The First Day of Sukkos in the Presence of the Gaon HaTzaddik Rabbi Eliezer

Festival-night prayers ○ Over five hours of Yom Tov prayers ○ Ma’ariv and Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah on Motzaei Yom Tov

After three years, we were privileged on Sukkos to gather once again in the tzeila d’meheimnusa—the “shade of faith”—together with The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a: for the Yom Tov prayers, taking the Four Species, the special Hallel with all the melodies and songs—true Yom Tov joy. Below is a report of the festival prayers as they took place in the presence of The Rav shlit"a:

The night the festival began

At 18:20, Rabbi Berland shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home, resplendent in his Yom Tov garments—the white kittel and the white kippah—for Minchah of Erev Yom Tov. After close to fifteen minutes of singing “Or Zarua LaTzaddik,” he stood to begin the Minchah prayer.

After the chazzan’s repetition, The Rav began reciting “L’David Hashem Ori V’Yishi,” followed by more than twenty minutes of singing “Achas Sha’alti…”. After Minchah concluded, The Rav shlit"a recited the Seder HaHiskashrus word for word, with the entire congregation responding after him. Then The Rav began the melody for “Barchu” before Ma’ariv, and after the mighty call of “Barchu” from the pure mouth of The Rav shlit"a, they began the Ma’ariv of the Three Festivals for the first night of Sukkos—alive with energy and enthusiasm, with all the melodies. After Ma’ariv, The Rav recited the psalm “Samachti B’omrim Li…” as is customary, and after Aleinu, he entered his holy home at 19:35, with the singing of “V’samachta B’chagecha,” after an hour and a quarter of prayer.

Shacharis, Hallel, Hoshanos, and the Torah reading for the first day of the festival

For Shacharis, The Rav shlit"a came out at 4:50 and began with portions of the verses of Chatzos that are recited, as well as the piyut “Sha’arei Tzion” in the sections customarily said on Shabbos and festivals. After that came the morning songs with wondrous vitality, and likewise all of Pesukei D’Zimrah as on every Shabbos—awakened and aflame—while The Rav shlit"a lingered over each and every melody, such as “Hoshi’a Es Amecha,” which lasted about fifteen minutes, and the singing of “HaNechmadim MiZahav” for more than ten minutes. And in the psalm “Hodu LaHashem…” in the sections “L’gozer Yam Suf…” “L’makeh Melachim…”—close to 7:00, The Rav began “Nishmas,” and of course in the singing of “Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh…” The Rav drew out the melody. And uniquely on the festival, one could see on his holy face that The Rav was shedding tears of gratitude, moved with emotion by the song.

After that came the blessings of Krias Shema and the Shacharis of the Three Festivals. After the chazzan’s repetition, The Rav shlit"a announced that there would now be a short break of a few minutes, and that everyone should go take the Four Species. The Rav shlit"a went up to the sukkah at his holy home to take the Four Species, and as could be seen when he returned down to the hall, he had even immersed beforehand in preparation for this beloved mitzvah. After about a fifteen-minute break, with the prayer hall filled to capacity and everyone holding the Four Species in hand, how magnificent it was to see The Rav shlit"a return to the prayer hall. He began the singing of Hallel, which lasted more than twenty minutes—alive and blazing—with all the melodies: “B’tzeis Yisrael MiMitzrayim…” “Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov…”. During the shakings customarily done in the middle of Hallel, The Rav stops the melodies and shakes as is customary together with the entire congregation. Immediately after Hallel concluded, The Rav shlit"a began reciting the Hoshanos with the Sefer Torah at his side: “Hosha Na L’ma’an Amittecha…”. And after the Hoshanos concluded, he began singing “Hoshi’a Es Amecha…” for several minutes.

After the Hoshanos, The Rav instructed that the Sefer Torah be taken out, and together with the congregation, in great awakening, they recited three times the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy as is customary on the Three Festivals, and afterward the full “Yehi Ratzon.” In the Torah reading, several people were called up, with The Rav shlit"a receiving the aliyah of Rebbe Nachman— the fourth aliyah. Afterward, he read the Haftarah from the book of Zechariah, about the proclamation of the End of Days, and about the sin of Egypt and the sins of all the nations that will not come up to celebrate the festival of Sukkos.

“With everlasting joy”

At the conclusion of the Torah reading, The Rav shlit"a began the piyut “Yah E-li V’Go’ali…” with the special Breslov melody as led by The Rav shlit"a, and afterward approached the Mussaf prayer of the Three Festivals.

During the chazzan’s repetition, The Rav shlit"a lingered especially on the melody “V’karev P’zureinu Mibein HaGoyim…” for about ten minutes, blazing with holy fire. After that came the singing of “V’havi’einu L’Tziyon Ircha B’rinah…,” as The Rav, with the movements of his holy hands, ignited the entire congregation, who leapt and danced in supplication… “Ay!”—“V’Lirushalayim Beis Mikdashecha B’simchas Olam…” The entire congregation came alive in fiery passion, clapping hands with expanded consciousness. After close to half an hour of Mussaf, The Rav shlit"a concluded the chazzan’s repetition, and after Aleinu he recited The Tikkun HaKlali, and concluded with a fifteen-minute lesson of “the living words of Hashem.” He entered his holy home at 10:15—close to five and a half hours of Yom Tov prayer together with The Rav shlit"a. After the prayer, at the home of The Rav shlit"a, a bris was held for the son of R’ Yanai (may he live) from the city of Ashdod, with The Rav serving as the sandek.

Motzaei the first day of Yom Tov

For Minchah on the afternoon of the festival, we were not privileged that The Rav shlit"a would pray with us, and our community prayed the festival prayer together with the melodies, as The Rav had instructed, close to sunset.

We were privileged that on Motzaei Yom Tov at 19:40, The Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home and immediately began the Ma’ariv of Motzaei the first day of Yom Tov with all the melodies. After Ma’ariv, The Rav shlit"a recited the fifteen verses of “Shir HaMa’alos,” as is customary to say at Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah—The Rav says a verse and the congregation repeats after him. At the conclusion of the verses, The Rav announced that everyone should go make Havdalah in his home. He entered his holy home at 20:10, and our community continued the joy of the festival with dancing of Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah, blazing with holy fire in the prayer hall, which continued until close to midnight.