"They Are Holy" ◇ The Shabbat Chanukah Gathering in the Shadow of Our Teacher

Twelve hours of Shabbat prayers ○ The singing of Hallel at great length ○ Lighting the Chanukah candles with a large multitude

Our holy Rebbe (Rebbe Nachman) teaches us that the light of Chanukah is the light of the Tzaddik. One of the three main gatherings of Breslov Chassidim is Shabbat Chanukah, and anyone who truly wants to merit being included in the gathering of all the Jewish people with the "Head of the House" (the leading Tzaddik) of the generation knows that he must travel up to Jerusalem. He must take shelter during Shabbat Chanukah in the shadow of our teacher, The Rav shlit"a (Rabbi Eliezer Berland), as Moharnat zy"a (Rabbi Noson of Breslov, of holy righteous memory) taught us—that on Shabbat Chanukah, one must be with the Tzaddik of the generation.

As in years past, this year too, for Shabbat Chanukah Parshat Miketz 5786 (2025), the Shabbat Chanukah gathering took place with our teacher, The Rav shlit"a. Anash (our community) does not remember a Shabbat this exalted, with such special lengthiness, for years! Thousands of the Jewish people arrived to take shelter in the shadow of the true "Shamash" (the spiritual light), the Tzaddik of the generation, our teacher The Rav shlit"a.

Before you is a brief report of the little we merited during the Shabbat Chanukah gathering of Parshat Miketz, the 30th of Kislev, the first day of Rosh Chodesh Tevet, 5786:

Friday Night

The Shabbat Chanukah gathering began with the lighting of the sixth Chanukah candle. At the candle-lighting time of 16:03, our teacher The Rav shlit"a came out to the balcony, majestic in pure white Shabbat garments with a white kippah and tallit (prayer shawl), appearing like an angel of Hashem Tzeva-ot. In his pure voice, The Rav recited the blessings and lit the candle in the silver Menorah of the synagogue, which stands near the place where our teacher shlit"a prays.

The Rav sang "HaNerot Halalu" (These Candles) and "Ma'oz Tzur" (Stronghold of Rock). Afterward, The Rav shlit"a entered his home for five minutes to light the Shabbat candles together with the Rebbetzin (the Rav's wife) may she live long and good days. Meanwhile, the public continued to sing "Yevanim Nikbetzu Alai" (The Greeks gathered against me), and even after his return, he continued singing until 16:20, when he began the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat Kodesh with the large multitude.

The singing of "Lecha Dodi" (Come my Beloved) lasted for forty-five minutes, as our teacher The Rav shlit"a received the Shabbat with melodies and dancing, at a time when the Neshamah Yeseirah (the extra Shabbat soul) enters each and every person during the moving singing of "Lecha Dodi." After "Lecha Dodi," The Rav began the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night, followed by the Friday night Zemiros (songs) recited before Kiddush.

At 18:45, after two hours and forty minutes that we merited in his presence, our teacher The Rav shlit"a entered his holy home to the singing of "Sabeinu MiTuvecha" (Satisfy us with Your goodness).

The Morning Prayer

Even before the first hues of dawn rose over Jerusalem the Holy City, our teacher The Rav shlit"a had already entered the balcony of his home at 04:55 for the Shacharit (morning) prayer of Shabbat Chanukah. The prayer proceeded as it does every Shabbat with great vitality, starting from the morning songs and Korbanot (sacrificial readings). At 05:40, he began the Pesukei D'Zimra (verses of praise) of the holy Shabbat with immense vitality. During the singing of "Nafshenu Chiketa L'Hashem" (Our soul yearned for Hashem), he extended for about 5 minutes, while during "Nishmat Kol Chai" (The soul of every living thing) with the melody of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), there were about 7 minutes of singing with great power and joy. Afterward, he recited the blessings of the Shema, and in a great wonder, after a long time that we had not merited this, he extended the singing of "Ein Aruch Lecha" (There is none like You) for 12 minutes. The Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) began at 07:15.

"Song and Jubilation" – The Hallel

After the Chazzan's repetition of the Amidah, The Rav began the singing of the full Hallel (psalms of praise) for the days of Chanukah, which lasted for a long hour! Our teacher The Rav shlit"a stood with vitality, facing the public, and with his holy movements, he enlivened the entire crowd, who were sparked with flames of fire in immense enthusiasm—truly a Garden of Eden. The truth is that with the Tzaddik, we are above space and time; nevertheless, we counted the minutes "so that the generations may know" what occurred "in those days at this time": during the melody of "B'tzeit Yisrael" (When Israel went out), The Rav extended for 22 minutes. In the aspect of "increasing and continuing," he extended the singing and dancing with the melody of "Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov" (Give thanks to Hashem for He is good) for 19 minutes. It is impossible to describe the bliss, the joy, and the feelings of gratitude to Hashem for the miracles performed in those days at this time.

Great awakening was also noted during the melody of "Adir Ayom V'Nora" (Mighty, Awesome, and Formidable), which The Rav sings during the section of "Ana Hashem Hoshia Na" (Please Hashem, save us) and "Ana Hashem Hatzlicha Na" (Please Hashem, grant success). The Rav extended this melody for about 12 additional minutes of this special and wonderful Hallel at great length!

The Torah Reading

After Hallel and the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began the opening of the Ark, singing "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the Will) for several minutes, and brought out three Torah scrolls. Our teacher The Rav shlit"a instructed his grandson, Rabbi Dov Zucker, to read from the Torah. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversary of passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of our teacher The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the reading of Parshat Miketz, our teacher The Rav shlit"a went up for the reading of the Rosh Chodesh portion, and afterward, the reading for Shabbat Chanukah. The Torah reading and the Haftarah (prophetic reading) together lasted about a long hour.

The Haftarah of "Roni V'Simchi" (Sing and Rejoice) for Shabbat Chanukah was read in a pleasant voice by the Bar Mitzvah boy, Yosef, may his light shine, son of the Gabbai (manager) of the Beit Midrash, Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Farkas, may his light shine.

The Musaf Prayer

After the conclusion of the Haftarah, The Rav recited "Yekum Purkan" and the singing of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (a prayer for viable offspring), which is auspicious for being blessed with children, for about five minutes. Afterward, The Rav said Ashrei and "Yehallelu," and after the Torah scroll was returned to the Ark, he said Kaddish and announced "Atah Yatzarta"—the Musaf prayer for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh. It can be said that this is the longest Shabbat Musaf prayed all year (containing Atah Yatzarta, Ya'aleh V'Yavo, and Al HaNissim). At the conclusion of Musaf, The Rav shlit"a finished the prayer in its order: Anim Zemirot, Adon Olam, Yigdal Elokim Chai, and The Tikkun HaKlali. Then, our teacher The Rav delivered a lesson of about five minutes—the Torah of the Tzaddik on Shabbat Chanukah.

At 10:18, our teacher The Rav shlit"a entered his holy residence after five hours and twenty-three minutes.

Mincha and the Third Meal

At 16:15, our teacher The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home to the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 10 minutes. He recited Kaddish and began saying "Brich Shmeh" and the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" for 5 minutes. Afterward, he read from Parshat Vayigash, and immediately following, he stood for the Amidah prayer of Mincha.

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, which lasted about twenty minutes, at 16:50, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (third meal) at his place on the balcony. As is his holy custom, immediately with the first kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread), he began the Zemiros (songs) of the third meal for about twenty minutes. Following them, he sang "Yah Ribbon" (G-d, Master of the World) for about 35 minutes. Afterward, the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the desert) for 4 minutes, as well as the singing of "Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich" (I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for another minute, and during the singing of "Ad Henah" (Until now), he extended for 11 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, The Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu," "Shir HaMa'alot," and made the Zimun (invitation to grace after meals) over a cup of wine.

Lighting the Seventh Candle and the Saturday Night Maariv

At 18:10, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot Mizmor Shir" for 20 minutes, during the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vihi Noam," our teacher The Rav shlit"a extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu SheBeranu Lichvodo" (Blessed is He, our G-d, Who created us for His glory) for 10 minutes, and further extended the singing of "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for another 10 minutes.

After "Aleinu L'Shabeach," he approached to light the seventh candle in the synagogue's Menorah. He began the singing of the Chanukah Zemiros according to his holy custom: "HaNerot Halalu" and "Ma'oz Tzur." Before continuing the songs, The Rav performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews there was light) for five minutes.

After Havdalah, he continued the Chanukah Zemiros with the singing of "Mizmor Shir Chanukat HaBayit" (A Psalm, a song for the dedication of the House). Afterward, during the singing of "Lamnatzeach BiNginot," he extended for about a quarter of an hour. "Ana B'Koach" was recited 7 times as is the custom, with the melody of the Baal Shem Tov, followed by the singing of "Ranenu Tzaddikim" (Rejoice, O righteous). He concluded the Chanukah Zemiros with the singing of "Yevanim Nikbetzu Alai" for 17 minutes with vitality and the joy of Chanukah. After the conclusion of the singing, The Rav delivered a lesson for several minutes and entered his holy residence at 20:15, after about four hours.

Thus, the public merited a total of approximately 12 hours in the pure, holy presence of the Tzaddik of our generation on Shabbat Parshat Miketz, the 30th of Kislev, the 1st of Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the Shabbat Chanukah gathering of 5786!