With Everlasting Joy • The Central Chol HaMoed Prayer with the Participation of

Today, Thursday, the 19th of Nissan, the 4th day of Chol HaMoed (the intermediate days of the festival), we merited the central Chol HaMoed prayer and the "Hachbalas Pnei Rabo" (greeting one's teacher during the festival) with the participation of the Gaon and Tzaddik Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a (may he live long and good days). Before you is a report on the course of the Chol HaMoed prayer with the participation of thousands of Anash (members of our community).

Immediately upon his return from the pilgrimage to the Kosel HaMa'aravi (Western Wall) at 4:55 AM, he went out for the Shacharis (morning) prayer of Chol HaMoed and began Chatzos (the midnight lamentation) with the sections customary for Shabbos and festivals. After the morning songs, he wrapped himself in a Tallis (prayer shawl) and continued with the Korbanos (sacrificial readings). At 5:50 AM, he began Pesukei D'Zimrah (verses of praise). During the singing of 'Lamnatzeach BiNeginos,' he extended it for about fifteen minutes. At 6:12 AM, he stood for 'Baruch She'amar.' Only at 6:40 AM did he stand for the Shemoneh Esrei (the standing prayer).

After the Chazzan's (cantor's) repetition at 6:53 AM, he began the singing of Hallel (psalms of praise) with vitality and enthusiasm, with singing and niggunim (melodies) accompanied by musical instruments. It is impossible to describe the intensity of the Hallel singing; there was no one who did not dance, skip, sing, and play, all while the Rav shlit"a himself jumped like a young lad and clapped his hands in true festival joy. Although the entire Hallel was a single block of flaming fire, "so that they may know," we will record the length of each and every melody: 'B'tzeis Yisrael MiMitzrayim' for 25 minutes; during the melody of 'Hodu L'Hashem Ki Tov,' he extended it for another 20 minutes. And during the melody of 'Ana B'Koach' (a powerful and awesome melody from the Melaveh Malkah songs) he extended it for fifteen minutes. The entire singing of Hallel lasted over a long hour (1:08). It is well known that in many lessons, the Rav shlit"a mentions that there is no such thing as Hallel lasting less than an hour; here we merit to see how the Rav shlit"a says and fulfills this together with the entire public with immense vitality and joy.

After the singing of Hallel, the Rav shlit"a sang 'Yehei Ra'ava Kodomach' (May it be the will before You) during the opening of the Aron (Ark) for the Torah reading for 12 minutes. Afterward, four people were called up for the Torah reading, with the Rav shlit"a calling up his nephew—Rabbi Shlomo Berland—on the occasion of the yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of his father, the brother in royalty, the Gaon Rabbi Yechezkel Berland zt"l (of blessed memory), who passed away on the 20th of Nissan in the year 5778 (2018). The Rav shlit"a also went up himself and performed a memorial prayer for his brother.

At the conclusion of the Torah reading, the Rav said Ashrei, and they returned the Torah scroll to the Holy Ark. The Rav shlit"a then stood for the Musaf (additional) prayer of Chol HaMoed. Joy was not absent from the Musaf prayer either, along with songs and niggunim (melodies) filled with gladness and longing for the holy service in the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) during the festivals. During the singing of 'V'Karev Pizureinu' (Bring our scattered ones close), the Rav shlit"a extended it for 4 minutes, while during the singing of 'V'Havieinu L'Tzion Irecha' (Bring us to Zion Your city), he extended it for 20 minutes.

After a Musaf prayer full of vitality and joy, the Rav shlit"a finished the prayer in order and added the recitation of The Tikkun HaKlali (the General Rectification). Upon finishing The Tikkun HaKlali, the Rav shlit"a gave a lesson for several minutes and entered his holy home at 9:40 AM, after nearly five hours (4:45) of the Chol HaMoed prayer.

The Shuvu Banim website blesses the readers and followers with the blessing of 'Moadim L'Simcha' (Joyous Festivals)!