Presented here is an extensive report from the prayers and shiurim that took place on Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Beshalach—Shabbos Shirah, 13 Shevat 5786—in the presence of the holy Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Shabbos Kodesh Night

At 16:40, The Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for Minchah of Erev Shabbos, splendidly dressed in his Shabbos garments. For 15 minutes they sang “Or Zarua LaTzaddik.” After that, The Rav shlit"a stood for Minchah. At the conclusion of Minchah for Erev Shabbos, he recited the Seder HaHiskashrus word for word, and the entire congregation repeated after him. Then The Rav began Kabbalas Shabbos with all the psalms, from “Lechu Neranena” through “Mizmor LeDavid.” Afterwards he began singing “Lecha Dodi,” which lasted about 39 minutes. Then he said “K’gavna,” and prayed Ma’ariv of Friday night with singing and niggunim. After Ma’ariv, The Rav continued with Shabbos night zemiros as is his holy custom every week, and he prolonged the singing of “Shalom Aleichem,” while at the same time delivering a shiur to the esteemed chassid R’ Moshe Brandsdorfer shlit"a. The tefillah concluded at 19:05—after two hours and twenty-five minutes.

The “Far-Shpil” Celebration for Our Great-Grandchild

In anticipation of the great wedding that is scheduled to take place on Sunday—Monday night, the eve of 15 Shevat—celebrating the marriage of the distinguished chassan Nachman Zucker (may he live), son of R’ Shmuel Yitzchak Zucker shlit"a, son-in-law of the esteemed chassid R’ Binyamin Cohen shlit"a, with the kallah, daughter of R’ Moshe Aryeh Haas shlit"a, son-in-law of the esteemed chassid R’ Shlomo Chaim Richter shlit"a.

On Shabbos Kodesh night, the “Far-Shpil” gathering took place as preparation for the joy of the Tzaddik’s household. The royal family assembled around the holy table, which began with Kiddush for Friday night about ten minutes after the tefillah ended. After Netilas Yadayim, The Rav shlit"a delivered a fiery shiur for about 55 minutes. Then he began the zemiros of Shabbos Kodesh. When they reached the niggun “V’yihyu Rachamecha Misgolelim,” The Rav shlit"a repeated it again and again for 35 minutes. Afterwards, during “Y-ah Ribbon,” he extended the singing for about 40 minutes. Only after three hours of conducting the holy table at the Friday night seudah, in the setting of the “Far-Shpil,” did The Rav shlit"a conclude with the zimun for Birkas HaMazon over a cup of wine, and enter his room—after close to six hours spent together with the public and the family.

Shacharis

For Shacharis, The Rav shlit"a went out at 05:08. First they sang “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” for about 7 minutes, and then The Rav began Chatzos, the morning zemiros, and before Parshas HaAkeidah he wrapped himself in a tallis and began reciting the Korbanos. At 06:05 he began “Hodu LaHashem Kir’u Vishmo” in Pesukei D’Zimrah, and as every week he prolonged it with niggunim and songs.

It should be noted that on this Shabbos—Shabbos Shirah—a great awakening seized the congregation at “Az Yashir,” with powerful cries of Shirat HaYam in the well-known melody.

During “Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh,” he extended the singing for about 22 minutes—an unusually long length not seen for a long time. The Rav shlit"a stood for Shemoneh Esrei at 07:35. The total length of Shacharis was about two and a half hours.

Krias HaTorah

After the conclusion of the chazzan’s repetition, they began opening the Aron Kodesh and sang “Yehei Ra’ava” for 2 minutes, and took out the Sefer Torah. One after another, the ba’alei simchah and those observing yahrtzeits were called up—those who merited to stand during the tefillah at the side of The Rav shlit"a. This week there were more than 30 aliyos. Krias HaTorah—Shirat HaYam—and the Haftarah—Shiras Devorah—together lasted about an hour and ten minutes. At the conclusion of the Haftarah:

Mussaf and Kiddusha Rabbah

After the Haftarah, The Rav shlit"a began saying “Yekum Purkan.” During the singing of “Zar’a Chaya V’Kayama,” he extended it for about 10 minutes. Then he said Ashrei, and close to 09:25 he approached for Mussaf. After the chazzan’s repetition, The Rav completed the tefillah in its proper order, and after The Tikkun HaKlali he made Kiddush over a cup of wine for Kiddusha Rabbah, and delivered a shiur of about 15 minutes.

At 10:05 he entered his holy home, after about 5 hours in which we merited Shacharis, Krias HaTorah, Mussaf, and a shiur at Kiddusha Rabbah together with The Rav shlit"a.

Immediately after the tefillah, two brisos took place in the residence of The Rav shlit"a. The first was for the son of R’ Aharon Toito (may he live), grandson of the esteemed chassid R’ Eitan Bazal shlit"a from the city of Netivot. Afterwards, another bris was held for R’ Shmuel Yitzchak, son of the esteemed chassid R’ Avraham Chajbi shlit"a. May it be Hashem’s will: just as they entered the bris, so should they enter Torah, the chuppah, and good deeds.

Minchah

At 16:23, The Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony of his home for Minchah of Shabbos Kodesh and began singing “Or Zarua LaTzaddik” for 13 minutes. Then he said Kaddish, and they opened the Aron Kodesh with the singing of “Yehei Ra’ava” for a few minutes. After that, The Rav shlit"a read from the Torah—Yisro—for three aliyos. At the end of the reading, they returned the Sefer Torah to the Aron Kodesh with the singing of “Ki Lekach Tov,” and they stood for Shemoneh Esrei of Minchah for Shabbos.

Ra’ava D’Ra’avin

At the conclusion of Minchah of Shabbos at 17:00, in his place on the balcony, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the three seudos. As is his custom, he began with the zemiros of Seudah Shlishis for about 23 minutes. At the end of the zemiros, he greatly prolonged “Y-ah Ribbon” for about 50 minutes—an exceptional length, it should be noted. Afterwards he began singing the niggunim:

“Nichsafah V’Gam Kalsah Nafshi” — 15 minutes. “Urah Kevodi” — 22 minutes. “Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar” — 5 minutes. “Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne’urayich” — 10 minutes. “Ad Heinah Azarunu Rachamecha” — 15 minutes.

At the conclusion of the niggunim at 19:25, The Rav shlit"a began “Tzur Mishelo Achalnu” and made the zimun over a cup of wine with Sheva Berachos.

Ma’ariv and Havdalah