Shabbos Hagodol a Yom Tov?

On Shabbos morning, Nissan 10 (March 25), the shul was jammed, packed more than even Rosh Hashonah (I was told).

Just before the Rebbe arrived for davening, Yossi Liberow approached me and remarked that, “I suppose you will sing “ho’aderes vho’emunah,” since you always sing this when you come to 770.”

I had never thought of that, because I usually came for Yom Tov and that is when the Rebbe had told me to sing it.

Could today be considered a Yom Tov? Shabbos Hagodol, erev the Rebbe’s birthday? I asked Rabbi Sudak and he replied without any hesitation, “Of course it is Yom Tov and of course you must sing.” So, I did sing “ho’aderes.” The Rebbe encouraged me by banging his fist on his stand as an indication for everyone to sing, and as expected, everyone joined in. It was very, very good indeed.

I have previously written that the yeshiva boys at 770 gave me s’micha (rabbinic ordination). They referred to me as Rabbi Jaffe. I had a living example of this title when I was approached by a number of Israelis who asked for my “ruling” and permission to duchon on Shabbos (priestly blessing, which, outside of Israel, is only performed on Yom Tov.) I had to inform them of my ruling that they could not do so outside of Israel on a regular Shabbos. I really felt sorry for these kohanim. Maybe when they heard us sing “ho’aderes,” due to Rabbi Sudak’s ruling that it was definitely a Yom Tov today, they figured that they must also duchon!

The Shabbos farbrengen ended at 5:40 p.m. and mincha was again in the downstairs shul due to the great size of the crowd. When the Sefer Torah was being brought out, the Rebbe commenced singing “ano avdo”; you can just imagine how everyone joined in this niggun!

My voice was becoming a bit hoarse by now, and the main farbrengen on Sunday night was yet to come.

After mincha on Shabbos, at 6:15, I rushed “home” for Shabbos “lunch,” since maariv was called for 7:00. I had no time to dawdle over my food.