Chapter 128

Meanwhile everyone began rising for Chatzos. R. Avraham and the other men lodging in the houses also arose and entered the chamber of the holy tomb. We recited the Morning Blessings and the blessings over Torah study, followed by Chatzos beside the holy tomb—Tikkun Leah alone—and a few words, petitions, and hisbodedus beside the holy tomb. R. Avraham, may his light shine, aroused us to joy and dancing and compelled us to dance and rejoice. We did so, dancing extensively with melodies and joy for a long time.

Each person afterward performed his own service. I recited Tehillim and engaged in hisbodedus, and so forth. We continued in this manner until daybreak, went to the mikveh, and summoned the members of our fellowship to pray. Most assembled together and began the vasikin service; only a small number remained to pray with the second minyan.

We began the preliminary prayers through Hodu with intent. I sat in my place and prayed word by word with strength and intent. They then began Hodu, and the emissary of the congregation concluded each section, as customary, in the Shabbos melody and with fervor and joy. We likewise recited the additional Shabbos psalms, including “For the conductor: the heavens declare” and “Sing joyfully, O righteous,” all with joy and fervor on the part of both the congregation and the leader.

There followed Baruch SheAmar, “A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day,” all of Pesukay DeZimrah, the Song at the Sea, and then Nishmas with awakening and fervor. After Barchu came “All shall thank You,” “God, the Lord of all works,” the blessings of Kreyas Shima, Kreyas Shima itself, and the blessings following it, all with fervor. We then prayed the silent Shemoneh Esrei, after which the emissary of the congregation repeated it aloud and Kedushah was recited with fervor and abundant spiritual vitality.

We completed Shacharis and recited the Psalm of the Day, “A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day,” and “By David: Hashem is my light,” with awakening, great intent, and prolonged recitation, as described above. We prepared for the Torah reading and recited “You have been shown,” “When the Ark journeyed,” and so forth. Chacham Aharon opened the Ark, another person performed hagbah, and Parshas Haazinu was read. I was called in place of a Kohen. They read the entire portion and distributed the aliyos among those who had not received one during the days of Rosh Hashanah, and so forth. We completed the reading and Haftarah, recited Yekum Purkan, made a Mi SheBeirach for all the members of our fellowship, and returned the Torah scroll to its place.

We prayed Mussaf with intent, fervor, and great spiritual vitality—first the silent prayer and then the repetition by the emissary of the congregation. During the Kedushah of Kesser in particular we prayed with great vitality and intense fervor. The leader completed the service, and so forth; we recited Kaveh and Aleinu, followed by Anim Zemiros verse by verse with the leader, as customary. We then danced to the melody “Bar Yochai,” and so forth, and spent a short time in prayer and supplication beside the holy tomb. An announcement was made that the congregation should ascend to one of the houses above in order to recite Kiddush, eat pastries, and study Sipuray Maasiyos together, in accordance with the custom of the members of our fellowship at every gathering and in every place. They did so and ascended to one of the houses.

I remained beside the holy tomb, recited the Tikkun HaKlali and several prayers, and engaged in hisbodedus. I spent approximately an hour in this manner beside the holy tomb. Meanwhile the second minyan began its service. Afterward I desired to participate in the study, so I went outside to search for their location. I searched the courtyard, climbed upstairs, and looked through all the rooms until I found them in one chamber.

I entered and they gave me wine so that I could recite Kiddush. I made Kiddush, ate a piece of cake, and sat down to hear the study. R. Avraham sat upon the windowsill, while all of us sat on the floor. He studied Sipuray Maasiyos by Rabbainu, of blessed memory, and interspersed accounts concerning members of our fellowship. I sat there for some time, though my longing and desire remained directed toward the holy tomb. After remaining a while, I returned to the holy tomb and occupied myself in the service of Hashem until the second minyan had entirely completed its prayers.

The members of our fellowship then concluded their study and descended to eat the holy Shabbos meal. We washed our hands, recited HaMotzi over two whole loaves, and ate bread with vegetables. We sang the Shabbos table hymns “Prepare the meal” and “I shall arrange the meal,” and so forth, while eating the bread described above. At the table we occupied ourselves with the study of Rabbainu’s works and conversations concerning him. We afterward sang the other hymns and also recited the Zohar passage pertaining to the daytime Shabbos meal, beginning “On the day of Shabbos,” and so forth, as well as a chapter of Mishnah from tractate Shabbos printed in the siddurim, and so forth.

We sang “Blessed is Hashem day by day,” “Blessed is God Most High,” “This day is honored,” and all the other hymns. We remained at the meal for some time and afterward danced and sang melodies with great joy. Then we sang “Yah, Master of the universe” and “The Rock from Whose food we have eaten,” and recited Birkas HaMazon with a minyan and over a cup of wine. I afterward spent a little time beside the holy tomb.

I lay down briefly in my place to rest and fulfill the delight of sleeping on Shabbos. Some were still eating their meal, while others remained beside the holy tomb. I slept for a short time, then lay resting and looked into a copy of Rabbainu’s Sipuray Maasiyos that I possessed. I afterward rose and recited Tehillim with awakening and fervor. Meanwhile members of our fellowship and other people assembled and began reciting Tehillim with a minyan, with powerful awakening and teshuvah. I completed Tehillim, recited other prayers, and engaged in hisbodedus, thus spending the whole Shabbos day. Meanwhile the younger members of our fellowship went to the Magido spring and visited Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai. They returned singing aloud, and I delighted in hearing their melody until they reached the holy tomb.

They then began preparing for the Shabbos Minchah service, and everyone assembled. We commenced Minchah, reciting the Ketores with intent, followed by Ashrei and Uva LeTzion. The Ark was opened and the Torah was read. We then prayed the silent Shemoneh Esrei, after which the emissary of the congregation repeated it with joy and fervor. We recited “By David: Hashem is my light” word by word, with awakening and at length, followed by Aleinu. We danced to the melody “Bar Yochai,” and so forth. I recited the Tikkun HaKlali beside the holy tomb, while the others likewise occupied themselves, each with his own service and prayer.

They afterward aroused everyone to eat the Third Meal. All the members of our fellowship were gathered together and a large table was arranged for all of us. We washed our hands and sat down to eat together. I sat in my customary place; R. Avraham and the other men sat on both sides around the table, and there was a second table around which additional people sat, and so forth. We recited HaMotzi over two whole loaves, ate, and sang together “Prepare the meal,” “Children of the Palace,” and “A psalm of David: Hashem is my shepherd,” and so forth. R. Avraham then delivered from memory a lesson from Likutay Moharan. This continued for several hours into the night. I sat and listened, but my mind and heart remained directed toward the holy tomb, with longing, yearning, and words of hisbodedus.