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Tisha B’Av Day – Shacharit and Kinot with Rabbi Eliezer Berland Shlit”a

Here is a special review from Tisha B’Av Day 5784 with Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlit”a:

At 4:57 AM, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a entered for Shacharit without a tallit and tefillin and immediately began reciting the verses from Tikkun Chatzot which are customarily said on a day when Tachanun isn’t recited, such as Tisha B'Av, about which it is said ”He called upon me an appointed time (Moed).”  After Tikkun Chatzot, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began the morning prayer in the regular order: Morning Zemirot, Korbanot, and at 5:45, Pesukei D’Zimra began. After the Amidah, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a read from the Torah “Ki Tolid Banim” and was called up for the third aliyah. Afterwards, he pleasantly read the Haftarah 'Asof Asifeim' word-by-word, with the Haftarah alone lasting ten minutes. Immediately after the Haftarah, at 7:20, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a announced that he would come down to the Prayer Hall to recite the Kinot. And indeed, within a few minutes, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a descended to the Prayer Hall and began reciting the Kinot together with over a thousand people of Shuvu Banim from all over Israel.  They sat very crowded in the Prayer Hall and filled up the entire courtyard outside the hall.  Due to the terrible heat that prevailed in the Holy Land on Tisha B’Av, as in previous years, the gabbaim of the Beit Midrash opened up special shelters for the large crowd who came to mourn over Jerusalem together with Moreinu HaRav shlit”a.  The gabbaim also saw to exceptional air conditioning arrangements, with even portable air conditioners outside the hall.  It is worth noting that due to the large crowd, people barely managed to enter and reach the entrance of the Beit Midrash.  At 7:30, the Rav sat on a low chair on the low platform and immediately began Kinot.  With each Kinah, the congregation would complete it, and the broken voice of the Rav shlit”a would be heard clearly throughout the hall finishing the Kinah and beginning the one after it. Before Kinah 16, “Zechor Asher Asa Tzar Bifnim,” which speaks about the wicked Titus who destroyed the Sanctuary, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a began to give over a shiur for some forty minutes, mainly focusing on the question of why it is said that “Jerusalem was destroyed because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza,” even though it was Titus who destroyed Jerusalem.  He spoke extensively about baseless hatred and explained that this is why we do not say, “Shalom” on Tisha B’Av – to show that we do not truly say “Shalom” to one another.  Before the Kinah of the Ten Martyrs, “Arzei HaLevanon,” in which the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva is mentioned, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a gave another shiur for 22 minutes.  Afterwards, he stood up to say the Kinah.  Likewise, before the Kinah of Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi – “Tzion Halo Tishali,” the Rav said a number of words.  In Kinah 41, “Sha’ali Serufah Ba’eish,” the Rav shlit”a stood up and remained standing until he went up to his home.  Particular rousing was the last Kinah, “Eli Tzion Ve’areha,” as Moreinu HaRav shlit”a recites it every year in the awe-inspiring niggun, with the Rav’s voice choking with tears as he laments the destruction of the our Temple and the concealment of the Divine Presence also this year. After the conclusion of Kinot, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a sat for the reading of Megilat Eicha (the scroll of Lamentations).  It should be noted that the Rav shlit”a read the Megilah possibly faster than any previous year – about twenty minutes.  At the conclusion of Megilat Eicha, the Rav concluded the prayer, saying that everyone should go to the Kotel and to Hevron until Chatzot, and afterwards learn Tratate Bava Batra.  After six hours and forty minutes, Moreinu HaRav shlit”a ascended to his holy home at 11:40 AM.

“Return us, Hashem, to You, and we shall return; renew our days as of old…”