Motza'ei Shabbos Minhagim

From “Breslov Eikh Shehu: Breslov Customs and Practices, Past and Present”

Collected by Dovid Zeitlin and Dovid Sears

This is still a work-in-progress, so please read this material in that light. We hope to add source references in future versions.

This section mainly records Reb Gedaliah Kenig’s minhagim and those of his son, Reb Elazar Kenig, leader of the Tsfas kehillah. However, we intend to research and present the minhagim of other noted Breslov figures as well.

In Tzefas, the mispalelim clean the tables, etc., in the synagogue and remove the garbage immediately after Ma'ariv. When Reb Elazar was in better health, he used to participate in this personally. This reflects his stringency in general regarding kevod beis-ha-knesses.

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Reb Gedaliah was particular to recite Havdalah over a cup containing a revi'is of wine left over from the Friday night Kiddush. (Therefore, he made Kiddush on Friday night in a large glass.)

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Reb Gedaliah held the besamim throughout Havdalah, from beginning to end (except when gazing at his fingernails).

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According to halakhah, one recites "borei minei besamim" even over hadasim during Havadalah. Reb Elazar usually recites this berakhah over cloves or other such spices and then also smells the hadassim used at the beginning of the Friday night se'udah. This is in keeping with the minhag of the Arizal.

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After reciting the berakhah “Borei me’orei ha-aish,” Reb Gedaliah would gaze at the fingernails of both hands, first while closed into his palms, then while extended toward the candle, and again while closed into his palms. However, the thumbs would remain hidden at all times.

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Reb Noson Zvi Kenig of Bnei Brak used to look at the fingernails of his right hand only, with his fingers closed into his palm over the thumb, following the minhag of the ARI zal.

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After extinguishing the candle in the remnants of wine in the plate, Reb Gedaliah would dip the little fingers of each hand in the wine and touch the area under his eyebrows three times, followed by his pockets three times, followed by the place of the luz bone at the back of the neck three times.

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Reb Gedaliah then added water to the kos, and drank the rest of the wine. This custom is based on Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer.

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The verses of "Ve-yiten Lekha" are recited after Havdalah, following the minhag of the Arizal. This is a segulah for blessing and success in the week to come. Reb Gedaliah used to do so alone, not necessarily together with family members or talmidim.

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Reb Gedaliah also used to sprinkle a few drops of wine from the plate in which the candle had been extinguished under the table as a segulah for shefa. He would also sprinkle a few drops on the floor in the corners of the room.

(Heard from Rabbi Yitzchak Kenig)

Melaveh Malkah

The chaveirim used to come to Reb Gedaliah on Motza’ei Shabbos (except on Shabbos Mevorchim, which was reserved for the family Melaveh Malkah). Everyone sang the zemiros together, and Reb Gedaliah distributed candies; however, the chaveirim did not eat the Melaveh Malkah meal with him. Reb Gedaliah said that Reb Avraham always told a ma'aseh about the Baal Shem Tov on Motza’ei Shabbos, but he used to learn the Rebbe’s Sippurei Ma’asiyos instead. He would read the entire ma’aseh in Yiddish without interruption, and only then offer a few words of explanation.

(Heard from Rabbi Dovid Shapiro)

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Reb Elazar usually sings the zemiros of Melaveh Malkah together with a few chaveirim in his home, but does not learn Sippurei Ma’asiyos at this time. Often he adds a few chiddushim to the teaching he gave over during Shaloshudes, or learns something from Likkutei Halakhos. Like his father, he usually eats after his guests have left.

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Before reciting the Melaveh Malkah zemiros, Reb Gedaliah would say the "Askinu se'udasa" three times.

(Heard from Rabbi Ephraim Kenig)

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In Tzefas, the Melaveh Malkah seder ha-zemiros is: 1) Be-Motza'ei Yom Menuchah; 2) Chadesh Sesoni; 3) Agil vi-Esmach; 4) Elokim Yis'adenu; 5) Eyli Chish Go’ali; 6) Adir Oyom vi-Nora; 7) Ish Chassid Hoyo. At this point, someone usually tells a story of a tzaddik, or delivers a d'var Torah. Then the singing resumes with 8) Omar HaShem le-Yaakov; 9) Hamavdil; and 10) Eliyohu ha-Novi / Purah Darakhti. Then the olam sings the niggun that has in recent years been combined with the words from Likkutei Moharan II, 48: “Mitzvah gedolah lihiyos be-simchah tamid.” There is often a rikkud for this last melody.

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Reb Gedaliah sang the entire zemer “Amar HaShem le-Yaakov” slowly and deliberately, interspersing each verse with the Yiddish refrain: “yoh, Tate, yoh” twice; “nein, Tate, nein” (twice); and ending “mir hobben fahr keinem kein moyre tzu hobben, nor fahr dir alein” (twice). However, Reb Elazar usually sings it to the familiar melody attributed to the Baal Shem Tov.

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Reb Gedaliah would dance at the end of the seder ha-zemiros. Once he was asked what one should do if there is no other person with whom to dance. “Dance alone!” he replied.

(Heard from Reb Moshe Klebanov)

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Reb Avraham Sternhartz and his talmidim did not rush the singing of the Melaveh Malkah zemiros, but did so slowly with yishuv ha-da'as, even if this meant that Tikkun Chatzos would be recited a little later. Reb Elazar said that sometimes his father and his talmidim likewise would go out to the fields for hisbodedus after the conclusion of Melaveh Malkah. However, they would not rush through the zemiros in order to perform the next avodah.

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On a regular Motza'ei Shabbos, both Tikkun Rochel and Tikkun Leah are recited for Tikkun Chatzos. This is in keeping with the view of the Sha’arey Tzion (Rav Noson Nota Hanover).