Satmara Niyes

Thursday, Parshas Yisro, 15 Shevat 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

The Rebbe davened Shacharis in the Heichal HaMesivta, Sniff Eitz Chaim, Shiur Gimmel. Before davening, the Rebbe put tefillin on the bar mitzvah bochurim:
- The bochur Yoel, son of R' Yaakov Hersh Friedman.
- The bochur Yoel Landau, son of R' (Baruch Ra'ui) Landau.
- The bochur Moshe Eliyahu Fried.

During the Torah reading the Rebbe went up for hagbah, and after davening he learned the daily Tehillim shiur. He quoted from the Zera Kodesh that "chamisha asar" (fifteen) has the letters of "Shaar Simcha" (gate of joy), and wished the bochurim that there should be many simchas soon among all the bochurim. Afterwards a lechayim took place with the bar mitzvah bochurim in the Heichal HaBeis Medrash. They sang the melodies of Tu BiShvat, and the Rebbe tasted from the fruits and the drinks, said lechayim, shared of his holy blessing, and distributed teitelach to all the bochurim.

At around 4:30 the Rebbe went over to the new home of R' Chaim Hersh Oberlander, manager of the mehudar shechita house, where a very successful, magnificent gathering took place. A fantastic sum of over two million dollars was raised toward the completion of the building of the girls' school, Beis Faige, of our holy institutions in Bnei Brak, may it be rebuilt.
The gathering was convened by R' Chaim Hersh together with his partner in the mitzvah, R' Yoel Bernath. Many wealthy members of our community who had not yet joined the building fund were invited, and they now generously pledged so that the grand and magnificent building could be completed.

First the Rebbe davened Mincha, and then affixed a mezuzah on one of the rooms.

Afterwards the Rebbe washed for the pure table in honor of Tu BiShvat. During the seudah they continued at length with song and praise, and lovely conversations developed with those present.
Also speaking were R' Meir Hirsch, R' Zalman Leib Kapel, and R' Chaim Hersh Oberlander.

The Rebbe shared divrei Torah in the realm of aggadah in honor of the day, and then emphasized the importance of the donors and the great need for completing the building. He spoke in praise of our community and our holy institutions in Bnei Brak, and spoke in praise of R' Chaim Hersh for his many beneficial efforts on behalf of the mehudar shechita house, and of R' Yoel Bernath, who is among the members of the apartments committee and played a large part in lowering the prices of the apartments in Kiryas Joel. He concluded with abundant blessings for all those present.

Then fruits were served in honor of the day. The Rebbe tasted from the dates and various other fruits. For bentching, the Rebbe honored R' Yoel Bernath.

After bentching, the donors came over one by one to sign the documents together with the Rebbe shlit"a. The Rebbe warmly wished them his holy blessing and gave each one a box of fruits with a piece of the esrog that hung in the Rebbe's sukkah. They finished at around 8:00.

Yechidus hours at the Rebbe's home were from 8:15 until 1:15 at night, in his holy residence on Uhel Street.

During the yechidus hours, HaRav HaTzaddik Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager shlit"a, Rosh Yeshiva of Vizhnitz, son of the Vizhnitz Rebbe shlit"a, entered the Rebbe's room to receive his blessing on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter, mazel tov. A very pleasant conversation took place about stories of the house of Vizhnitz, and the Rebbe shared of his holy blessing with him.
At the end, the Rebbe told him that he was making him an emissary to convey to his father, the Vizhnitz Rebbe shlit"a, regards and a message with a special request concerning the new apartments being built by the Vizhnitz community in the Divrei Chaim neighborhood in Kiryas Joel.
The Rebbe spoke at length and warmly about the efforts of the Toras Mordechai Vizhnitz Rebbe zt"l to build a new Jewish settlement in Monsey. The Vizhnitz Rebbe zt"l had in fact asked the Skver Rebbe zt"l not to build his town right next to his settlement. This is the reason the Divrei Yoel zy"a did not build Kiryas Joel next to Monsey, even though it would have been much easier, since he wanted Kiryas Joel to be separate from other settlements. Because Monsey was in fact settled by many different segments and circles, the reality today is that it is difficult to make fences there regarding various matters, etc. The only way to keep a watchful eye on a town is if all the residents share the same way of life and outlook, and only in this way has Kiryas Joel had such success, may it continue to grow, until now. The Rebbe asked that it be conveyed, please, that since New York is large enough to establish settlements elsewhere, it is not right and proper to establish right next to Kiryas Joel a settlement for Vizhnitz chassidim. On our part, we are ready to buy out all the apartments that have already been built, and all the apartments under construction, and we will ensure that they suffer no loss, Heaven forbid. Of course, we will also assist in finding a new suitable location with all its needs.
In this connection the Rebbe pointed out how the town of Kiryas Joel was the apple of the eye of the Divrei Yoel zy"a, who was particular about Yiddishkeit and always carried out what he wanted in matters for the sake of Heaven, and it is not worthwhile to get entangled with him, especially when it comes to his town Kiryas Joel. One sees plainly how the Rebbe zy"a watches from Above to guard the holiness and purity of his town, which he established with self-sacrifice, with his heart's blood, for His Name and as a memorial, to leave a name and remnant in Israel, and from the heavenly treasuries he will also bring about here that he will be able to carry out his pure aspiration, b'ezras Hashem. The Rebbe finished his words, continued with his holy blessing, wished him abundant blessings, and then accompanied him out to the street.

Also entering the Rebbe's room was Rabbi Chaim Meir Twersky shlit"a, son of HaRav HaTzaddik R' Aharon Mendel shlit"a, son of the Skver Rebbe shlit"a, together with his son the chassan, to extend an invitation and receive the Rebbe's blessing for the wedding simcha taking place next week in Shikun Skver. A pleasant conversation took place about the lineage of the chassan and kallah, and the Rebbe shared of his holy blessing.

The Rebbe shlit"a read the tenaim for the following mechutanim:
- R' Yoel Friedman - R' Meir Eliyahu Acker.
- R' Chizkiyahu Tzvi Buchinger - R' Yehoshua Yitzchak Fürst.

The Rebbe davened Maariv at around 12:00 and then continued receiving the public.

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Wednesday, Parshas Yisro — 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

In the morning, before Shacharis, brissin took place.
- For the newborn son of R' Chaim Friedman, where the Rebbe was sandek and mohel.
- For the newborn son of R' Avrohom Braun, where the Rebbe was sandek and mohel.
- For the newborn son of R' Avrohom Moshe Wider (Monsey), where the Rebbe was sandek.

The Rebbe shlit"a davened Shacharis in the Heichal HaMesivta, Yoel Moshe branch. Before davening, the Rebbe put tefillin on the bar mitzvah bochurim.
- The bochur Shalom Yitzchak Scher.
- The bochur Yoel, son of Yosef Levy.
- The bochur Yoel, son of Yechezkel Tzvi Mendlowitz.
- The bochur Yoel Tzvi Markowitz.
- The bochur Yoel, son of Yehoshua Shmuel Wider.
- The bochur Naftali Moshe Schnitzler.

After davening, a lechayim was held with the bar mitzvah bochurim in the Rebbe's private room.

In the afternoon, at around 5:30, the Rebbe davened Mincha in his holy home.

In the evening, the Rebbe officiated at the kiddushin at the chuppahs of the following mechutanim.
- HaRav HaChasid R' Shalom Moshe Eckstein – HaRav HaChasid R' Yoel Pilef, in the halls of Kinor Dovid.
- HaRav HaChasid R' Yoel Felberbaum (of Williamsburg) – HaRav HaChasid R' Shmuel Meir Hirsch, in the halls of Beis Rochel Paradise.
- HaRav HaChasid R' Yirmiyahu Weiss – HaRav HaChasid R' Dovid Mordechai Ungar, in the halls of Ginas Klein.

After the chuppah, the Rebbe went up to the Gani Klein hall for the Sheva Brachos celebration hosted by the Gaon HaGadol, the Av Beis Din shlit"a, on the occasion of the wedding of his grandson, mazel tov, the chassan, grandson of his son, HaRav Aharon Yekusiel Berkowitz shlit"a.
First, the Rebbe davened Maariv in the hall.
A longer, pleasant conversation followed regarding halacha and various minhagim of Tu BiShvat and minhagim of weddings among our holy Rebbes, the Divrei Yoel and the Beirach Moshe zy"a. The Rebbe made a brachah on a date and tasted from the esrog compote, drank a lechayim and warmly blessed the chassan, the mechutanim, and the grandfather, the Gaon HaGadol, the Av Beis Din shlit"a. He then rose to dance together with everyone, at the head, and especially with the chassan and with the Dayan shlit"a.
It concluded around 9:00, and the Rebbe went over to the main beis medrash and into his private room.

Around 9:30 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the main beis medrash for the holy tish in honor of Tu BiShvat, which was held in an exceedingly uplifted manner in the presence of thousands of chassidim. The main beis medrash was filled from end to end, and the central table was beautifully laid out with fruit trees in honor of Tu BiShvat.

During the tish, many stirring and joyous niggunim were sung. The Rebbe drank lechayim and blessed the entire gathering. They continued with stirring niggunim, and fruit was distributed. The Rebbe made the brachah of Haetz on a date and tasted from the esrog.

Afterwards, the Rebbe delivered 5 divrei Torah, with stirring niggunim sung in between.
First Torah: On the verse "Praise Hashem from the heavens," explaining that just as every fruit or mountain etc. does not complain why it was created as it was and is not jealous of another, so too every person must know that he has his role in this world and must praise Hashem for his role. On Tu BiShvat we daven for a beautiful esrog. The esrog resembles the heart, and we daven that we should have a pure heart, an honest and clean heart. The singers continued with "Lev tahor bara li."

Second Torah: Tu BiShvat is the day when it arose in His thought to create the world. We increase fruits, which is a hint to the Torah, which is the fruit of the Tree of Life. When Jewish children are connected to the Torah, they are a living being and are not rejected, and therefore they can use teshuva. We must daven that we should feel the sweetness of Torah study. The singers continued with the niggun "VeHaarev Na."

Third Torah: Tu BiShvat is the day when it arose in His thought to create the world. We increase fruits, and we daven that we should have good fruits, good generations. Hashem joins together for a person all the good deeds of all his generations, and therefore the claim of the angels does not exist. The singers continued with the song "Vihi Zari V'Zera Zari Talmidei Chachamim."

Fourth Torah: Tu BiShvat is the day when it arose in His thought to create the world. We increase fruits to show that one can also serve Hashem through eating and drinking, and therefore, since the reward is closer than the loss, the claim of the angels does not exist.
Another approach: we increase fruits to show that we are increasing in mitzvos, even those that are only rabbinic, and therefore the reward is closer than the loss. For rabbinic mitzvos there is indeed reward in this world. We increase fruits, and Hashem will indeed give reward in this world and bestow all good upon Klal Yisroel. He also repeated in the name of the Radomsker Rav zt"l that "Chamisha Asar BiShvat" has the numerical value of "Send a complete healing to the sick of Your people." Now, when we increase fruits, and Jewish children fulfill all the rabbinic mitzvos, we arouse that Hashem too must keep the rabbinic mitzvos, the husband's obligation to his wife, which is "to heal her," and is obligated to send healing to Klal Yisroel. The singers continued with the song "Avinu Malkeinu, send a complete healing to the sick of Your people."

Fifth Dvar Torah: The Rebbe bestowed holy blessings that we should be able to increase fruits in Torah study and fulfillment of mitzvos, and see sweet fruits, pleasure and nachas from our children and grandchildren. He continued that we must offer praise and thanks to Hashem for granting the merit to do good deeds regarding the prices of apartments in Kiryas Joel, and he asked for a prayer for the future. He said that, b'ezras Hashem, we will stand guard that the regulations be carried out, at most 300 per square foot in Kiryas Joel and 250 in Kiryas Joel Hamurchevet, and he sharply demanded of all those involved in this not to try to be clever. He also spoke about the tremendous success with the new modest uniforms for the students of Beis Rochel, and brought out the great emphasis and focus that the holy R' Mendele of Rimanov zy"a placed on buttoning right over left. He announced the joyous news that after speaking to the merchants, begging and urging them to take part in making children's clothing available as well with buttons right over left, b'ezras Hashem by Pesach children's clothing right over left will already be available, strengthening the right, which is chesed, over the left, which is din.
Then the Rebbe spoke about devices for listening to music and lectures, which bring great stumbling blocks, and urged all parents to purchase only the new device with a hechsher, which was made so that it cannot be used for anything else.
At the end, he urged the chassidim to learn Kedushas Levi for Purim as a great preparation for "Kimu V'kiblu," and concluded with many blessings, repeating from the Zera Kodesh that "Chamisha Asar" has the same letters as "Shaar Simcha" (gate of joy). May Hashem help that the gates of joy be open for all Jewish children, with abundant livelihood.

They continued singing joyous niggunim. It concluded around 11:45.

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Tuesday, Parshas Yisro — 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

The Satmar Rebbe shlit"a davened Shacharis in the Heichal HaMesivta, Beirach Moshe branch. Before davening, the Rebbe put tefillin on the bar mitzvah bochurim:
- The bochur Yaakov Chaim Pollak.
- The bochur Yisroel Shalom Pollak.
- The bochur Yuda Frenkel.
- The bochur Yitzchak Yoshe Fürsta.
- The bochur Lipa Steinberg.
- The bochur Yoel Shaer.
- The son of Rabbi Avrohom Yoel Löffler.
- The bochur Yaakov Yechezkel Weiss.

After davening, a lechayim was held with the bar mitzvah bochurim in the Rebbe's private room.

Afterwards the Rebbe went over to the Beis Medrash HaGadol, where a bris was held for the newborn son of R' Shaul Yechezkel Wertzberger, at which the Rebbe served as sandek and mohel.

At around 1:00 the Rebbe returned upstairs to the Heichal HaMesivta, Beirach Moshe branch, for a grand lechayim celebration, with drums and dancing, together with the talmidim of the Mesivta from all branches, in honor of the engagement of his granddaughter, the eldest of the fourth generation, to the chassan, Rabbi Alter Yitzchak Panet shlit"a, one of the outstanding talmidim of the yeshiva.
Upon arrival, the Rebbe danced in place for several minutes, and for a longer time they sang melodies of praise and thanksgiving, as well as melodies of deveikus and joy.
The Rebbe drank lechayim and wished mazel tov to the chassan, the mechutanim, his son HaGaon Rabbi, Av Beis Din of Williamsburg, shlit"a, and the HaGaon HaGadol, Dayan and Moreh Tzedek of Kiryas Joel, shlit"a, and to all the bochurim, rebbeim and the yeshiva. He then delivered words of Torah in the style of aggadah on the topic of marriage, and then expressed the joy of the engagement with such a distinguished chassan, a talmid of the yeshiva, and bestowed abundant blessings upon the chassan and the mechutanim. He concluded with his holy blessings for the talmidim of the yeshiva, that they should find good shidduchim, relating a story about the Yitav Lev zy"a, who said to a bochur, "Do not regard the blessing of a kallah as something ordinary," and about the Kedushas Yom Tov zy"a, who said that he would be vindicated in the World to Come because he had put shtreimlach on the bochurim, and he concluded with abundant blessings.

The chassan said a pshetl and they sang in the customary "Areinzingen." The singing of joyous melodies continued, and the Rebbe rose to dance together with the entire gathering at the head, and then went out into a spirited dance with the chassan, with the Av Beis Din of Williamsburg shlit"a, and with all the mechutanim. It concluded at around 1:45, and they accompanied the Rebbe shlit"a out with song and music.

From there the Rebbe went to be menachem avel R' Eliyahu Shaul Katz (of Boro Park), who is sitting shiva for his sister a"h.

In the afternoon hours, a lechayim celebration was held in the inner chamber in honor of the engagement of the mechutanim, leaders of our holy kehilla in Lakewood, R' Yisroel Welz and R' Yoel Reisman. A pleasant conversation developed about our holy kehilla in Lakewood; the Rebbe drank lechayim and bestowed his holy blessing.

At around 4:30, the talmidim of our yeshiva Beirach Moshe, under the auspices of our mosdos in Boro Park, came in together with the Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav, Dayan and Moreh Tzedek of our holy kehilla in Lakewood shlit"a. The Rebbe tested the bochurim on their studies, Shulchan Aruch, Hilchos Shabbos, Hilchos Hotza'ah, for an extended time with great nachas. Afterwards all the bochurim went over to receive his holy blessing, and the Rebbe gave a special blessing to the HaGaon, Dayan and Moreh Tzedek of our kehilla in Lakewood shlit"a and to R' Aharon Welz, director of the mosdos.

At around 5:30 the Rebbe davened Mincha in his holy home.

At nightfall the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a traveled to Williamsburg for the weekly reception hours.
Upon arrival, the Rebbe officiated at kiddushin for the mechutanim R' Yoel son of R' Moshe Kahana (of Boro Park) and R' Chaim Mendel Friedman (of Williamsburg) in the Imperial hall.
The reception hours were from 8:00 until 12:30 at night, in his holy home on Hooper St.

During the reception hours, members of the committee for the publication of the Beirach Moshe sefarim came in, headed by HaRav R' Naftali Hirtzka Zwebel shlit"a, Rosh Av Beis Din of Williamsburg, and HaRav R' Yaakov Weiss shlit"a. They brought the Rebbe the first copy of the new sefer, Beirach Moshe, Teshuvos and Sugyos HaShas, fresh off the press. The Rebbe looked through the sugyos and the teshuvos in the sefer for an extended time with great nachas, and expressed that "IY"H we will soon be celebrating the new sefarim at home in Kiryas Joel, and it is a privilege for me that we can celebrate with a new sefer of my father z"l." The Rebbe heard a report on the further plans and gave his holy blessing to the committee members and to the printer from the 'Yashar' company.

Also coming in was the Rav of our kehilla in Linden, shlit"a, together with the leadership of our holy kehilla, where the distinguished philanthropist R' Yitzchak Wolf Philip purchased the merit of a prayer room in our new beis medrash in Linden. A pleasant conversation developed about expanding the boundaries of holiness in Linden in general and our holy kehilla in particular. The Rebbe signed the documents together with the donor, drank lechayim and bestowed his holy blessing.

Also coming in was HaGaon Rabbi Shaul Yechezkel Schwartz shlit"a, Dayan and Moreh Tzedek of Debrecen, to receive his holy blessing in honor of his daughter's wedding, mazel tov. A longer conversation developed on the halachos of mezuzah, and he showed the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a his sefarim, in which he publishes various interesting topics and teshuvos of the Rav of Debrecen z"l, and the Rebbe gave him his holy blessing.

The Rebbe davened Maariv at around 10:00 and then continued receiving the public.

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