Satmara Niyes

Leil Hey of Chanukah 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

At the time of Rabbeinu Tam, the Rebbe shlit"a davened Maariv in his holy home. Before Maariv, the bochur Shneur Zalman, son of R' Yoel Eckstein, lit the menorah.

These lights are holy

At around 9:40, the Rebbe shlit"a entered the great beis medrash in Williamsburg for the lighting of the Chanukah lights, in the presence of a multitude, in royal splendor. The Rebbe shlit"a poured the oil and recited the blessings over the lighting.

The Rebbe shlit"a then recited the zemiros, and in the meantime inspiring niggunim were sung. Afterwards the choir sang the piyutim as is customary.

The Rebbe shlit"a then delivered holy words in drush and pilpul on the sugya in Maseches Shabbos of "kibsa zekuk la," and then continued in the way of aggadah, that through the Shabbos candles of the women came the miracle of the Chanukah lights.

In the course of this, the Rebbe spoke words of mussar, urging strengthening in the areas of tznius in dress and conduct, especially at the workplaces. He also once again spoke out about the mitzvah of mezuzah, discussing the greatness of the mitzvah and its halachos. He spoke forcefully about the tremendous care required of a sofer, who must be exceedingly G-d-fearing, much more than a shochet, saying, "There are, unfortunately, soferim who are lax and unreliable." He recalled the gathering held by the holy Rebbe, the Divrei Yoel zy"a, in 5721, in which he spoke out about kosher tefillin and mezuzos, saying, "Yidden buy, people pay money and buy invalid tefillin and invalid mezuzos, or even if they are not invalid, they are kosher only b'dieved." The Rebbe shlit"a then urged not to buy from dealers whose merchandise passes from hand to hand, from person to person, without any supervision, but rather to go personally to a G-d-fearing sofer.

The Rebbe concluded the holy address with words of Torah and holy hints, that through the Chanukah lights the Name Havayah is filled, thereby awakening the light of Moshiach, and he added his holy blessings.

Niggunim then continued to be sung, after which the Rebbe drank a lechayim and bestowed his holy blessings. The gathering ended at around 11:15.

The Rebbe shlit"a then traveled to Boro Park, where the Rebbe comforted the mourners of the family of the late R' Moshe Shmuel Farkash a"h, one of the leaders of our kehilla in Boro Park.

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The Fourth Night of Chanukah 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

At around 6:00 the Rebbe shlit"a davened Maariv in his holy home. Before Maariv, the bochur Klonimus Zev, son of Avrohom Yoshe Gefen, lit the menorah.

"In You the orphan finds mercy"

In the evening, the Chanukah seudah for the orphaned boys and girls of our holy kehilla took place in his holy home at Ohel Kat, at the personal invitation of the faithful father and shepherd, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a.

An especially lavish seudah was prepared, extra for the orphaned boys, headed by the Rebbe shlit"a, and extra for the orphaned girls, hosted by the Rebbetzin tlit"a.

"These lights are holy"

At around 10:00 the Rebbe shlit"a came into his holy home for the lighting of the Chanukah lights at a private gathering with the orphans. The Rebbe shlit"a poured in the oil and recited the blessings over the lighting.

Afterwards the Rebbe recited the zemiros, and everyone sang together the melodies, stirring tunes of inspiration, and then the piyutim as is customary.

After the lighting of the lights, the gathering took place with a very rich program for all the participants, with the participation of the Rebbe shlit"a. The Rebbe personally spent an extended time there, and it was an opportunity for everyone to ask the Rebbe shlit"a questions, which the Rebbe answered with a cheerful countenance. After the entire program the Rebbe delivered moving words of holy dvar Torah for an extended time, full of chizuk and feeling, and in addition bestowed his holy blessings.

Afterwards the Rebbe personally distributed gifts to each one according to age. They rejoiced for an extended time with song and music in honor of Chanukah.
The gathering ended at about 1 o'clock.

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