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The Prayer of Hoshana Rabbah with Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland Shlit”a

On Hoshana Rabbah, the day of the final seal after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we merited to pray Shacharit, Hallel, the Hoshanot, and Musaf together with Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a.  Below is a full review from the prayer of this holy day:

At 5:17 a.m., Moreinu HaRav shlit”a entered for the prayer of Hoshana Rabbah from his balcony, with hundreds, and even close to a thousand people, arriving to pray on the “Day of Judgment” together with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a, all of them standing in the courtyard of our Beit Midrash – the Prayer Hall, all of them wrapped in white with Tallit and Kittel.  Immediately upon entering, he began saying the portions of Tikkun Chatzot said on Shabbat and holidays.  Afterwards, he continued with Shacharit with the Morning Zemirot and the Korbanot with vitality and arousal, as the light of morning arose.  At 6:05, he said the blessing on the Tallit, and surprisingly, according to the custom of the Ari z”l, he took his Lulav and blessed on it already before the Shacharit prayer, underneath the special Sukkah that was built on his balcony. [caption id="attachment_53398" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Waving the Lulav before prayer according to the custom of the Ari z"l[/caption] Immediately, he began Pesukei D’Zimra with the additions said on Hoshana Rabbah which resemble Shacharit of Yom Tov.  He sang at length “Hoshea Et Amecha” and “HaNechamadim MiZahav” for a number of minutes.  After Shacharit, at 7:15, Moreinu HaRav began singing Hallel with niggunim, with awesome vitality over a period of nearly an hour (55 minutes).  The song “Betzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim” stood out in particular, lasting for 15 minutes.  Afterwards, he sang “Hodu LaHashem Ki Tov” at even greater length, for some 25 minutes, while waving the Lulav according to custom.  He sang the rousing niggun of “Ana Hashem Hoshea Na” for some seven minutes. [caption id="attachment_53400" align="aligncenter" width="422"]Rav Berland singing Hallel Singing Hallel[/caption] After Hallel, he began the recitation of the Hoshanot, the namesake of the day.  For around a half-hour, word-for-word, Moreinu HaRav went around the Bimah in circles for the Hakafot together with the Four Species.  After each section, Moreinu HaRav said the special verse for Hoshana Rabbah.  Especially with the saying of “Kol Mevaser, Mevaser VeOmer…,” Moreinu HaRav, with his powerful voice, roared the verses, together with the entire congregation with fiery fervor! At the end of the Hoshanot, before the beating of the Aravot, Moreinu HaRav sang “Hoshea Et Amecha” for around seven minutes.  Afterwards, Moreinu HaRav beat the special Aravah. [caption id="attachment_53402" align="aligncenter" width="750"]Rav Berland beats Aravah Succot 5785 Beating the Aravah[/caption] At the conclusion of the beating of the Aravah, Moreinu HaRav shlit"a instructed to open the Torah Ark for the saying of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy.  The portion of Hoshana Rabbah, "U'V'Yom HaShivi'i," was read, along with the Maftir.  Four people read the Torah.  For the third Aliyah, Rav Moshe Tzanani shlit"a went up.  Moreinu HaRav shlit"a went up for the Aliyah of Rabbeinu HaKadosh, the fourth Aliyah. [caption id="attachment_53403" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Rav Moshe Tzanani shlit"a during the third Aliyah[/caption] At 9:20, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began the Musaf prayer, and in the repetition, he sang “VeKarev Pezureinu” and “Vehave’einu L’Tzion Irecha” for a number of minutes.  After Musaf, Moreinu HaRav said Ane’im Zemirot and the Tikkun HaKlali.  At the end of the Tikkun HaKlali, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a gave over a short shiur and entered his holy home to the song “Becha Rabbeinu Nagila” after four hours and twenty minutes in which we merited to be in the “Fourth Seal” together with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a!

Below is an inspiring photo gallery from the holy day (courtesy of the Shuvu Banim website, Hitchadshut Magazine):