Tisha BâAv Day â Shacharit and Kinot with Rabbi Eliezer Berland Shlitâa
Here is a special review from Tisha BâAv Day 5784 with Moreinu HaRav Eliezer Berland shlitâa:
At 4:57 AM, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa 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 isnât recited, such as Tisha B'Av, about which it is said âHe called upon me an appointed time (Moed).â  After Tikkun Chatzot, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa began the morning prayer in the regular order: Morning Zemirot, Korbanot, and at 5:45, Pesukei DâZimra began. After the Amidah, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa read from the Torah âKi Tolid Banimâ 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 shlitâa announced that he would come down to the Prayer Hall to recite the Kinot. And indeed, within a few minutes, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa 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 BâAv, 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 shlitâa.  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 shlitâa would be heard clearly throughout the hall finishing the Kinah and beginning the one after it. Before Kinah 16, âZechor Asher Asa Tzar Bifnim,â which speaks about the wicked Titus who destroyed the Sanctuary, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa began to give over a shiur for some forty minutes, mainly focusing on the question of why it is said that âJerusalem was destroyed because of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza,â even though it was Titus who destroyed Jerusalem. He spoke extensively about baseless hatred and explained that this is why we do not say, âShalomâ on Tisha BâAv â to show that we do not truly say âShalomâ to one another. Before the Kinah of the Ten Martyrs, âArzei HaLevanon,â in which the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva is mentioned, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa gave another shiur for 22 minutes. Afterwards, he stood up to say the Kinah. Likewise, before the Kinah of Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi â âTzion Halo Tishali,â the Rav said a number of words. In Kinah 41, âShaâali Serufah Baâeish,â the Rav shlitâa stood up and remained standing until he went up to his home. Particular rousing was the last Kinah, âEli Tzion Veâareha,â as Moreinu HaRav shlitâa recites it every year in the awe-inspiring niggun, with the Ravâs 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 shlitâa sat for the reading of Megilat Eicha (the scroll of Lamentations). It should be noted that the Rav shlitâa read the Megilah possibly faster than any previous year â 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 shlitâa ascended to his holy home at 11:40 AM.âReturn us, Hashem, to You, and we shall return; renew our days as of oldâŚâ
