Which You Shall Set Before Them • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Mishpatim in the

Before you is an extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Mishpatim, 24 Shevat 5785, in the presence of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days):

Friday Night

At 17:10, The Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha (afternoon) prayer of Erev Shabbat Kodesh (the eve of the Holy Shabbat), appearing majestic in his Shabbat garments. They sang "Or Zarua L'Tzaddik" (Light is sown for the righteous) for 10 minutes. Afterward, The Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer, he recited the Seder HaHishtakrut (the 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." He then began the singing of "Lekha Dodi," which lasted for 40 minutes. At the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, he recited "K'Gavna" (a Kabbalistic prayer from the Zohar) and the Maariv (evening) prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. After the prayer, The Rav continued with the conclusion of the service as he does every Shabbat. However, after "Yigdal Elohim Chai..." he unexpectedly entered his home near 19:10, following a prayer service that lasted exactly two hours. It should be noted that about ten minutes later, the Gabbai (attendant) R' Yosef Assouline announced in the name of the Rav that the Shacharit (morning) prayer would take place at 4:30.

Shacharit Prayer

The Rav shlit"a came out for the Shacharit prayer at 04:33. The Rav began with some of the verses of Chatzos (the Midnight Lamentation) that are recited, specifically the sections customary to say on Shabbat and holidays. This was followed by the morning Zemirot (songs) and Korbanot (readings regarding the sacrifices). This week, The Rav shlit"a remained on his balcony for the continuation of the prayer as well. Around 05:15, he began the recitation of "Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u Vi'shmo" and Pesukei D'Zimra (Verses of Praise) as he does every Shabbat, with melodies and great enthusiasm. The Rav extended the singing of "Harennu Hashem Chasdecha" (Show us Hashem Your kindness) for about 4 minutes, and similarly, he extended the singing of "Ki Chol Peh Lecha Yodeh" (For every mouth shall thank You) for 8 minutes. The Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei (silent prayer) at exactly 07:25. Immediately after the Chazarat HaShatz (the cantor's repetition), he instructed the opening of the Ark while singing "Yehei Ra'ava Kodamach" (May it be the will before You) for approximately 15 minutes.

Torah Reading

After the Hagbah (lifting of the Torah), the Rav began the Torah reading for Parshat Mishpatim. One after another, those celebrating life events and those observing Yahrtzeits (anniversaries of passing) ascended, having merited to stand by the side of The Rav shlit"a during the prayer. It should be noted that a great-granddaughter was born to the Rav, a daughter to the Rav's grandson, R' Shmuel Isaac, the son of R' Nachman Zucker shlit"a; she was named by the Rav. The Haftarah (prophetic reading), "The word that came to Jeremiah," was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy Nathan, may his light shine, the son of R' Nachman Bitton. The Torah reading along with the Haftarah lasted about 50 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 10 minutes. At the end, he performed the Birkat HaChodesh (blessing of the new month) and announced that the time of the Molad (new moon) is 06:41 this coming Friday. It is worth noting that after four months of using the "Yechadeshu" melody of the Third Meal, he has now returned to the original melody which is also sung at weddings. At the conclusion of the announcement of the new month, he approached the Musaf prayer at 08:10. After the Chazarat HaShatz, he finished the prayer in its order and even recited the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification) after a month in which we did not merit to hear the Tikkun HaKlali at its midpoint. At the conclusion, he immediately performed Kiddusha Rabba (the Great Kiddush) over a cup of wine and delivered a lesson for about 5 minutes.

During the lesson, The Rav mentioned the matter of the Molad and said that from now on—Shabbat Mevarchim (the Shabbat when the month is blessed)—the light of Purim is already shining. This is the highest light, even higher than Yom Kippur, and through it, one can subdue Amalek; today, Amalek is the Hamas. The Rav further spoke about the matter of King Saul, who needed to wait for the prophet Samuel for just two more minutes during the war against Amalek, and because he did not wait for the Tzaddik, he lost the eternal kingship.

At 08:50, he entered his holy home after four hours and 17 minutes, during which we merited the Shacharit prayer, the Torah reading, Musaf, Tikkun HaKlali, and Kiddusha Rabba together with The Rav shlit"a.

Immediately following the conclusion of the prayer, he held a Kiddush in his holy residence in honor of the birth of his great-granddaughter to R' Shmuel Isaac, son of R' Nachman Zucker shlit"a, and son-in-law of the one who gladdens hearts, R' Yanky Zucker, from our community in the city of Ashdod.

Mincha Prayer

At 17:24, The Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of Shabbat Kodesh on the balcony of his home, starting with the recitation of Kaddish. He began saying "Berich Shmeih" and singing "Yehei Ra'ava" for 2 minutes. Afterward, they read from the Torah—Parshat Terumah—with three people called up to the Torah. Immediately following this, he stood for the Shemoneh Esrei of the Shabbat Mincha.

Ra'ava D'Ra'avin

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 17:45. As is his holy custom, he began with the first Kazayit (olive-sized piece of bread) and started the Zemirot (songs) of the Third Meal for about 23 minutes. At the conclusion of the Zemirot, he extended the singing of "Yah Ribbon" for about 18 minutes. Unexpectedly, at the end of the singing, the Rav began "Tzur Mishelo Achalnu," without singing the other regular melodies usually sung during the Third Meal. The Rav led the Zimmun (invitation to Grace After Meals) over a cup of wine with Sheva Brachot (Seven Blessings) for the esteemed groom Nachman, son of R' Aaron Tashkent.

Maariv and Havdalah

At 18:46, The Rav shlit"a began the singing of "Lamnatzeach Binginot" for 9 minutes. Afterward, he continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat (Saturday night) with melodies of "fire and flame." After the Shemoneh Esrei, during the recitation of "Vayehi Noam," The Rav shlit"a sang "Baruch Hu Elokeinu Sheberanu Lichvodo" (Blessed is our G-d who created us for His honor) for 25 minutes; likewise, he extended the singing of "Hu Yiftach Libenu B'Torato" (He will open our hearts to His Torah) for about 5 minutes. At the conclusion of the prayer, he performed Havdalah (the ceremony marking the end of Shabbat) over a cup of wine with the singing of "Layehudim" (For the Jews) for about two minutes.

On the Night Following the Day of Rest

After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka (the meal escorting the Shabbat Queen)—which is the meal of David the King Messiah. The Rav shlit"a sang all the Zemirot of Melaveh Malka together with the entire public. Before the song "Eliyahu HaNavi," he delivered a lesson for about 15 minutes from the book Chayei Moharan (The Life of Rebbe Nachman). After the lesson, he continued the Zemirot "Eliyahu HaNavi" and "Ribbon Kol HaOlamim." After the Zemirot, The Rav led the Zimmun over the cup with Sheva Brachot for the aforementioned groom and delivered another lesson for about a minute. He entered his holy home at 20:38. This followed a duration of three hours and a quarter (3:14) that we merited to be together with him continuously from the Mincha prayer, through the Third Meal, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.

In total for the entire Shabbat—about 9 and a half hours (9:41) during which we merited to take refuge in the holy shadow of the Rav on Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Mishpatim, 24 Shevat 5785.