I Am Seeking My Brothers • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev 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 Vayeshev, 23rd of Kislev 5786 in the shadow of the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:
Holy Friday Night
At 16:23, 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 for 10 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik'. 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 starting from 'L'chu Neranena' to 'Mizmor L'David'. Subsequently, he began singing 'Lecha Dodi', which lasted about 37 minutes. Afterward, he recited 'Kegavna' and the Arvit prayer of Friday night with song and melodies. At the end of Arvit, our teacher the Rav continued with the songs for Friday night as is his holy custom every Shabbat. At the conclusion of the songs, the Rav finished the prayer at 18:50 after two hours and twenty-two minutes.
Shacharit Prayer
For the Shacharit prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out at 04:16 – about two hours and ten minutes before sunrise. Tikkun Chatzot, morning songs, sacrifices. At 05:05, he began reciting 'Hodu LaHashem Kiru Bishmo' and Pesukei D'Zimra as on every Shabbat with melodies and enthusiasm. In the song 'Hanechmadim M'Zahav', he extended for about 5 minutes. Then, precisely at the time of the tallit at 05:38, the Rav shlit"a wrapped himself in the tallit and began 'Baruch She'amar'. In the song 'Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh', he also extended for about 5 minutes. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Shemoneh Esrei prayer at sunrise at 06:26. The length of the Shacharit prayer was about two hours and ten minutes.
Torah Reading
After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began opening the ark and sang 'Yehi Ratzon' for several minutes, and took out the Torah scroll. One by one, those celebrating joyous occasions and yahrzeits who merited standing during the prayer beside our teacher the Rav shlit"a went up. The Haftarah of the sale of Yosef was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy Nachman ben R' Natan Zevi hy"v. The Torah reading and the Haftarah together lasted about 40 minutes.
Mussaf Prayer and Kiddush Rabbah
At the end of the Haftarah reading, our teacher the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Zera Chaya V'kayam' and extended for several minutes. Afterward, the blessing of the month, our teacher the Rav shlit"a announced the month and the molad along with the stirring melody. Then Ashrei, and close to 07:50, he approached the Mussaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, he concluded the prayer and recited Tikkun HaKlali. At the end, he made Kiddush over the cup in Kiddush Rabbah and delivered a lesson for about 20 minutes.
At 08:30, he entered his holy home after approximately four hours and fifteen minutes in which we merited the Shacharit prayer, Torah reading, Mussaf, and a lesson in Kiddush Rabbah together with our teacher the Rav shlit"a.
Kiddush Rabbah for the Birth of the Great-Granddaughter
After the prayer, the Rav shlit"a entered his holy abode for Kiddush Rabbah in honor of the birth of his great-granddaughter, the daughter of his grandson R' Avraham Rubinstein, son-in-law of the nasi R' Natan Rubinstein shlit"a, son and grandson of the influencer R' Yehoshua Ber Rubinstein shlit"a. In Kiddush Rabbah, our teacher the Rav delivered a lesson for about 15 minutes on the weekly parsha.
Mincha Prayer
At 16:13, 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 10 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 – Miketz – three aliyot. Afterward, the Shemoneh Esrei prayer of Shabbat Mincha.
Re'ava D'Re'avin
At the conclusion of the Shabbat Mincha prayer at sunset, 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 portion, 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 30 minutes. Then, continuing from last week, he began singing 'Nichsefa V'gam Kaltah Nafshi' for 15 minutes, 'Ko Amar Hashem Matzah Chen Bamidbar' for 8 minutes, and 'Zacharti Lach Chesed Ne'urayich' for an additional 15 minutes, and in the song 'Ad Henah', he extended for 12 minutes. At the conclusion, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and made a zimun over the cup with seven blessings.
Maariv and Havdalah
Close to 18:30, immediately after Birkat Hamazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamenatzeach Binginot' for 20 minutes accompanied by musical instruments with singing and dancing. After the song concluded, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Arvit prayer of Motzei Shabbat with fiery melodies. After Shemoneh Esrei, he recited the order of 'V'yehi Noam' and extended the singing of 'Baruch Hu' for 2 minutes, and 'Hu Yiftach' for 5 minutes. Then he concluded the Arvit prayer as usual, which lasted an hour and twenty minutes, and made Havdalah over the cup with the song 'L'Yehudim'.
On the Night After the Day of Rest
After Havdalah, close to 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 15 minutes from the holy book Chayei Moharan. After the lesson, the Rav continued the songs 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribbon Kol HaOlamim', and after the songs, the Rav made a zimun over the cup. At the conclusion of Birkat Hamazon, the Rav delivered another lesson in which he instructed the study order for that night. At 20:20, he entered his holy home. After a length of more than four hours and five minutes, we merited to be together with him from Mincha prayer, three meals, Arvit, and Melaveh Malka.
In total, the entire Shabbat about 10 hours and 40 minutes. in which we merited to be in the holy shadow on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayeshev, 23rd of Kislev 5786.