"And He Said: I Am Yosef!!" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayigash in the Presence 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 Vayigash, 7th of Tevet 5786, in the presence of the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:
Friday Night
At 16:38, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out to the balcony of his home for the Mincha prayer of Erev Shabbat, adorned in Shabbat garments. They sang 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' for 13 minutes. Afterward, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Mincha prayer. At the conclusion of Mincha for Erev Shabbat, 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 from 'L'chu N'ran'na' to 'Mizmor L'David'. Subsequently, he began singing 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 40 minutes. Afterward, he recited 'K'Gavna' and the Maariv prayer of Friday night with song and melodies. At the conclusion of Maariv, our teacher the Rav continued with the songs for Friday night as is his holy custom every Shabbat. At the end of the songs, the Rav concluded the prayer at 19:00 after two hours and twenty-two minutes.
Shacharit Prayer
For the Shacharit prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a emerged at 04:40. Initially, they sang 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik' for about 4 minutes, and then our teacher the Rav began Tikkun Chatzot, morning songs, and the Korbanot. At 05:30, he began reciting 'Hodu L'Hashem Kir'u B'Shmo' and the Pesukei D'Zimra as every Shabbat with melodies and enthusiasm. Before 'Mizmor Shir Chanukat HaBayit', the Rav shlit"a wrapped himself in a tallit. In the song 'Ki Kol Peh L'cha Yodeh', he extended for about 4 minutes. Similarly, in the song 'Ein Aroch L'cha', he also extended for about 4 minutes. The Amidah prayer of Shacharit, our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood a little after sunrise at 06:50. The length of the Shacharit prayer was about two hours and ten minutes.
Torah Reading
After the repetition of the Amidah, they began opening the ark and sang 'Yehi Ratzon' for several minutes, and the Torah scroll was taken out. One by one, those celebrating joyous occasions and yahrzeits, who merited standing during the prayer beside our teacher the Rav shlit"a, were called up. The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes.
Mussaf Prayer and Kiddush Rabbah
At the conclusion of the Haftarah reading, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya V'Kayama' for 5 minutes. Afterward, he recited Ashrei and around 07:50 proceeded to the Mussaf prayer. After the repetition of the Amidah, the Rav made Kiddush on the cup during Kiddush Rabbah and delivered a lesson for about 5 minutes.
At 08:15, he entered his holy home after approximately three hours and thirty-five minutes in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Mussaf, and a lesson during Kiddush Rabbah together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.
Mincha Prayer
At 16:17, 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 15 minutes. Afterward, he recited Kaddish and opened the ark with the song 'Yehi Ratzon' for several minutes. Then the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah – Vayechi – three aliyot. Afterward, the Amidah prayer of Mincha for Shabbat.
Ra'ava D'Ra'avin
At the conclusion of the Mincha prayer of Shabbat at 16:53, 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 23 minutes. At the end of the songs, he extended the singing of 'Yah Ribbon' for about 52 minutes, with great length, it should be noted. Then he began singing 'Nafshi Kasa V'Gam Kaltah' for about 10 minutes, and afterward, he changed from the usual songs he sings and began singing 'Urah K'vodi' for 15 minutes. At the end, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and made the blessing on the cup with the seven blessings.
Maariv and Havdalah
Around 18:35, immediately after Birkat Hamazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamnatzeach B'Neginot' for 20 minutes accompanied by musical instruments with singing and dancing. After the song, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzaei Shabbat with fiery melodies. After the Amidah, he recited the order of 'V'Yehi Noam', extended the singing of 'Baruch Hu' for 5 minutes, and also the song 'Hu Yiftach' for 3 minutes. Afterward, he concluded the Maariv prayer in its order and made Havdalah on the cup with the song 'L'Yehudim'.
On the Evening After the Day of Rest
After Havdalah, around 19:10, 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 8 minutes from the holy book Chayei Mohara"n. After the lesson, the Rav continued the songs 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribbon Kol HaOlamim', and after the songs, the Rav made the blessing on the cup. At the conclusion of Birkat Hamazon, surprisingly, the Rav delivered another lesson for 12 minutes. At 20:30, he entered his holy home. After more than four hours and five minutes, we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.
In total, the entire Shabbat was exactly 10 hours! in which we merited to be under the holy presence during the holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayigash, 7th of Tevet 5786.