The Kohen Gadol stands and serves his generation: see and rejoice

Yom Kippur 5786, "B'tzeil HaKodesh" with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a, in the midst of our holy kehilla in Williamsburg

On Wednesday, Erev Yom Kippur, at around 5:50 in the morning, the Rebbe shlit"a came to the Great Beis Medrash in Kiryas Joel for the recital of Selichos. The baal tefillah was R' Yoshe Teller. They finished at around 6:10. After Selichos, a large crowd of the men of the kehilla and residents of Kiryas Joel came to bless and be blessed on Erev Yom Kippur, and the Rebbe went home to his holy residence.

In his holy residence, the Rebbe shlit"a fulfilled the minhag of kapparos and singed the tail feathers.
Afterwards, at around 6:40, the Rebbe shlit"a went over to the mehudar slaughterhouse, where R' Yoel Wertzberger shlit"a, son of R' Moshe, slaughtered the fowl. The Rebbe examined the knife, and after the shechita recited the Lishem Yichud and the blessing and fulfilled the mitzvah of covering the blood. The Rebbe also examined the knives of all the shochtim and wished them a gmar chasima tova. He then went in for a visit to the slaughterhouse's poultry area and went through everything in detail, as is his holy way.

Afterwards, at around 7:10, the Rebbe went over to the new kapparos location at the butcher store on 208 in the Zera Kodesh neighborhood. The Rebbe looked over the order of the shechita, examined the shochtim's knives, and bestowed his holy blessing upon the shochtim and the employees, then went home to his holy residence.


At around 8:00 the Rebbe came into the Great Beis Medrash for Shacharis. Before davening, the Rebbe put tefillin on the bar mitzvah bochur, the bochur Yitzchak Eizik Stern.
- Baal tefillah: R' Simcha Yisroel Apfel.
The Rebbe recited "Vechorus" verse by verse.

After davening, a bris took place for the newborn son of R' Simcha Bunim Markowitz, where the Rebbe served as sandek and mohel.

Afterwards a lechayim took place in his private room, where the shamash, R' Yoel Kaufman, came in and the Rebbe took lekach and treated the shamash kindly, as is customary. He then bestowed blessings upon the bar mitzvah bochur and the family of the bris, and their relatives.

At around 9:45 the Rebbe shlit"a traveled to Williamsburg to spend Yom Kippur there.

On the way, the Rebbe shlit"a called several of the devoted heads of the administration of our kehilla and our holy mosdos in Eretz Yisroel and Europe, who are currently in Eretz Yisroel and Europe, and bestowed his holy blessings for the new year.

In the afternoon at around 1:55, the Rebbe shlit"a came to the pure tish of Erev Yom Kippur in Heichal Tehillos Yehosef in the Great Beis Medrash.
Before washing for the seudah of the mitzvah of the day, the Rebbe quietly recited a longer Lishem Yichud. At the lechayim after the fish, the Rebbe wished a gmar chasima tova and a well-blessed year. The soup was served with kreplach, and the meat was from the fowl with which the Rebbe had fulfilled the minhag of kapparos, as is customary.
During the tish, many stirring melodies of the Yamim Noraim were sung, while the Rebbe shed streams of tears in his holy room, in awe and fear of the day of judgment, especially when the Rebbe sang the piyut "Yirtzeh Tzum Amcha" to the well-known Ahavah Rabbah melody of the holy Rebbe R' Hersh of Rimanov zy"a.

The Rebbe shlit"a said Torah on the piyut "Bameh Akadem", "But now, as I recall the sovereignty of the unique Name," and explained that at the Exodus from Egypt, the Jews did not have merits, so Hashem joined the giving of the Torah to it, and so the Jews were able to be saved. The Name Havaya alludes to "was, is, and will be," which hints that Hashem takes into account the future good of every Jew, and thus one goes out innocent in judgment. He concluded with abundant blessings for the entire gathering.

For Birkas Hamazon the Rebbe honored HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Naftali Hirtzka Zwebel shlit"a, Rosh Av Beis Din of Williamsburg. They finished at around 3:15.

"And Aharon raised his hands toward the people and blessed them"
After the tish, the Rebbe shlit"a went to his holy residence adjacent to the Great Beis Medrash, where thousands of men came to be blessed for the holy day, on a special swift schedule because of the large crowd.

After blessing the public at 4:10, the Rebbe shlit"a went to the private mikvah in the home of R' Wolf Landau, and at around 4:45 the Rebbe shlit"a came to Mincha in the Great Beis Medrash. The Rebbe lit the wax candles at the amud. The baal tefillah was R' Yaakov Hersh Heiman. During the Vidui Gadol the Rebbe prolonged it with weeping. They finished at around 5:20.

After the Seudas Hamafsekes in his holy residence, the Rebbe shlit"a went once more to the mikvah in the Great Beis Medrash toward the onset of the day. At candle-lighting time, the Rebbe lit the yizkor candles in his holy residence, and a healthy-burning light.

Afterwards the Rebbe blessed all those who were inscribed in the Sefer HaZikaronos, and all the kvitlach of the Kollelim from the men of Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, and Europe.

The Rebbe shlit"a recited the blessing "lehisatef" on his own tallis, and then put on the tallis, kittel and cap of the holy Rebbe, the Divrei Yoel zy"a.

Throughout all the tefillos, the sanctuary of the Great Beis Medrash, with all of its galleries and halls, was packed from end to end, unable to accommodate the enormous crowd of thousands who had come to take shelter in the shadow of the Rebbe on this holy day.

"With this shall Aharon enter the holy place"
At around 7:15 the Rebbe shlit"a came into the Beis Medrash for Kol Nidrei. The Rebbe went up to the Aron Kodesh and prayed a silent prayer, then began the holy Kol Nidrei drasha with great arousal and with a weeping voice, on the verse "For on this day He shall atone for you, to purify you from all your sins, before Hashem." He explained that through the power of the mitzvah of bris milah one can merit teshuva with just a word, but the word must be true.
Another point: every Jew must reflect whether through his deeds he is building the Third Beis Hamikdash or, G-d forbid, destroying what the earlier tzaddikim built with their good deeds. Now, when those tzaddikim are present here in the beis medrash, one must feel deep shame before them if one has, G-d forbid, destroyed their efforts to build the Beis Hamikdash.

After the drasha, at the onset of the day, the Rebbe shlit"a mentioned the minhag of our holy Rebbes to recite Vidui at the onset of the day, and began with tremendous weeping without pause "Ana Tavo Lefanecha Tefilaseinu," and recited at the Aron Kodesh together with the congregation to a melody "Ashamnu, Bagadnu..." as between each word the Rebbe burst into terrible weeping, which carried the entire congregation into awesome weeping and shook the hearts of the thousands of worshippers for several minutes.

After Vidui, the gabbai R' Chaim Shlomo Fischer took the Sefer Torah out of the Aron Kodesh and handed it to the Rebbe shlit"a. The Rebbe took the Sefer Torah lovingly and began words of arousal, saying that one must appease the holy Torah. Continuing in a weeping voice, he said that with every mitzvah one creates a good angel who helps to do more mitzvos, and with every sin one creates, G-d forbid, a bad angel who helps to do more sins, but with the power of Torah study one can nullify the bad angels. The Rebbe asked the holy Torah to be a righteous advocate for all of Klal Yisroel, the only nation that fulfills mitzvos and good deeds and is engaged in Torah, and each Jew accepted upon himself to increase his Torah study according to his level. He bestowed abundant blessings upon the entire gathering and concluded with a gematria on "Hamachazir Shechinaso L'Tzion": "Shechinaso" equals 5786 in gematria, and he blessed that we should merit soon to "He who returns His Shechina to Zion."


At the conclusion, the Rebbe recited on the spot twice "Or Zarua" and "Palgei Mayim," and then walked around the Beis Medrash, all the way into the newly added extension, despite the severe crowding, and recited it three more times, once on each side of the Beis Medrash.

The Rebbe shlit"a davened all the tefillos from a Machzor Tefilah Yeshara.
After "Kam Rabbi Shimon," the Rebbe shlit"a stood and began "Kol Nidrei." Honored to hold the Sifrei Torah were the Tzaddik R' Yirmi Teitelbaum shlit"a of Uhel and HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Meir Zwebel shlit"a, one of the rabbonim of our kehilla.

Afterwards the Rebbe shlit"a began Maariv with great arousal.
Honored with the openings at Maariv were:
- HaGaon R' Mendel Meir Mittelman shlit"a, moreh tzedek.
- HaGaon R' Yoshe Gelb shlit"a, moreh tzedek.
- HaGaon R' Yoel Schwartz shlit"a, dayan and moreh tzedek of the Binyan Gelbstein beis medrash.
- HaGaon R' Chaim Aharon Unger shlit"a, dayan and moreh tzedek of the Lev Aharon beis medrash.
- HaGaon R' Yuda Ber Teller shlit"a.

After Maariv R' Yudel Wertzberger sang Adon Olam and recited the four chapters of Tehillim.
Shir HaYichud was recited by:
- HaGaon R' Menachem Zev Stern shlit"a, moreh tzedek.
- R' Moshe Eli Gross shlit"a.

- R' Yoel Hersh Kohn shlit"a, moreh tzedek.
- The Rebbe's grandson, R' Chaim Hersh Teitelbaum shlit"a (of Williamsburg), son of the son-in-law of the Rebbe, the Tzaddik, Rav of the Beirach Moshe beis medrash shlit"a.
- R' Binyomin Lichtenstein shlit"a.
- R' Naftali Hirtzka Friedman shlit"a.
- Shir Leyom HaShabbos, "On the seventh day," was sung by R' Yeshaya Lichtenstein shlit"a.

They finished at around 11:20. The Rebbe shlit"a went up to the Aron Kodesh and, with a radiant face, wished "a gut Yom Tov" to the entire holy congregation and to all the people standing in the courtyard, on all sides of the Beis Medrash.

"And the power of the holiness of the day"

On Yom Kippur morning, at the time of wrapping in the tallis, the tallis of the holy Rebbe, the Divrei Yoel zy"a, which the Rebbe wears at Mussaf, was on the table.

The Rebbe shlit"a came into the Beis Medrash at around 7:55.
The Rebbe shlit"a poured out his holy prayers with outpouring of the soul and awesome weeping, the sound of crying that was heard throughout the entire Beis Medrash.

- Opening the Aron Kodesh: R' Yitzchak Ehrenfeld.
- Anim Zemiros: R' Nachman Dov Heller.
- Pesukei Dezimra: HaGaon HaTzaddik R' Naftali Hirtzka Zwebel shlit"a, Rosh Av Beis Din.
The Rebbe recited "Vechorus" verse by verse.
- Shacharis: the Rebbe's grandson, HaGaon R' Yoel Ashkenazi shlit"a, rebbi in our holy yeshiva Ahavas HaTorah in Williamsburg, son of the Tzaddik, Rav of the Avnei Tzedek beis medrash shlit"a.
Honored with the openings:
- R' Yaakov Yoshe Friedman.
- R' Shlomo Dov Weider.
- R' Bentzion Aharon Wertzberger.
- R' Moshe Yuda Goldberger.
- R' Chaim Friedman.
They finished Shacharis at around 10:45.

- Honored with removing and returning the Torah were R' Eli Gross shlit"a of Bereschid, and HaGaon R' Asher Chaim Weiser shlit"a, moreh tzedek in our holy kehilla in Williamsburg.
The Rebbe shlit"a was the baal koreh and read with great arousal.
Aliyos:
- Kohen: R' Dovid Aharon Weinstock.
- Levi: R' Yoel Avrohom Wolf Apfel.
- Shlishi: the gabbai R' Chaim Shlomo Fischer.
- Revi'i: R' Alexander Gutman.
- Chamishi: R' Shlomo Yaakov Mertz.
- Shishi: the Rebbe shlit"a.

After his aliyah the Rebbe named daughters, on the occasion of the birth of a daughter to:
- R' Shmuel Meir Mertz.
- R' Eli Simcha Retek.

- Hagbah: R' Aharon Hersh Mittelman (of Williamsburg).
- Gelilah: R' Avrohom Meir Wertzberger (of Montreal).
- Maftir: R' Yechiel Michel Freund.
- Hagbah: R' Yitzchak Schwartz.
- Gelilah: R' Mendel Ber Powell.

They finished at around 12:40, and there was a break. A bris took place for the newborn son of R' Moshe Katina, son of R' Dovid, where the Rebbe served as sandek.

At around 1:20 the Rebbe returned to the Beis Medrash and a bris took place for the newborn son of R' Shlomo Avrohom Frankel, where the Rebbe served as sandek and mohel. Afterwards was Yizkor.

At 1:45 the Rebbe shlit"a approached the prayer of Mussaf and recited "Hineni He'ani Mima'as" and "Mizmor LeDovid Havu LaShem." Kaddish was at 1:50.

"Pure of heart, he stepped forth, his face to the Holy, and prayed"; the recital of the Seder HaAvodah with a burning flame; "Your witnessing congregation shall lean upon you, and through you shall be our forgiveness"
Fortunate is the eye that saw the Avodah service at Mussaf, with the awesome weeping of the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a.
"Aharon, the holy one of Hashem, to serve You with holiness" especially during the Avodah service at the Seder HaAvodah, with outpouring of the soul.
"And then the righteous shall see and rejoice" the holy dancing beyond our comprehension at the stanzas and at the Kaddishes after the tefillos.

Honored with the openings at Mussaf:
- R' Dovid Aryeh Jacob.
- R' Moshe Gedaliah Palatschek shlit"a.
- R' Eli Leib Rosenberg.
- R' Bentzion Brach, son of R' Avrohom.
- R' Avrohom Shlomo Kahana.
- R' Yisroel Meir Friedman.

Honored with hagbah at the kneeling (Korim) as attendants beside the holy hand of the Rebbe shlit"a:
- The first Korim: the shamash R' Shlomo Wertzberger and R' Moshe Falkowitz.
- The second Korim: R' Moshe Glanzer and R' Dovid Steinberg (of Williamsburg).
- The third Korim: R' Yitzchak Schwartz and R' Yitzchak Eizik Stern.
- The fourth Korim: R' Aharon Hersh Mittelman and R' Moshe Eliezer Landau.

They finished Mussaf at around 5:40.

- R' Yudel Wertzberger led Mincha.
- Removing and returning the Torah: HaGaon R' Shlomo Yoel Mashkowitz shlit"a, moreh tzedek.
- Kohen: R' Avrohom Glick, son of R' Berel.

- Levi: R' Yoel Yuda Rubinfeld.
- Shlishi and Maftir Yonah: the Rebbe shlit"a.
The Rebbe's aliyah was purchased as every year jointly by R' Yechezkel Dovid Berkowitz and R' Avrohom Brach.
- Hagbah: R' Avrohom Brach.
- Gelilah: R' Yitzchak Michael Jacob.
- Opening the Aron Kodesh at Mincha: R' Refoel Perlmutter (of Monsey).
They davened swiftly as is customary. After Mincha they recited "LeDovid Hashem Ori VeYishi." They finished at around 6:05.

Immediately after Mincha the Rebbe shlit"a began Ashrei of Neilah with holy fire and tremendous weeping. The Thirteen Attributes were recited at all the stanzas, as was the minhag of the holy Rebbe, the Beirach Moshe zy"a. Opening Neilah: R' Yitzchak Klein.

After Kaddish Tiskabel at around 7:55, R' Naftali Hirtzka Stein blew the tekia gedola, and the Rebbe shlit"a cried out in a mighty, strong voice "Leshana Haba'ah Biyerushalayim!"

The Rebbe shlit"a waited until the large minyan finished and then stood to daven Maariv. The baal tefillah was R' Yoel Weinberger.

After Maariv the Rebbe shlit"a put on his shoes, and then went over to Heichal Tehillas Yehosef, and made Havdalah and recited the blessing over wine.
Afterwards he went out for Kiddush Levana in front of the Beis Medrash and at the conclusion wished a good month and a well-blessed year.
After Kiddush Levana he went back into the heichal and broke the fast. Yom Tov melodies were sung, the Rebbe wished a good Yom Tov to the entire gathering, and the Rebbe shlit"a was accompanied out with song and music to the tune of "Ashrei HaAm." They finished at around 8:45.

In his holy residence, the chalaka (first haircut) celebration took place for the Rebbe's young grandson, the son of R' Chaim Hersh Teitelbaum shlit"a, son-in-law of the Tzaddik, Rav of the Beirach Moshe beis medrash shlit"a. The Rebbe cut several locks of hair, put on the child's cap and tzitzis, and bestowed his holy blessing.


"And on Yom Tov he would make a celebration upon his peaceful exit from the Holy"

At around 11:00 the Rebbe shlit"a came to the Motzei Yom Kippur seudah, held with drums and dancing in our great beis medrash in Williamsburg, in the presence of thousands upon thousands of Jews. Upon arrival, the Rebbe went out and danced a fiery dance on the spot for several minutes.
The Rebbe washed for the seudah and the Yom Tov menu was brought in. During the tish they prolonged with Yom Tov and joyous melodies and with stirring melodies from the day's tefillos.
At the lechayim after the fish the Rebbe shlit"a wished "a well-blessed year materially, a well-blessed year spiritually," and continued on the dispute between the Koznitzer Maggid zy"a and the Chozeh of Lublin zy"a over whether Hashem must first bestow material blessings or first spiritual ones. The Rebbe said that Hashem is all-powerful and can bestow material and spiritual blessings together.

They continued singing joyous melodies, and the Rebbe stood up and danced "Hadras V'Emunah B'Oz V'Atzumos" for an extended time. The Rebbe shlit"a honored HaGaon R' Shlomo Shabsai Kestenbaum shlit"a, one of the rabbonim of our kehilla, with the Zemer HaMavdil.

The Rebbe shlit"a said Torah on the piyut of HaMavdil, "May Hashem command His kindness for the sake of Yaakov His servant," and explained that in the merit of Yaakov Avinu, who accepted the kiddushin on behalf of Klal Yisroel at Matan Torah, the Jewish people have the law of a wife toward her husband with Hashem. The halacha is that when a wife breaks something in the home the husband cannot claim compensation, so too when a Jew, G-d forbid, commits a sin and damages the upper worlds, one is exempt; and likewise Hashem is obligated to provide all the obligations of a husband to his wife. The Rebbe added that from Yaakov Avinu we see that Hashem must first bestow material blessings and afterwards spiritual ones, and concluded with abundant blessings for all of Klal Yisroel.

They continued with joyous melodies. The Rebbe made a blessing over the cup, and at the conclusion wished a good Yom Tov and a good Shabbos.

They finished at around 12:50, as the Rebbe shlit"a was accompanied out with song and music.

On the way home to Kiryas Joel, the Rebbe stopped at the new Bais Rochel building on Bedford near Keap, where the Rebbe looked over the magnificent building, which is being completed in the coming weeks in all its splendor.

"Fortunate is the people for whom this is so, fortunate is the people whose G-d is Hashem"

▫️ Satmara Niyes 🌴 ▫️