And Behold, Hashem Stood Over Him • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayetze in the Shadow of the Righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a
Here is an extensive coverage of the prayers and lessons that took place on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayetze, 9th of Kislev 5786, in the shadow of the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:
Holy Friday Night
At 16:33, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of the Shabbat eve, adorned in Shabbat garments. They sang for 10 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik'. Afterward, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for the Shabbat eve, he recited the order of connection word by word, and the entire congregation responded after him. Then, our teacher the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the psalms starting from 'Lechu Neranena' to 'Mizmor LeDavid'. Subsequently, he began singing 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 33 minutes. Afterward, he said 'Kegavna' and the Maariv prayer of Friday night with singing and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, our teacher the Rav continued with the songs for Friday night, extending 'Shalom Aleichem' for about 12 minutes. At the end of the songs, the Rav finished the prayer at 18:45 after two hours and twelve minutes.
Shacharit Prayer
For the Shacharit prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out at 04:54, beginning with parts of the verses of Tikkun Chatzot that are customarily said on Shabbat and holidays. Morning songs and offerings in their order. At 05:50, he began saying 'Hodu LaHashem Kiru Bishmo' and the Pesukei Dezimra as on every Shabbat with melodies and enthusiasm. At 06:23, he said 'Baruch She'amar'. In the song 'Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh', he extended for about 9 minutes, in the melody after Yishtabach, he extended for an additional 6 minutes, and in 'Ein Aroch' of the blessing 'Yotzer Or', he extended for about 3 minutes. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Amidah prayer at 07:17, for more than two and a half hours of Shacharit prayer.
Torah Reading
After the conclusion of the chazzan's repetition, they began opening the ark, singing 'Yehi Ratzon' for several minutes, and took out the Torah scroll. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a instructed his grandson, R' Dov Zucker, to read from the Torah. One after another, those celebrating joyous occasions and yahrzeits who merited to stand during the prayer beside our teacher the Rav shlit"a went up. The haftarah was read by the esteemed chassid R' Shlomo Chaim Richter shlit"a in memory of his mother of blessed memory. The Torah reading and haftarah together lasted about 45 minutes.
Mussaf Prayer and Kiddush Rabbah
At the conclusion of the haftarah reading, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya Vekayama', and here comes the special extension of this Shabbat. Immediately with the start of the song, he entered his home, and after 13 minutes, he came out again and continued the song for another 17 minutes, so the singing of 'Zera Chaya Vekayama' lasted exactly half an hour! And if that wasn't enough, afterward, in the saying of 'Av Harachamim', he extended the singing of 'Nekamat Dam' for 10 minutes. At 09:05, he approached the Mussaf prayer. After the chazzan's repetition, he concluded the prayer, and immediately after 'Barchu', he sanctified on the cup in Kiddush Rabbah, and delivered a lesson for about 7 minutes.
At 09:24, he entered his holy home after exactly four and a half hours that we merited to the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Mussaf, and a lesson in Kiddush Rabbah together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.
Mincha Prayer
At 16:34, our teacher the Rav shlit"a entered for the Mincha prayer of the holy Shabbat to the balcony of his home and began singing 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' for 17 minutes. Afterward, he said Kaddish and opened the ark with the song 'Yehi Ratzon' for about 7 minutes. Afterward, the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah - Vayishlach - three aliyot. Then the Amidah prayer of Mincha for Shabbat.
Ra'ava D'Ra'avin
At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer of Shabbat at 17:15, in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the three meals. As is his holy custom, with the first olive-sized piece, he began the songs of the third meal for about 22 minutes. At the end of the songs, he extended greatly! In the singing of 'Ya Ribono' for about 50 minutes. Then he sang 'Ko Amar Hashem Matza Chen Bamidbar' for 3 minutes, and in the singing of 'Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich' for 10 minutes, and in the singing of 'Ad Henna' he extended for 20 minutes. After about two hours of the third meal, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and blessed on the cup with seven blessings.
Maariv and Havdalah
Close to 19:15, immediately after Birkat Hamazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamnatzeach Binginot' for 22 minutes. After the conclusion of the song, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzei Shabbat with melodies in a fiery manner. After the Amidah, he said the order of 'Vayehi Noam', extending the singing of 'Baruch Hu' for 15 minutes, and in the singing of 'Hu Yiftach' for an additional 20 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order, which lasted an hour and twenty minutes, and made Havdalah on the cup with the singing of 'Layehudim' for 2 minutes.
On the Eve of Rest
After Havdalah, the Rav washed his hands for Melaveh Malka - this is the meal of David, King Mashiach. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a sang together with the entire congregation all the songs for Melaveh Malka. Before the song 'Eliyahu HaNavi', he delivered a lesson for about 19 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan. After the lesson, the Rav continued with the songs 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribon Kol HaOlamim'. After the songs, Moharash blessed on the cup with seven blessings. At the conclusion of Birkat Hamazon, the Rav delivered another lesson in which he instructed the order of study for this night. At 21:35, he entered his holy home. After an extension of more than five hours (5.01) that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.
In total, the entire Shabbat was about 11 hours. that we merited to dwell in the holy shadow on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayetze, 9th of Kislev 5786.