'Let the year and its blessings begin'

Yom Tov of Rosh Hashana 5786, B'tzeil HaKodesh with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a in the midst of the holy kehilla of Kiryas Joel.

On the evening of Yom Tov, at around 7:30, the Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash wrapped in his tallis and began Mincha with great fervor, after which the piyut 'Achos Ketana' was recited as is customary.

After Mincha, the annual appeal for the 'Mivtzar HaKollelim of Kiryas Joel' took place, with its 1,200 kollel members. The director of the kollelim, HaGaon Rabbi Wolf Aharon Teller shlit"a, spoke.

Then, at around 8:20, the Rebbe began Maariv, and after davening, 'L'Dovid Mizmor' was recited as is customary, with the fire of holiness. The davening ended at around 8:55.

After davening, the Rebbe shlit"a went up to the Aron Kodesh for the 'Birchas HaKodesh' and said a Torah thought on the verse 'He shall receive a blessing from Hashem.' He explained that when a blessing comes from Hashem Himself, the blessing rests even on something measured and counted; He gives, and gives again, and gives again. A general blessing is bestowed, and a personal blessing for each person according to what he needs. The Rebbe blessed the entire holy congregation with abundant blessings, 'May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year, immediately, for a good life and for peace.' He concluded with an allusion to the new year: 'And they shall make Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell among them'; the word 'v'shachanti' (I will dwell) has the numerical value of 5786, that we should merit the building of the third Beis HaMikdash speedily.
'And all the people answered aloud "Amen"', and in turn 'they shall say, Blessed,' the thousands of Jews returned the Rebbe's blessing of a good year, and he too answered Amen to those blessing him, and then wished everyone a good Yom Tov.

After descending, the Rebbe extended a special wish of a good year to the Gaon HaGadol, the Dayan U'Moreh Tzedek shlit"a, and the other rabbonim, and went home to his holy residence.

At around 11:20 the Rebbe entered the pure tish in the Heichal HaShulchanos. Lifting the cup: R' Eli Neustadt.

After Kiddush, the Rebbe cut the round challah with a new knife and dipped it in honey, raw honey. He made the blessing of Ha'etz on apples, dipped in honey, and recited the yehi ratzon that a good and sweet year be renewed upon us, and distributed shirayim of the apples to the entire gathering.

Then a sheep's head was brought in. A portion of the sheep's head was also sent by the Sereda Rebbe shlit"a, from the lamb with which the Rebbe fulfilled the mitzvah of pidyon peter chamor this past Chol HaMoed Pesach, when he served as the Kohen accepting the redemption. The Rebbe recited the yehi ratzon 'that we be the head and not the tail,' and after tasting it, said lechayim and wished everyone 'a good and sweet year, a year blessed well.'
A fish head and the Yom Tov dishes were brought in. In the soup were browned noodles as is customary, and after the meat, sweet carrots were served, and the Rebbe recited the yehi ratzon 'that our merits increase.'

During the tish the Yamim Noraim melodies were sung at length, and for the zemiros and 'L'Dovid Mizmor' the Rebbe honored R' Mendel Gross shlit"a (of Boro Park).

The Rebbe shlit"a said a Torah thought on the verse 'Fortunate is the people who know the teruah,' and explained that Jews throughout the generations endured harsh suffering and through it all remained with complete faith in Hashem; this is a righteous advocate to emerge vindicated on the Day of Judgment.

Birkas Hamazon: the Rebbe's grandson Rabbi Dovid Teitelbaum shlit"a, son of the Hagaon Hatzaddik, Av Beis Din of Sighet shlit"a. The tish ended at around 12:25.

▫️ Satmara Niyes 🌴 ▫️