This is the Statute of the Torah • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Chukat in the

Before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Chukat - 9th of Tammuz 5785 in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night (Leil Shabbat Kodesh)

At 19:06, The Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat (Friday afternoon), resplendent in Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for half an hour. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for Erev Shabbat, he recited the Seder HaHisksherus (order of connecting to the Tzaddik) word for word, with the entire congregation repeating after him. Following this, The Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming the Shabbat) with all the psalms from "Lechu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." Afterward, he began the singing of "Lecha Dodi," which lasted approximately 24 minutes. He then recited "K'gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening prayer) of Friday night with songs and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, The Rav continued with Zemiros (songs) for Friday night; the prayer concluded at 21:29 after two hours and twenty minutes (2:23).

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

The Rav shlit"a went out for the Shacharit (morning prayer) at 4:23. Immediately upon exiting, he wrapped himself in a Tallit (prayer shawl). He then began part of the verses of Chatzos (Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customary to say on Shabbat and Festivals. Following this were the morning Zemiros and Korbanos (sacrificial readings) in order. Close to 5:20, he began saying "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u ViShmo" and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as on every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm; during the singing of "Hanechemadim MiZahav" (More desirable than gold), he extended for about 7 minutes. Baruch She'amar was at 5:45. During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended for about 6 minutes. Likewise, during the singing of "Ein Aruch" (There is none like You), he repeated it again and again for 7 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 6:37.

Krias HaTorah (Torah Reading)

After the conclusion of the Chazarat HaShatz (Cantor's repetition) and the Shir Shel Yom (Psalm of the day), they sang "Yehei Ra'ava" (May it be the will) for 5 minutes, and the Torah scroll was removed from the Ark. The Rav shlit"a began the Krias HaTorah (Torah reading) for Parshat Chukat. One after another, the Ba'alei Simcha (those celebrating occasions) and those with Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) were called up, having merited to stand by the side of The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the Torah reading, a Bar Mitzvah boy read the Haftarah (prophetic portion); the Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes, which is notably shorter than usual.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about 7 minutes. Afterward, close to 7:45, he approached the Musaf prayer. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer in its order, finishing with The Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He recited Kiddush over the cup for Kiddusha Rabba and delivered a Shiur (lesson) for about 20 minutes with great length.

At 8:40, he entered his holy home after more than four hours and twenty minutes during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and a Shiur at Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Mincha (Afternoon Prayer)

At 19:40, The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of the Holy Shabbat on the balcony of his home and began the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for 5 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish, and they opened the Ark with the singing of "Yehei Ra'ava" for about 5 more minutes, at the conclusion of which he read from the Torah—Parshat Balak—for three call-ups. An interesting point to note is that at this stage, the Rav raised his eyes to the clock, and seeing that it was the minute of Shkiyah (sunset), he immediately said "U'venucho Yomar..." (And when it rested he would say), Kaddish, and stood exactly at sunset for the Shemoneh Esrei of Mincha for Shabbat.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer for Shabbat at 20:05, while in his place on the balcony, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the three meals (Seudah Shlishit). As is his holy custom, with the first Kezayit (measure of bread), he began the Zemiros (songs) of the third meal for about 22 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemiros, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribon" (G-d, Master of the world) for about half an hour. Afterward, the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found favor in the desert) lasted for 2 minutes, and he extended the singing of "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remember the kindness of your youth) for 4 minutes. The singing of "Ad Heina" (Until now) lasted 6 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" (Rock from whose food we have eaten) and led the Zimmun (invitation to grace) over the cup with Sheva Brachos (seven blessings) for the important groom Nachman, son of Rabbi Aaron Tzanani, grandson of the Mashpia (spiritual mentor) the Chassid Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit"a.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 21:19, immediately after Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals), The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach Binginos" with wonderful length for half an hour, and afterward continued with the Maariv (evening prayer) for the conclusion of Shabbat with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, he said the order of "Vayehi Noam," and during the singing of "Baruch Hu" (Blessed is He), he extended for half an hour, concluding with the singing of "Hu Yiftach" (May He open) for 4 more minutes. Afterward, he finished the Maariv prayer in its order and performed Havdalah (ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over the cup with the singing of "LaYehudim" (For the Jews).

At the Conclusion of the Day of Rest (Motzaei Shabbat)

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal accompanying the departing Shabbat)—this is the meal of David Malka Meshicha (David the King Messiah). The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemiros for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a Shiur (lesson) for about 13 minutes from Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the Shiur, he continued the Zemiros "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the Zemiros, The Rav led the Zimmun over the cup with Sheva Brachos for the aforementioned groom. At the conclusion of Birkat HaMazon, the Rav recited the blessing "Al HaGafen" and delivered another Shiur for about five minutes. At 23:46, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of over four hours that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malkah.

In total for the entire Shabbat: 10 hours and approximately 50 minutes, during which we merited to take shelter in the holy presence on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Chukat, 9th of Tammuz 5785.