This past week, Parshas "Eileh Masei Bnei Yisroel," the great preparations for the large Satmar Shabbos in Meron, planned b'ezras Hashem for Parshas Toldos 5786, IY"H, kicked into high gear, when HaRav HaChassid Rabbi Naftali Hirtzka Stein, a trusted confidant of the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a, came from America for a short visit here in Eretz Yisroel. Accompanying him was HaRav HaChassid R' Shlomo Hersh Eckstein, a member of the administration of our holy mosdos, Mosdos Yitav Lev, who has been for years among the lead askanim of all the Rebbe shlit"a's trips. They held meetings with the local askanim of our holy kehilla in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh, and sat for many hours in meetings with the leading organizers at the holy site of Meron, who will, b'ezras Hashem, arrange the historic Shabbos Kodesh in the shade of emunah, in the gatherings of thousands upon thousands of Jews, from within Eretz Yisroel and abroad.

Upon their arrival at the airport here in Eretz Yisroel on Monday evening, the guests were received by the leading askanim in Eretz Yisroel, and from there they traveled straight to Bnei Brak, where the first meeting took place with the leading askanim of our kehilla who led last year's unforgettable Shabbos Parshas Pekudei in Meron. They went over every detail of what is to be expected at the planned Shabbos, b'ezras Hashem.

The next morning, Tuesday, from very early on, they were at the holy site of Meron, sitting with the main organizers over all the plans and parts of the Shabbos in every detail and nuance, while remaining in constant telephone contact with Kiryas Joel with the Shabbos coordinator, HaRav R' Chaim Shlomo Fischer, to review each and every detail of the Shabbos so that it should go, b'ezras Hashem, one hundred percent, IY"H.

In addition, they discussed the areas throughout the entire village and especially around the Meoras HaRashbi"y, and likewise all the surrounding areas, to plan the layout for the great Shabbos, in order to be able to accommodate such a crowd, ka"h, which is expected to be like a kibbutz galuyos of many thousands upon thousands of Jews from all corners of the world, with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a at their head.

The holy work of arranging such a Shabbos in Meron today is much, much harder, in every sense, due to the strict legal restrictions that were introduced after the tragic Lag B'Omer in Meron, with entirely new laws, regulations and the like, which of course brings with it higher costs and more complicated work.

Under a blazing sun and heavy heat of over 105 degrees [as it is measured in America] that prevails in Meron these days, the askanim together with the guests and organizers stood in the fields planning all the options, to try to arrange the elevated gatherings during the Shabbos, the tefillos, the seudos, the setting of the tables, the great lighting ceremony, and so on, in the best way possible.

Late in the evening, though not before a fervent prayer at the holy tomb in the cave for a successful Shabbos, the guests traveled back to Bnei Brak to sit at a meeting with the local askanim of the kehilla, to arrange the days of the visit that the Rebbe shlit"a will spend in the city, where the highlight will be the magnificent gathering of the chanukas habayis celebration for the new, splendid building, the girls' school built by the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a through the generous donations of the wealthy members of our community, which is about to be completed, b'ezras Hashem, in all its glory.

The next morning, Wednesday, the guests came to Yerushalayim, the holy city, and held a longer meeting with the local askanim of the kehilla, to arrange the days of the visit that the Rebbe shlit"a will spend in the holy city, may it be rebuilt, where the highlight will be the grand gathering for the laying of the foundations for the floor of the great beis medrash in the magnificent building on Tel Talpiot of our holy kehilla and its mosdos, which is being built with great momentum for the sake of Hashem's name and glory.

Afterwards, in the afternoon hours, a central meeting took place here in Yerushalayim of the administration of the Satmar kehillos and mosdos in Eretz Yisroel, which was also attended by the heads of the administration from Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh, where they discussed together the details of the holy journey and the elevated Shabbos.

Our distinguished guest, HaRav R' Naftali Hirtzka, addressed the assembled, the devoted members of the administrations from all the cities, and with fitting words praised the askanim of our holy kehilla in Eretz Yisroel, who are known among our chassidim everywhere for their dedication and loyalty with heart and soul to all the sacred values of our holy kehilla. He stressed the importance of broad cooperation among all the askanim as one man with one heart, with each person carrying out his share to the maximum

success, which will surely bring the anticipated success to the elevated Shabbos and to the entire elevated journey in general, to raise the glory of Torah and Chassidus.

Toward Shabbos Meron, "Let us go," for it is the source of blessing!

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