Watch: Hakafos Shniyos 5787 with Rabbi Berland — Thousands Danced All Night, Until Shacharis

At ten at night, the singing began. At six in the morning, it still hadn't stopped, and only then, with the light of day, did it make way for the Shacharis (morning) prayer. This is how the Hakafos Shniyos (post-Simchas Torah dancing) of Motzaei Simchas Torah 5787 passed in Jerusalem, with our teacher, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a: thousands of people, two streets full from end to end, and an entire night of dancing in honor of the Torah. Before you is the documentation: videos from the night, the brief words of Rabbi Berland, and a large photo gallery.

Eight Hours of Singing and Dancing

On the night of the 23rd of Tishrei 5787, at the conclusion of Shabbos and Simchas Torah, thousands came for Hakafos Shniyos in the presence of Rabbi Berland. Two entire streets were closed off, and both were packed from end to end: HaChoma HaShlishit Street for men, and Ido HaNavi Street for women. And amidst all this massive crowd, Rabbi Berland sang with the congregation and guided the joy, hour after hour.

It was a night of niggunim (melodies) and dancing, not of speeches. Words were spoken only briefly, between one song and the next, and the rest was an unstoppable joy. Ten at night, Chatzos (midnight), the small hours of the night, and until six in the morning: eight continuous hours of rejoicing with the Torah. The videos and photos before you bring you right into the streets.

"Every Lift of the Foot": The Words of Rabbi Berland

In the small hours of the night, between niggunim, Rabbi Berland said a short sentence about the spiritual elevation of dancing during Hakafos Shniyos:

"Every lift of the foot is greater than all the prayers of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur."

One sentence, and it explains the entire night: every lift of the foot in dancing for the honor of the Torah is a tremendous spiritual work, greater than all the prayers of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. After such words, every step in the street took on a completely different weight.

The Joy of the Torah and the Power of Dance

Hakafos Shniyos continues the joy of the Torah even after the holiday departs, and this is not the first time this joy has lasted until morning: during the Hakafos Shniyos with Rabbi Berland last year as well, they danced until the morning light. This night concludes a month of joyous gatherings in the presence of the tzaddik in Jerusalem, including the night of the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov 5787, which was held during Chol HaMoed.

And for anyone who wants to understand what stands behind the melody and the dance: in a class given by Rabbi Berland in the past on the power of melody in serving Hashem, it is explained how singing awakens the heart and brings a person to deveikus (cleaving to God). These concepts are brought here as background to the joy of the Hakafos, and not as words that were spoken on this specific night.

From the Night to the Shacharis Prayer

And then, after eight hours, morning arrived. The singing made way for prayer, and the congregation continued with Rabbi Berland straight into the Shacharis prayer. The final photos document this moment: talleisim and tefillin, the first light of day, and communal prayer after an entire night of joy.

The Replay of Breslov Netzach Netzachim

Weren't you there? The Breslov Netzach Netzachim channel broadcasted the Hakafos live, and in the replay, you can watch the Hakafos Shniyos, the Shacharis prayer, and the class that followed.

Credit: Breslov Netzach Netzachim

Photo Gallery: Hakafos Shniyos 5787 with Rabbi Berland

Moments of song, joy, and prayer, from ten at night until the morning. Click on an image to enlarge it.

May we merit to take the joy of this night, and the power of every lifting of the foot (in dance), into all the days of the year.