Satmara Niyes

"And I returned in peace to my father's house"

Report of the holy journey of "V'shavti" of the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a to the ancestral city of Sighet.

On the Motzei of the day of joy – Motzei Shabbos Parshas Toldos

About half an hour after Havdalah, a truly lavish Melaveh Malkah had been prepared for the entire kehilla in the Heichal HaShulchanos.

The mayor of the city of Sighet, together with several other officials who had been involved with the construction in recent times, came to the Rebbe shlit"a at his holy residence.

The Rebbe shlit"a greeted them and thanked them, and in the course of this presented them with a special gift.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a ate Melaveh Malkah privately at his holy residence.

"Call out salvation to the people, a donation, a banner above ten thousand"

Beginning at around 8:45, there were times of entry when hundreds of distinguished donors merited to enter the inner sanctum to bless and be blessed by the Rebbe shlit"a, before he went to visit the graves of our holy Rebbes, the tzaddikim of Sighet zy"a, with panim and pidyon, at his holy residence in the historic shul courtyard, to arouse the merit of the forefathers at the very place where the holy home of our master the holy Yetev Lev zy"a stood, and from there many salvations go forth to those who come early to his door and to all of Klal Yisroel. The times of entry stretched over 3 hours, until around 11:45. The Rebbe shlit"a took along all the kvitlach and later laid them down at the graves of our holy Rebbes zy"a.

Among others who entered were the head of the administrators of the holy mosdos in Kiryas Joel, HaRav Rabbi Baruch Shlomo Weinberger shlit"a, together with the CEO of the mosdos, R' Shlomo Zalman Weiss, who brought kvitlach on behalf of thousands of students of the high school in Kiryas Joel, with good commitments regarding technology.

"Lead me to the holy Zion, my portion, Hashem, hear my voice"

At around 12:00 the Rebbe shlit"a appeared in the beis medrash for the stirring gathering of a lechayim and hisorerus, in preparation for the ascent to the holy graves of our holy Rebbes zy"a in the ancestral city of Sighet. The band played warm melodies and the entire crowd sang along. Afterwards the renowned chazan, Rabbi Yisroel Adler of Eretz Yisroel, sang very warm verses of praise while the Rebbe shlit"a shed rivers of tears, "tears of three," which swept the entire crowd into an extremely emotional atmosphere.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a delivered holy words of hisorerus. The Rebbe based himself on the verse "And he smelled the fragrance of his garments and blessed him, and said: See, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which Hashem has blessed," and mentioned the Kedushas Yom Tov, that Hashem is a guardian of the Torah's charge, and fulfills "You shall fear Hashem your God" – to include Torah scholars; consequently, Hashem decrees and the tzaddik nullifies, and the tzaddik decrees and Hashem fulfills, because the Master of the Universe fulfills the will of the tzaddik. The Rebbe shlit"a continued that this is the blessing that Yitzchak blessed Yaakov, that a tzaddik should have a power that is drawn down until the end of all generations. Afterwards the Rebbe spoke about how tzaddikim who effected salvations during their lifetimes have an even greater power now, because "tzaddikim are greater in their death than in their lifetime," especially for the students of their students who come to pray at the graves of the forefathers.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a continued with tremendous weeping: "We are now going out to the grave and we are going to pray. We ask our holy Rebbes, 'Please pray on our behalf,' that they should pray for us, for our family, for all those present here and for their families, for all the members of the community throughout the world, that they should always be blessed with all good. The needs of Your people Israel are many, and there are so many broken hearts who hope and look to the Master of the Universe for various salvations. Israel are believers, children of believers; they believe that the tzaddikim have power. May the tzaddikim, my holy forefathers, bestow blessings and salvations, 'whatever they lack.' Everyone knows that Rashi says on 'And I will remember My covenant with Yaakov, and also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avrohom I will remember' – Rashi says: Yaakov is sufficient on his own, Yitzchak is sufficient on his own, and Avrohom is sufficient on his own. 'We are going out here to the grave: my grandfather z"l, the Yetev Lev, is sufficient on his own; my grandfather z"l, the Kedushas Yom Tov, is sufficient on his own; my grandfather z"l, the Eitz Chaim, is sufficient on his own; the Uheler Rav z"l is sufficient on his own.' Your people Israel need parnassah. Jewish children need parnassah in great abundance and with ease. Jewish children need salvations; Jewish children want to be helped with the blessing of children. Who more than my grandfather z"l, the Kedushas Yom Tov, who went through the pain; he knows and understands what it means when a Jewish home lacks the blessing of children, when one stands and waits to be helped with children.
My grandfather z"l, the Kedushas Yom Tov, and my grandfather z"l, the Eitz Chaim, went through much pain in raising children; they lost children during their lifetimes, l"a. They know what it means, l"a, when parents accompany a child from life to death. Jewish children come here with requests for the sick of Israel, for little children whose parents look out for salvations and cures for their children." Our holy forefathers prayed for Jewish children and bestowed parnassah, so that Jews should have parnassah. Jewish children have such large households, they need to be supported, they need to marry off the children, they need to make shidduchim; Jewish children look forward to hearing good news for the children. Jewish children look forward to having upright generations, blessed upright generations, to raise their children to Torah, to the chuppah and to good deeds, to have upright generations of sons and grandsons engaged in Torah and mitzvos with holy nachas." He then concluded with very warm holy blessings. The air in the beis medrash could be cut with a knife; there was not a dry eye while the Rebbe shlit"a spoke.

"The merit of the forefathers will protect us"

At around 1:00 the Rebbe shlit"a, together with the entire crowd, went up to the holy ohel of the graves of our holy Rebbes zy"a with great hisorerus.

Upon arrival, the Rebbe first lit 5 candles with a ner neshama at all the graves, and then lit the ner tamid at the graves of our holy Rebbes zy"a which had been purchased – at the Yetev Lev by R' Yitzchak Klein, at the Kedushas Yom Tov by R' Meir Wertheimer, and at the Eitz Chaim by R' Chaim Hersh Oberlander.

Afterwards the Rebbe stood at the grave of the Yetev Lev zy"a and began the tefillah of "Shalom Aleichem Rabbi Moreh" with awesome weeping for several minutes and mentioned all the names of our holy Rebbes, our masters the Yetev Lev, the Kedushas Yom Tov, the Eitz Chaim and the Uheler Rav, whose merit should protect us.

Afterwards the recital of Tehillim began, and the Rebbe shlit"a designated as baal tefillah the HaGaon Av Beis Din and Rosh Yeshiva of Womsb"g shlit"a. The Tehillim was recited from chapter 90 through 107 as is customary. Afterwards the Rav shlit"a recited the Yehi Ratzon in a weeping voice and with outpouring of the soul, while the Rebbe shlit"a shed rivers of tears with tremendous weeping that was heard throughout the entire ohel, and afterwards the Rebbe recited Kaddish.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a read the kvitlach while melodies of hisorerus were sung. Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a laid down all the kvitlach, and the kvitlach that the Rebbe had brought along.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a prostrated himself for several extra minutes on the holy graves of his forefathers, our holy Rebbes, the Yetev Lev, the Kedushas Yom Tov and the Eitz Chaim zy"a.

During this time, they sang the melodies of hisorerus that the Yetev Lev brought from the holy R' Hersh zy"a, and the nigunim of the Kedushas Yom Tov and the Eitz Chaim zy"a.

They concluded at around 2:30.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a, together with the entourage, left the ancestral city of Sighet, taking along handfuls of salvations and cures.

From Sighet they set out for the city of Uhel in Hungary, the resting place of the holy Rosh HaShalshelta Kadisha, our master Moshe, the man of God, the Yismach Moshe zy"a.

Upon arriving in the city of Csenger, they stopped, where the Rebbe spent the night for 2 hours.

At around 7:45 in the morning, the Rebbe shlit"a went up to the cemetery in the city of Csenger, where the Gorlitz Rebbe shlit"a of Boro Park was waiting; he purchased the cemetery in Csenger and provided accommodations for the Rebbe. The Rebbe shlit"a, together with the Gorlitz Rebbe shlit"a, went up to visit the holy grave of the holy Menuchas Asher of Csenger zy"a, whose yahrzeit falls on Tuesday, 5 Kislev. The Rebbe lit candles and recited 10 chapters of Tehillim, from chapter 90 through 100.

From there the Rebbe shlit"a set out on a two-hour journey to the city of Uhel.

The continuation of the report from Sunday in Uhel will follow later

"The merit of the forefathers will protect us"

▫️Satmara Niyes 🌴▫️

Report from Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Toldos, the Shabbos of the Chanukas HaBayis in the Ancestral City of Sighet, in the Holy Presence of the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

=Part 3=

Ra'ava d'Ra'avin

For Mincha and Shalosh Seudos, the Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash at around 5:35. Mincha: the Rebbe's grandson R' Elazar Tov shlit"a of London. Hotzaah and hachnasah: R' Shaul Friedman. Kohen: Rabbi Yoel Meisels of Vienna. Levi: R' Eliyahu Zev Lowy of Vienna / Bnei Brak. Shlishi: R' Avigdor Landsberg of London. Hagbah: the Rebbe shlit"a. Gelilah: R' Yechezkel Rotter (director of our mosdos in Bnei Brak).

After davening, the crowd washed for Shalosh Seudos downstairs in the Heichal HaShulchanos, after which Shalosh Seudos took place in the main hall of the beis medrash.

At Shalosh Seudos, the Rebbe shlit"a honored the following with the zemiros. Odeh: R' Asher Zelig Lev, rav of our kehilla in London. Shir HaMaalos: R' Moshe Aryeh Freund, deputy rav of our kehilla in London. Odeh was sung to the Nanuas melody of the holy Etz Chaim zy"a.

During the Torah talk, the Rebbe shlit"a based his words on the verse "And he smelled the fragrance of his garments and blessed him, and said: See, the fragrance of my son is like the fragrance of a field which Hashem has blessed." He explained that Shabbos imparts love of Hashem, and through this one can merit teshuva me'ahavah. The same applies to talmidei chachamim, who are in the category of Shabbos; they too impart love of Hashem. The Rebbe shlit"a continued that through being connected to tzaddikim, one merits teshuva me'ahavah. He then spoke about how we are now in the place where my forefathers, our holy Rebbes zy"a, davened, who during their lifetimes imparted fear of Heaven together with love, and so too after their passing they impart it naturally, so one can merit teshuva me'ahavah. He concluded with his holy blessings in the merit of his forefathers, our holy Rebbes zy"a.

Yedid Nefesh: R' Avrohom Wider. Kel Mistater: R' Meir Hirsch.

The stanza of "Kah Zechus Avos" was repeated several times with great inspiration, and afterwards the singers sang a new melody for Kah Zechus Avos, composed by the Shabbos choir member R' Yehoshua Mendlowitz in honor of the exalted Shabbos. The Rebbe shlit"a recited the blessing over the cup as is customary.

Maariv for Motzei Shabbos: R' Eliezer Weiss. After Havdalah, an old Sighet march was sung and the crowd went over to wish a good week. It concluded at 8:15.

The remaining report from Motzei Shabbos and Sunday will follow later

▫️ Satmar Niyes 🌴 ▫️

Report from Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Toldos — Shabbos of the Chanukas HaBayis in Sighet, City of the Forefathers — 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

=Part 2=

And on the holy day of Shabbos

Specially printed siddurim, a booklet of the gilyonos, and a special edition of the "Kol HaSisachdusenu" editorial staff's Gilyon Migdal were distributed in honor of the great Shabbos.

On Shabbos morning before davening, HaGaon HaTzaddik Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of our kehilla in Monsey shlit"a delivered a splendid address in honor of the occasion, and at around 9:30 the Rebbe shlit"a entered for Shacharis.

Berachos: HaRav R' Zalman Teitelbaum shlit"a. Pesukei D'zimra: the chazzan, HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Baruch T"B shlit"a, Rav of Beis Medrash Beirach Moshe.

"Hashem Melech," Hallel HaGadol, Shirah and "Hakol Yoducha" were recited verse by verse, as is the Sighet custom.

The Rebbe shlit"a went up to lead Shacharis.

After Shacharis, the moving ceremony of the celebration of the hachnasas sefer Torah took place, a ceremony that proclaimed "The Eternal One of Israel does not lie," and "It shall not be forgotten from the mouth of his seed."

Uvechen tzaddikim yirau veyismachu, veyesharim yaalozu, vachasidim berinah yagilu

The Rebbe shlit"a danced with the Torah for an extended time in a state of holy emotion, like on Simchas Torah during the Hakafos, and afterward recited "LeDavid Mizmor" as is customary.

Then all the aliyos and honors were sold, including the Shishi aliyah in honor of the Rebbe shlit"a, each of which sold for astronomical sums.

Hotza'ah and Hachnasah: the chazzan, HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Yosef Rokeach shlit"a. Pesukei "Shema Yisroel": the chazzan, HaGaon HaTzaddik, Rav of Beis Medrash Ohel Feiga shlit"a.

Aliyos. Kohen: HaRav R' Avrohom Yehoshua Glantz. Levi: Rabbi Menashe Horowitz shlit"a, grandson of our holy Rebbes. Shlishi: HaGaon HaTzaddik, Rav of our kehilla in Boro Park 15 shlit"a. Revi'i: HaRav R' Dovid Aharon Schwartz, donor of the Sefer Torah. Chamishi: HaRav R' Avrohom Yaakov Berkowitz. Shishi: the Rebbe shlit"a. Shevi'i: HaGaon HaTzaddik Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of our kehilla in London shlit"a. Acharon: HaRav R' Meir Wertheimer. Maftir: HaRav R' Meir Hirsch. Hagbah: HaRav R' Avrohom Brach. Gelilah: HaRav R' Chaim Yehuda Goldstein.

Mussaf: the chazzan, HaGaon HaTzaddik, Rav of Beis Medrash Avnei Tzedek shlit"a. Opening of Anim Zemiros: HaRav R' Yoel Greenfeld (Boro Park). Davening concluded at around 12:45.

After davening, the Rebbe shlit"a made Kiddush privately in his residence together with the family of the donor of the Sefer Torah.

As was done on Friday night, the Seudas Atika Kadisha was again eaten together in great splendor in the gigantic tent.

Right after washing, HaGaon HaTzaddik Av Beis Din of Sighet shlit"a delivered a splendid address. In the middle of the address the Rebbe shlit"a arrived and washed for the seudah, after which the Rav of Sighet continued.

The singers sang beautiful melodies with the crowd throughout the seudah.

The Rebbe shlit"a began "Chai Hashem" and honored others with the zemiros. "Baruch Hashem Yom Yom": HaRav R' Avrohom Yaakov Berkowitz. "Baruch Keil Elyon": HaRav R' Menachem Gershon Lebowitz. "Yom Zeh Mechubad": HaRav R' Avrohom Brach.

After the zemiros, the Rebbe shlit"a once again related, for an extended time, stories and accounts of our holy Rebbes zy"a of the House of Sighet, with historical details. Birkas Hamazon: HaGaon HaTzaddik Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of Kiryas Joel shlit"a.

The seudah concluded at around 3:45.

▫️ Satmar Niyes 🌴▫️

"V'shavti B'Shalom El Beis Avi" — "And I shall return in peace to my father's house"

Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Toldos, "B'tzeil HaKodesh" with the continuer of the dynasty of the House of Etz HaTamarim, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a, in the city of the forefathers, Sighet, Romania, within the holy journey of "V'shavti," on the occasion of the inauguration of the magnificent building of the Great Beis Medrash Etz HaTamarim, the Yeshaya Zev Löw building, in the city of the forefathers, Sighet, which was erected for glory and splendor on the historic shul courtyard.

"May Hashem remember us with mercy and bless them upon their coming to my home"

This elevated, historic Shabbos was spent in great excitement and exalted spirits, a Shabbos resembling the World to Come, with the leader of the congregation of Yeshurun, "Pri Eitz Chaim," the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a, in the very place where his forebears, our holy Rebbes, the tzaddikim of the House of Sighet, zy"a, davened generation after generation, together with over 550 philanthropists and donors of the building, in the city of the forefathers, Sighet.

Words cannot describe the experience of this elevated Shabbos. There are no words to express the feelings of the hundreds of participants in the trip. Nevertheless, for the benefit of the public, of the thousands of members of our community, we will try to report the bare events and honors that took place throughout the Shabbos "B'tzeil HaKodesh."

=Part 1=

"Lo yamushu mipicha umipi zaracha umipi zera zaracha" — "They shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children's children"

On Friday, Erev Shabbos, close to Shabbos, the moving ceremony of the siyum of the writing of a Sefer Torah took place. The Sefer Torah was brought to the former Torah center of Beis Medrash Etz HaTamarim for the first time since the bitter destruction. It was donated from the generous heart of HaRav R' Dovid Aharon Schwartz and his family, members of our community in Boro Park.

At about 3:40 the Rebbe shlit"a arrived in his Shabbos garments. Songs were sung with great arousal, especially while singing "Ahavah Rabbah" to the words, when the Rebbe shlit"a sang along with intense weeping. The chazan R' Yisroel Adler of Eretz Yisroel also performed warm rhymed verses in honor of the occasion.

Afterward the Rebbe shlit"a honored the donor, HaRav R' Dovid Aharon Schwartz, and his father, HaRav R' Menachem Shlomo of London, with filling in the letters, and afterward the Rebbe shlit"a completed the Sefer Torah.

Then the Rebbe shlit"a delivered holy words. The Rebbe based himself on the verse "And may Hashem give you of the fatness of the earth," and explained that when one brings in a Sefer Torah, it brings abundant parnassah. The Rebbe then spoke of the holy feelings of the great joy of reinaugurating the place and bringing in a Sefer Torah, and concluded with very warm blessings for the distinguished donor and for the entire assembly.

After the address, the Rebbe shlit"a performed hagbahah with the Sefer Torah, and the assembly broke out in fiery dancing. After a few minutes, HaRav R' Eliezer Löw of London performed gelilah, and the Rebbe shlit"a placed the crown on the Sefer Torah and continued with the holy dancing. At the time of Shabbos the music was turned off, and they continued dancing for several more minutes.

After the siyum ceremony, the Rav, HaGaon Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of Vomsebag shlit"a, delivered a wonderful address about the greatness of the sanctity of the place and the time, and when the Rebbe shlit"a came in to daven, the Rav continued for a few more minutes.

At about 5:40 the Rebbe shlit"a approached Mincha wrapped in his tallis, aflame with holy fire, with tremendous weeping that carried the entire congregation along for several minutes.

During the silent Shemoneh Esrei the Rebbe shlit"a prolonged more than usual. Then the Rebbe shlit"a began the loud repetition in a weeping voice; it was a quality of "like flashes of lightning emerging from the radiance of the Chayos." Several times the Rebbe shlit"a choked from weeping and could not continue davening. A cry of pain from the depths of his heart could be heard as the Rebbe shlit"a wept over the troubles of Klal Yisroel at "Re'ei na b'onyeinu," "Refa'einu Hashem v'nerafei," "Hashiva shofteinu k'vorishona," "v'haser mimenu yagon va'anacha," "Av HaRachaman shma koleinu chus v'racheim aleinu." There was not a dry eye in the beis medrash. Yidden felt the holy emotions of the Rebbe shlit"a as he davened his first Shabbos in the place where his grandfathers, may their memory be a blessing, davened throughout the generations, influencing Jewish children through their prayers.

After Mincha, the chazan... the Rav of the Beis Medrash Yismach Moshe, HaGaon shlit"a, delivered a fervent address and inspired the assembly.

Kabbalas Shabbos: Rabbi Menashe Katz shlit"a, director of Yeshivas Shaarei Yosher, a grandson of our holy Rebbes zy"a. "Mizmor L'Dovid Havu LaHashem" was recited verse by verse, according to the custom of the holy community of Sighet. At "Bo'i v'shalom" the Rebbe shlit"a danced for an extended time.

They finished at about 7:45 and the crowd went over to wish each other "Gut Shabbos."
The seudos and the setting of the tables took place in the gigantic tent erected in the shul courtyard right next to the beis medrash building.

All seats were assigned with special cards by the organizers already in the beis medrash, and "no man said, 'The place is too tight for me'"; everyone was arranged "each man by his camp and each man by his banner." Before the Rebbe shlit"a entered the tish, the Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of our community in London shlit"a delivered an address.

At about 8:15 the Rebbe shlit"a entered for the Shabbos meal together with the over 550 philanthropists and donors of the building, and began "Shalom Aleichem" with a flame of fire, as is his holy way.

Eishes Chayil: the Rebbe's grandson, the chassan Asher Anshil Ashkenazi, son of HaGaon, Rav of Beis Medrash Avnei Tzedek shlit"a. Holding the cup for Kiddush: the distinguished philanthropist R' Nachum Mordechai Weinberger of London.

Throughout the entire tish, wonderful songs in honor of Shabbos were sung, led by the "Satmar Kapelye."

The Rebbe shlit"a distributed honors for the zemiros. Kol Mekadesh: the Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of our community in London shlit"a; Menucha V'Simcha: the Av Beis Din and Rosh Mesivta of our community in Monsey shlit"a.

The Rebbe shlit"a said Torah on the verse "V'eileh toldos Yitzchak ben Avrohom" and explained in a derush style the topic of mitzvos requiring intent.

Kah Echsof: HaGaon R' Meir Zwibel shlit"a, one of the rabbonim of the kehilla and spiritual mentor at Beis Medrash Binyan Barach. Birkas Hamazon: the Rav of our community in Boro Park 15 shlit"a.

Stories and tales: this week the Rebbe shlit"a related the history of the city of Sighet in the shadow of our holy Rebbes, the Yetev Lev, the Kedushas Yom Tov, and the Eitz Chaim zy"a, for a long period of nearly an hour.

Kah Ribon Olam: HaGaon R' Naftali Hirtzka Zwibel shlit"a, Rosh Kollel at Vomsebag. Az B'Yom HaShevi'i: HaRav HaGaon R' Dovid Aryeh Weiss shlit"a, moreh tzedek in our community in London, son of the Av Beis Din of London shlit"a.

They finished at about 1:00.

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