âYou Were Revealed in the Cloud of Your Gloryâ â Review of Shavuot Gathering with Rabbi Eliezer Berland Shlitâa
ALSO THIS YEAR, WE HAD THE MERIT OF CELEBRATING SHAVUOT 5784 WITH MOREINU HARAV ELIEZER BERLAND SHLITâA WITH A GATHERING OF OVER A THOUSAND PEOPLE. HERE IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT WE MERITED TO EXPERIENCE THIS PAST SHAVUOT WITH MOREINU HARAV SHLITâA: On the eve of Shavuot at 7:52 PM, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa entered for the Mincha prayer, adorned with a kittel, tallit, and white kippah. The large crowd that came in droves for the Shavuot gathering from all over Israel sang "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" for about twenty minutes with great enthusiasm. Following this, the Mincha prayer for the eve of Shavuot began, and after the repetition of the Amidah, Moreinu HaRav began singing "Ata Nigleta" for about ten minutes. Immediately after, he recited "Aleinu Leshabeach." It is worth noting that during the singing of "Ata Nigleta," the Rav recited the "Tefillah LeAni" for Shavuot from the new Machzor published by the "Keren HaTzadik" institute, according to the Breslov Nusach as per Moreinu HaRav shlitâa. After Mincha, the Rav recited the Order of Hitkashrut, and then began singing the niggun that is before "Barchu." Even from the walls of the Old City, the sound of the song could be heard, with the crowd singing with special vitality. Then a profound silence fell, and only the pure voice of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa could be heard: "Barchu Et Hashem Hamevorach," and the entire giant crowd responded, "Baruch Hashem Hamevorach Leolam Vaed." Thus began the Maariv prayer for the holy night of the festival, with the entire prayer sung with great enthusiasm. After the evening prayer, the Rav shlitâa sang "Ata Nigleta" again, followed by "Aleinu Leshabeach," and then entered his home at 9:20 PM with the singing of "Ata Nigleta," announcing that Shacharit would be at 4 AM. "OCCUPIED WITH MY JOY" On Shavuot night, our community came to study and recite the Tikkun Leil Shavuot in our Beit Midrash on Ido Hanavi Street, with the dedicated Gabbaim ensuring that everyone had seats. Many tables and benches were added for the comfort of the hundreds of learners, and refreshments were served throughout the night, both cold and hot drinks, for those toiling in Torah study, as is the custom of the House of Israel. It is worth noting that a Tikkun Leil Shavuot was also held in our Beit Midrash in the Old City throughout the night, with rich refreshments provided for the learners. Additionally, it is worth mentioning an annual event that is worth traveling from the ends of the earth in order to witness the awesome phenomenon. This refers to the "Yeldei HaTzaddik -- Children of the Tzaddik" group led by the important Avreich Rav Naftali Bik shlitâa, who, besides their extensive weekday and Shabbat activities, have one of their peak moments on Shavuot. Over five hundred precious children sit and recite the Tikkun HaKlali and Psalms, and sing songs for five consecutive hours in the courtyard of the "Nechamat Tzion" Talmud Torah, operated by "Shuvu Banim" institutions. It is indescribable to witness the power of hearing five hundred pure, innocent voices singing and chanting the Tikkun HaKlali in the tune of the Tzaddik as they pass through HaHomah HaShlishit Street. The cherished young men of our holy community also gathered on this holy night in the Kollel Horaâah hall. It was a beautiful sight to see over a hundred and fifty holy and pure young men sitting and engaging in joyous Torah study. Of course, this holy learning was made possible thanks to the "Chaburat Bnei HaNeurim -- Youth Group" led by Rav Nachman Hass, who provided rich refreshments for the young men throughout the night. As is customary in yeshivot, the young men rose to dance every hour to refresh their minds and thank Hashem for the great privilege of âbeing distinguished from those who stray and being given His Torah.â Throughout the night, several members of the group completed tractates, finishing Tractate Bava Batra on Shavuot according to the study schedule of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa. It is worth noting that the young men of the "Youth Group" had the merit to enter the holy presence of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa early in the morning at around 3:35, to receive a gift for those who studied on this holy night and also to greet their Rabbi during the festival. The glow on the Ravâs face was evident as he saw all the young men of our holy community after a night of deep immersion in Torah study as preparation for receiving the Torah. Moreinu HaRav shlitâa stood in his holy abode and handed out the newly published Machzor by the "Keren HaTzaddik" institute for Shavuot to all the young men who passed by him, wishing them "Gut Yom Tov" with a broad smile from his holy face, and blessed them to know the entire Torah. "AND YOUR HOLY WORDS FROM FLAMING FIRE" On the morning of the festival of the Giving of the Torah, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa entered for the Shacharit prayer at 4:04, starting with the Morning Zemirot, the sacrifices, and the donning of the tallit. Itâs impossible to describe the immense crowd that filled our Beit Midrash, with a significant portion standing in the Prayer Hall courtyard due to lack of space, with estimates of over a thousand people participating in the morning prayer of the Giving of the Torah. The prayer was conducted with songs of joy and great enthusiasm. Due to the weakness of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa, he did not prolong the songs in the Pesukei Dezimra, but still, where in most other places the Pesukei Dezimra of the festivals takes about twenty-five minutes, here it took over forty minutes with the songs in the tradition of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa. Notably, the song "HaNechmadim MiZahav UâMiPaz Rav," which the Rav sang with the congregation for about six minutes, deeply connected everyone with the holy words of King David aâh in Psalms, so fitting for the day of receiving the Torah â there is nothing in the world comparable to Torah study! After the Amidah, the Rav recited the complete Hallel. The Hallel did not last long, about twenty-two minutes with niggunim, except for the song "BeTzeit Yisrael MiMitzrayim," which was sung repeatedly with fiery enthusiasm for about five minutes. The entire congregation danced and sang, and the Rav, with his holy movements, invigorated the congregation, "HeHarim Rakdu Keâelim -- the mountains skipped like rams." After the Hallel, which lasted about half an hour, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa recited the Song of the Day, gave a short lesson, and began the reading of the Book of Ruth with a blessing from a kosher scroll, with tremendous arousal. After the Book of Ruth, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa conducted the opening of the ark for the Three Festivals with the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Here, the excitement reached its peak â the reading of the Torah and the event of receiving the Torah by the Moshe Rabbeinu of our generation. After the Torah scroll was placed on the reading table, the Rav recited the Akdamot with the well-known melody, and as Rebbe Nachman said, "Whoever knows the value of the Akdamot song with its melody as the world is accustomed to chant it, it is a wonderful and very great innovation." Indeed, the Rav recited the Akdamot with immense fervor and fiery enthusiasm. After completing the Akdamot, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa read from the Torah. When it came to the fourth aliyah â the Ten Commandments, Moreinu HaRav was honored with being called up to the Torah. There was a profound silence, and it truly felt like receiving the Torah, with no baby crying and no bird chirping. Everyone merited hearing the pure voice of Moreinu HaRav with thunder and lightning until the women's section. The haftarah was read by the Bar Mitzvah boy Naftali Hertz ben Rav Nachman Diamant, whose birthday is on Shavuot. After the haftarah, the Rav announced "Yizkor," and to avoid people leaving, he instructed, as in previous years, that a tallit could be placed over the head. Afterward, the song "Y-ah E-li V'Goali" was sung with the melody of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa, and then immediately the Rav stood up for the Mussaf prayer. During the repetition of the Amidah, he sang the melody of "V'Karev Pezureinu" and the niggun "V'Havienu L'Tzion Ircha" for about two minutes. After Mussaf, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa recited the verse "Kavei El Hashem Chazak V'Yaâametz Libecha V'Kavei El Hashem," followed by Kaddish. After the Kaddish, the Rav recited "Anim Zemirot," and we also had the merit of reciting the Tikkun HaKlali in his holy presence. The Rav made Kiddush and ate a little dairy food, as is the Jewish custom, and then gave a two-minute lesson about the dudaim (mandrakes) that Reuben brought from the field, which was on Shavuot. Afterwards, only at 7:44, after nearly four hours (3.58) of prayer, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa went up to his holy home. On the afternoon of Shavuot, Moreinu HaRav shlitâa came out for the Mincha prayer at 8:05 PM and immediately began the Mincha prayer for the Three Festivals. After the repetition of the Amidah, the Rav sang "Ata Nigleta" for about ten minutes and then recited "Aleinu Leshabeach."  After "Aleinu Leshabeach," the Rav started the Maariv prayer for the conclusion of the festival with the singing of "Lamânatzeach Binginot" before "Barchu" for about five minutes. The Maariv prayer lasted about twenty minutes. After the Maariv prayer, the Rav performed the Havdalah for the end of the festival, and the special wonder was that the Rav, known to not be particularly strict about the timing of "Rabbeinu Tam," whether to prolong or shorten it, performed the Havdalah at 9:02 PM, exactly the time of the conclusion of the festival according to Rabbeinu Tam. He blessed over the cup and entered his holy home with the singing of "Or Zarua LaTzaddik" with great enthusiasm. Thus concluded the festival of the Giving of the Torah in the holy presence of Moreinu HaRav shlitâa, with nearly seven hours of prayers in his holy presence. FORTUNATE ARE WE TO HAVE MERITED!!