Through Those Near to Me I Shall Be Sanctified • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat

Presented before you is an extensive report of the prayers and lessons that took place on the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Shemini, 28 Nissan 5785 (2025), 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 18:39, our teacher, The Rav shlit"a, went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon prayer) of Erev Shabbat, appearing majestic in his Shabbat garments. They sang "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 23 minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha of 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 (the service welcoming the Shabbat) with all the psalms, from "Lekhu Neranena" to "Mizmor L'David." Afterward, he began the singing of "Lekha Dodi," which this Shabbat was particularly lengthy, lasting exactly one hour. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "Kigavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the end of Maariv, he performed Sefirat HaOmer (the Counting of the Omer) for the night of Yesod shebeGevurah, which lasted exactly half an hour. After the prayer, The Rav continued the conclusion of the service as he does every Shabbat, with the Zemirot (songs) for Friday night, including "Shalom Aleichem." The prayer concluded at 21:37 after nearly three hours (2:58).

Shacharit (Morning Prayer)

For the Shacharit prayer, The Rav shlit"a came out at 04:44. The Rav began with part of the verses of Chatzos (Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customary to say on Shabbat and Festivals. Afterward, he recited the morning Zemirot and Korbanot (sacrificial readings) in order. At 5:35, he began the recitation of "Hodu L'Hashem Kiru BiShmo" and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as every Shabbat, with melodies and enthusiasm. At 06:00, he stood for Baruch She'amar. During the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You), he extended the singing for about 15 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at 07:00.

Kriat 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 several minutes and took out the Torah scroll. The Rav shlit"a began the Torah reading for Parshat Shemini. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and those observing yahrtzeits (anniversary of passing) were called up, meriting to stand by the side of The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. After the conclusion of the reading of Shemini, the Bar Mitzvah boy Natan Shein may his light shine, read the Haftarah (prophetic reading). The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes.

Musaf Prayer and Kiddusha Rabba

At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, The Rav shlit"a began singing "Zera Chaya V'Kayama" (Living and enduring offspring) for about 7 minutes. As is known, during the days of Sefirat HaOmer—days in which many massacres occurred historically—it is customary to recite "Av HaRachamim" (Father of Mercy) even though Tachanun (supplication) is not said. The Rav shlit"a recited "Av HaRachamim" with great awakening and extended the melody of "Harninu Goyim Ammo" (Sing O nations of His people) for 2 minutes. However, the greatest spiritual awakening was recorded when, for seven consecutive minutes, The Rav shlit"a cried out "Oy! Nekamat Dam! Nekamat Dam Avadecha HaShafuch..." (Vengeance for the blood! Vengeance for the spilled blood of Your servants...).

Afterward, he blessed the new month of Iyar and announced the Molad (birth of the new moon). At the conclusion of the announcement of the month, he approached the Musaf (additional) prayer. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he concluded the prayer in its order, finishing with The Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification). He performed Kiddush immediately afterward over a cup for Kiddusha Rabba (the Great Kiddush) and delivered a lesson for about 25 minutes.

At 09:25, he entered his holy home after more than four and a half hours (4:39), during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Musaf, and Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Mincha Prayer

At 18:35, The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the Holy Shabbat on his balcony and unexpectedly began singing "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" for 25 minutes. Afterward, he sang "Yehei Ra'ava" for about 7 minutes, at the conclusion of which he read from the Torah—Parshat Tazria-Metzora—for three people called to the Torah. Immediately following, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Rava D'Ravin (The Third Meal)

At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer, which lasted about twenty minutes, The Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the Seudah Shlishit (third meal) at his place on the balcony at 19:30. As is his holy custom, with the first Kezayit (olive-sized piece of bread), he began the Zemirot of the third meal for about 30 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribbon" (G-d Master of the world) for 30 minutes. Afterward, he sang "Koh Amar Hashem Matza Chen BaMidbar" (Thus says Hashem, they found grace in the desert) for 5 minutes, as well as the song "Koh Amar Hashem Zacharti Lach Chesed Neurayich" (Thus says Hashem, I remembered for you the kindness of your youth) for 5 minutes, and the song "Ad Heina" (Until now) for 7 minutes. At the conclusion of the singing, The Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu" and led the Zimun (invitation to grace) over a cup.

Maariv and Havdalah

Immediately after Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals), The Rav shlit"a began singing "Lamnatzeach Binginot" (To the conductor with melodies) for 15 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies like a flaming fire. After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," The Rav shlit"a extended the singing of "Baruch Hu Elokeinu Sheberanu Lichvodo" (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His glory) for 8 minutes and the song "Hu Yiftach Libenu BeTorato" (May He open our hearts to His Torah) for about 10 minutes. Afterward, he performed Sefirat HaOmer for the night of Malchut shebeGevurah, which lasted about half an hour. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (separation ceremony) over a cup with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews there was light...).

Motzaei Yom Menucha (Saturday Night)

After Havdalah, The Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malkah (the meal escorting the Shabbat Queen)—which is the meal of David the Mashiach King. The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemirot for Melaveh Malkah together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 18 minutes from the book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot of "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribon Kol HaOlamim." After the songs, The Rav led the Zimun over a cup. At the conclusion of Birkat HaMazon, The Rav recited the blessing "Al HaGefen" and delivered another lesson for about a minute. At 23:10, he entered his holy home. This followed a duration of four hours and 35 minutes 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, we merited to take shelter in his holy shadow for 12 hours and 12 minutes during the Holy Shabbat of Parshat Shemini, 28 Nissan 5785.