'Tichal Shana U'virchoseha'

Yom Tov of Rosh Hashana 5787, "B'tzeil HaKodesh" with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

On Erev Yom Tov at around 7:50, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash wrapped in his tallis and went up to daven Mincha with great fervor. After Mincha, he recited the piyut "Achos Ketana," as is customary.

After Mincha, an appeal was held for the Mivtzar HaKollelim, with its more than 1,100 kollel members. The director of the kollelim, HaGaon Rabbi R' Wolf Aharon Teller shlit"a, spoke.

The Rebbe went up to Kabbalas Shabbos and Maariv. He recited "Mizmor L'Dovid, Havu L'Hashem Bnei Eilim" verse by verse, and after Maariv "L'Dovid Mizmor" with great fire and holiness, as is customary. The davening concluded at around 9:40.

After davening, the Rebbe shlit"a went up to the Aron Kodesh for the "Birchas HaKodesh" and delivered a Torah thought on the verse "You are standing today, all of you, before Hashem your G-d." He explained that Birchas Kohanim is both a general blessing and a personal blessing for each individual according to what he needs, because it comes from the Name Havaya. This is the "he shall receive a blessing from Hashem." The shofar alludes to the Name Havaya, or Shabbos Kodesh, from which a blessing also descends through the Name Havaya. Therefore, when Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbos, there is no need for the blowing of the shofar. He concluded with abundant blessings in all matters: healing, parnassah, shidduchim, children, upright generations, and that the bochurim be freed from the military. He said that "chadu hashata b'hai sha'ata" has the numerical value of Tashpaz (5787), and may it be a year of joy and gladness in the homes of the Jewish people, and a year of redemption and salvation with the coming of the righteous redeemer speedily. He wished the entire holy congregation "a good Shabbos and a good Yom Tov, may you be inscribed and sealed immediately for a good life and for peace."
All the people answered "Amen" in a mighty voice, and "Baruch Yomru" in response. The thousands of Jews returned the Rebbe's blessing of "a good year," and he too answered "Amen" to those blessing him, and wished a good Shabbos and a good Yom Tov.


After coming down, the Rebbe shlit"a wished an additional "a good year" to the Gaon HaGadol, the Av Beis Din shlit"a, and went home.

At around 11:25, the Rebbe entered the tish in the Heichal HaShulchanos. "Shalom Aleichem" was sung until "Modeh Ani."
- Lifting the cup: R' Yitzchak Ehrenfeld.
After Kiddush, the Rebbe cut the challah with a new knife and dipped it in honey, raw honey, and made the Borei Pri HaEitz blessing on apples dipped in honey. He recited the yehi ratzon that a good and sweet year be renewed upon us, and distributed shirayim of the apple to the entire congregation.

The head of a lamb was brought in. The Rebbe tasted it and recited the yehi ratzon "that we be as the head and not the tail," and at the lechayim he wished "a good, blessed year."
A fish head was brought in, along with the Shabbos and Yom Tov foods. In the soup were toasted noodles, as is customary. After the meat, sweet carrots were served, and the Rebbe recited the yehi ratzon "that our merits increase."


For the zemiros, "L'Dovid Mizmor," the Rebbe honored R' Eliyahu Neustadt.

The Rebbe delivered a Torah thought on the simanim eaten on the night of Rosh Hashana. He explained that through an aveira lishma or teshuva me'ahava, one brings down abundance of kindness for Klal Yisroel and a downfall for the nations of the world. The shofar is blown twice on Rosh Hashana even though it is bal tosif, which is an aveira lishma, in accordance with the enactment of Chazal. Therefore, with the tekios d'me'umad it is certainly urgent. Shabbos Kodesh brings down love, so there is no need for the blowing of the shofar. That is why every year Rosh Hashana contains both "that our merits increase" and "that our enemies be cut off."

- Birchas HaMazon: R' Eliyahu Shaul Katz (of Boro Park).
- "Az B'yom HaShevi'i": Rabbi Yosef Meir Schmidman shlit"a (of Monsey).
The tish concluded at around 1:00.

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