Leil Zos Chanukah, 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

At about 6:00 the Rebbe davened Maariv. Before Maariv, the chazan of the beis medrash, R' Chanani Yom Tov Lipa Deutsch lit the menorah.

At about 9:20 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the Beis Medrash HaGadol for the lighting of the Chanukah candles, in the presence of thousands of men. The Rebbe poured in the oil and recited the blessings over the lighting.
Afterwards the Rebbe said the zemiros and niggunim of hisorerus were sung, and the choir sang the piyutim as customary. At the end, R' Shlomo Hersh Eckstein sang Mizmor Shir Chanukas as is customary. Then the Rebbe distributed coins to the children of the choir, and the singing of niggunim of hisorerus continued.

Then the Rebbe shlit"a delivered words of Torah discourse and pilpul on the sugya in Maseches Shabbos regarding "kibsa zakuk lah," and then continued at greater length with words of aggadah and chassidus, explaining that the miracle of Chanukah came about through the heavenly fire that is not consumed, and he explained it in various ways. He added that "V'atah yigdal na koach Hashem" — "koach" with its letters spelled out equals in gematria "lehadlik ner Chanukah." The power of the heavenly fire comes down to every Jew when lighting the Chanukah menorah, and one's heart must be lifted in the ways of Hashem with a heavenly fire. He added that "lehadlik ner Chanukah" equals in gematria "Melech rofei ne'eman"; when the Chanukah candles are lit, healing and salvation flow to everyone, both physical healing and spiritual healing. He continued that we pray "v'ezkeh lir'os banim u'vnei banim osekim baTorah u'vamitzvos." In the coming weeks, when the gentile holidays fall and people are not working, these days should be devoted to learning Torah, fathers and sons together. He concluded with his holy blessing.

Afterwards an uplifted lechayim gathering took place with song and music. Many niggunim of hisorerus and of joy and gratitude were sung. The Rebbe drank lechayim and blessed the entire gathering, and shared words of blessing, quoting the Roke'ach that the eight days of Chanukah allude to the eight days of Sukkos, which culminate in Shemini Atzeres when we pray for rain, corresponding to Zos Chanukah. Therefore on Zos Chanukah an abundance of parnassah also descends. He bestowed abundant blessings on the entire gathering. Then the singing of niggunim of Hallel and gratitude continued, and the Rebbe distributed coins to the bochurim singers of the choir. It concluded at about 11:40.

▫️ Satmar'e Niyes 🌴 ▫️