom Kippur.

In the Sukkah, two large and high bleachers were set up; one was used for the seating of the holy flock, the children of the community, who sweetened the prayer with their voices. Next to it, another bleacher was set up for the young Chassidim who received a special place at the wonderful prayer service. In the middle, benches with tables were set up for the rest of the Breslov Shuvu Banim kollel members, who enjoyed peace of mind throughout the long prayers of Yom Kippur. A big thank you is sent from the entire congregation to all those involved in the work; however, 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 bringing folding chairs from their homes.

After the special Mincha prayer with the confession of Erev Yom Kippur was prayed by each in their place, the Chassid, Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Richter, ascended for the Kol Nidre and Maariv prayers of Yom Kippur with his voice that awakens one to teshuvah (repentance). A tremor passed through the hearts of the worshippers who truly felt the spirit of our teacher, the holy Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, present in the prayer and assisting the prayer leader in the holy work. The prayer liturgy was the special version of the Breslov Chassidim that has been passed down in tradition since the days of the great 'Ovedim' (servants of Hashem) of Uman. The holy public connected naturally to the special melody of our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a, which they added in the correct places, such as in the blessings of the Shema and the Pesukei D'zimra.

The Yom Kippur prayer until 'Hamelech' was opened by Rabbi Naftali Zucker, the grandson of our teacher Rav Berland, from where R' Moshe Glinsky continued, who continued to sweeten the prayer with his voice.

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

In the Mincha prayer, Rabbi Yosef Shor stood before the lectern, and the Yom Kippur prayers were concluded by Rabbi Yitzchak Halperin, as he was precise in the Ne'ilah prayer with the well-known and beloved liturgy.

For the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Yom Kippur, Rabbi Moshe Levinson approached.

Fortunate are we that we merited to crowd together, the students of our teacher, the holy Rav Eliezer Berland shlit"a, for the Yom Kippur prayers. The feeling of the intensity of the holy and awesome day, the day when the masses 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 him, so he multiplied and so he 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 new people are coming to seek Hashem and continue to draw closer to the light of faith that is with our teacher Rav Berland shlit"a.