"The Scepter Shall Not Depart from Judah" • Coverage of Shabbat Parshat Vayechi 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 Vayechi, 13th of Tevet 5786 in the presence of the righteous Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:
Holy Friday Night
At 16:26, 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 15 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik'. Afterwards, 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, with the entire congregation responding after him. Then our teacher the Rav began Kabbalat Shabbat with all the psalms from 'L'chu Neranena' to 'Mizmor L'David'. Subsequently, he began singing 'Lecha Dodi' which lasted about 40 minutes. Afterwards, he recited 'K'Gavna' 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 as is his holy custom every Shabbat. At the end of the songs, unexpectedly, the Rav turned to his grandchildren standing next to him on the balcony and gave them a lesson for about five minutes. After the lesson, he recited Kaddish and concluded the prayer at 18:58 after two hours and thirty-two minutes.
Sheva Brachot Feast
In the holy abode of our teacher the Rav shlit"a, the Friday night Sheva Brachot feast took place – for the groom Naftali Hertz Arol hy"u son of the chassid R' Nachman Arol shlit"a and grandson of the influencer the chassid R' Shimshon Walach shlit"a. Who, with Hashem's help, married the great-granddaughter of our teacher the Rav shlit"a, daughter of his grandson R' Avraham Zucker shlit"a. The feast was attended by family and close associates, with vitality and songs in the joy of the tzaddik's house. The highlight was the extraordinary length in the Shabbat songs with the singing of 'V'Yehiu Rachamecha' for over fifty minutes! Afterwards, our teacher the Rav shlit"a delivered a lesson for an hour and seven minutes with extraordinary length. Subsequently, the Rav shlit"a concluded the Shabbat Sheva Brachot feast with Birkat Hamazon and, of course, Mohara"sh shlit"a was honored with all seven blessings over the cup, and shortly after 22:00 at night, the feast concluded after more than three hours.
Shacharit Prayer
For the Shacharit prayer, our teacher the Rav shlit"a went out at 05:04. Initially, they sang for about 5 minutes 'Or Zarua LaTzaddik', and then our teacher the Rav began Tikkun Chatzot, morning songs, and offerings. At 05:48, he began reciting 'Hodu LaHashem Kiru Bishmo' and the Pesukei D'Zimra as every Shabbat with melodies and enthusiasm. There was no special length in all the melodies. Before 'Mizmor Shir Chanukat HaBayit', the Rav shlit"a wrapped himself in a tallit. They reached 'Baruch She'amar' at 06:17. In the singing of 'Ki Kol Peh Lecha Yodeh', he extended for about 4 minutes. Specifically, in the melody after Yishtabach, the Rav extended it for 12 minutes. Our teacher the Rav shlit"a stood for the Amidah prayer at 07:18. The length of the Shacharit prayer was about two hours and 14 minutes.
Torah Reading
After the conclusion of the Chazzan's repetition, they began opening the ark and sang 'Yehi Ratzon' for 5 minutes, and took out the Torah scroll. One after another, those celebrating and those with yahrzeits who merited to stand during the prayer next to our teacher the Rav shlit"a went 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 about 5 minutes. Afterwards, he recited Ashrei and close to 08:20 proceeded to the Mussaf prayer. After the Chazzan's repetition, the Rav concluded the prayer in order until its completion and then recited Tikkun HaKlali and sanctified over the cup in Kiddush Rabbah, and delivered a lesson for about 22 minutes with length.
At 09:17, he entered his holy home after four hours and 13 minutes 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 16:05, relatively early – more than fifty minutes before sunset, 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. Afterwards, he recited Kaddish and opened the ark with the singing of 'Yehi Ratzon' for a few minutes. Afterwards, the Rav shlit"a read from the Torah – Shemot – 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 16:38, about a quarter of an hour before sunset – in his place on the balcony, the Rav shlit"a washed his hands for the third meal. 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 conclusion of the songs, he extended the singing of 'Yah Ribbon' for about 40 minutes, with great length it should be noted. Afterwards, he began singing 'Nafshi Kasa V'Gam Kaltah' for an additional 40 minutes! At the conclusion, the Rav shlit"a began 'Tzur Mishelo Achalnu' and led the grace over the cup with seven blessings for the aforementioned groom.
Maariv and Havdalah
Close to 18:30, immediately after Birkat Hamazon, the Rav shlit"a began singing 'Lamenatzeach B'Nigunot' for 13 minutes. Accompanied by musical instruments with singing and dancing. After the conclusion of the singing, the Rav shlit"a continued with the Maariv prayer of Motzei Shabbat with fiery melodies. After the Amidah, he recited the order of 'V'Yehi Noam', extended the singing of 'Baruch Hu', and also the singing of 'Hu Yiftach' for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, he concluded the Maariv prayer in order. And made Havdalah over the cup with the singing of 'L'Yehudim'.
On the Eve of Rest
After Havdalah, close to 19:30, 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 half an hour (!). After the lesson, the Rav continued the songs 'Eliyahu HaNavi' and 'Ribbon Kol HaOlamim', after the songs Mohara"sh led the grace over the cup. At the conclusion of Birkat Hamazon, the Rav delivered another lesson for 5 minutes. At 20:41, he entered his holy home. After an extension of more than four hours and thirty-six minutes that we merited to be together with him from the Mincha prayer, three meals, Maariv, and Melaveh Malka.
In total, the entire Shabbat about 11 hours and twenty-one minutes! that we merited to be in the holy presence on the holy Shabbat of Parshat Vayechi – Chazak, 13th of Tevet 5786.