"Then the righteous will see and rejoice, and the upright will exult" - Leil Simchas Torah 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

At around 12:30 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash for Maariv, in the presence of hundreds of chassidim and men of deeds.
- Baal tefillah: R' Yaakov Yosef Filep.
After Maariv the Rebbe went to the private mikvah adjacent to the Beis Medrash HaGadol.

At 1:40 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash wrapped in a borrowed tallis for Ata Hareisa.
- Opening of the Aron: R' Yaakov Hersh Heiman (Williamsburg).

At 1:55 the Rebbe shlit"a began the holy avodah by dancing the elevated Hakafos.
The Rebbe shlit"a said Torah five times during the introduction.
- First Torah: On the stanza 'Yedid Nefesh Av HaRachaman', through dancing on Simchas Torah we are acquired to Hakadosh Baruch Hu through the kinyan of hagbahah (lifting). Shemini Atzeres is a Yom Tov that is "erev" to the future; in the future it will be ruled, like Rabbi Shimon, that a Canaanite slave is acquired through lifting. We therefore dance dances of joy in order to be acquired to Hakadosh Baruch Hu through the kinyan of hagbahah. The Rebbe concluded with tears, with a prayer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu that "Your servant should run like a deer," that we be able to dance the Hakafos properly and thus be acquired to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
- Second Torah: On the stanza 'Hador Naeh' "Moshe spoke of the appointed times of Hashem to the children of Israel" - the initials spell "Avi, Ami." We observe the second day of Yom Tov in the diaspora because of the tradition of our fathers, and in that merit we can nullify evil decrees. At the Hakafos we drive the tzaddikim out of Gan Eden, since in the World to Come there is no second day of Yom Tov. The Rebbe explained that the Avos and Imahos and the tzaddikim, our fathers and holy Rebbes zy"a, are present now at the Hakafos, and we can beseech them for everything we need.
- Third Torah: On the stanza 'HaGalah Na' - the mitzvah of sukkah is proof that Klal Yisroel has the status of children to the Omnipresent; therefore Hashem will bring about the revival of the dead. We make use of teshuvah and are not cast away. Through the dances of joy on Simchas Torah, with the whole body and all its limbs, we can rectify all the limbs. After Sukkos, when there is proof that we have the status of children to the Omnipresent and we will rise at the revival of the dead, and only then do we use teshuvah, we dance on Simchas Torah to rectify all the limbs.
- Fourth Torah: On the stanza 'Bereishis Toratcha HaKedumah' - when Jews dance Hakafos for long hours beyond the letter of the law, Hakadosh Baruch Hu fulfills the mitzvah of returning a lost object beyond the letter of the law: when a person does teshuvah, He returns to him his mitzvos, and thus the sins are nullified afterward.
- Fifth Torah: On the stanza 'HaKel HaGadol' - when a person begins to say Kedushah, he thinks, "Who am I to say Kedushah before Hakadosh Baruch Hu?" But he should think that, compared to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, the angels are also nothing, and if the angels can say shirah and Kedushah, we can too. This is the lesson Avrohom Avinu taught us when he brought all passersby close to our Father in Heaven and taught them that they are indeed important to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, able to recite songs and praises.

The introduction ended at around 4:20.
Because of the late hour, the Rebbe danced from the first Hakafah already only on the bima, and carried out the dances with extra vigor and tremendous fervor.
The Hakafos ended at around 5:25.

After the Hakafos the Rebbe shlit"a recited Shema Yisroel, Hashem Melech and the other verses.
- Verses of Shema Yisroel and baal korei: R' Yudel Wertzberger.
Aliyos.
- Kohen: R' Eliyahu Shaul Katz (Boro Park).
- Levi: R' Yosef Levy (Williamsburg).
- Shlishi: the Rebbe shlit"a.
- Hagbah: HaRav Chaim Yisroel Klagsbald shlit"a (London).
- Gelilah: R' Shmuel Benedict (Manchester).
It ended at around 5:35, and the Rebbe wished the entire congregation a good Yom Tov with a radiant face.

The Rebbe went into his private room in the Beis Medrash HaGadol, made Kiddush and conducted the Yom Tov seudah. During the zemiros the Rebbe honored R' Naftali Hirtzka Stein. Birkas Hamazon: his grandson HaRav Yisroel Dushinsky shlit"a (Boro Park).
At around 6:40 the Rebbe went home to his holy residence.

Yom Simchas Torah

On Simchas Torah morning at around 11:40 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash.
Pesukei D'zimrah and Shacharis were davened quickly as is customary. Baal tefillah: HaRav Chaim Shlomo Kraus shlit"a. At Nishmas, "Hakel," "Hamelech" and "Shochen Ad" were said in the Yom Tov nusach, in the nusach of the Yamim Noraim and Shabbos, as is customary. The kohanim duchened.
The Rebbe approached the recitation of Hallel with fiery fervor. It ended at around 1:25, and the Rebbe went into his private room.

At around 2:10 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash for Ata Hareisa.
- Opening: R' Moshe Yitzchak Sternlicht (London).

At around 2:25 the Rebbe shlit"a began dancing the holy Hakafos. The introduction ended at approximately 4:20.

The Rebbe shlit"a said Torah 7 times: four times during the introduction and at the first Hakafah, before the fourth Hakafah and before the sixth Hakafah.
- First Torah: On the stanza 'Yedid Nefesh', through the dances of joy, the joy of a mitzvah also atones for a sin, if one was joyful while committing the sin.
Another way of explaining: when one is joyful while performing a mitzvah that is a commemoration of a miracle, it is not such a novelty. But Shemini Atzeres, which is not a commemoration of a miracle, when we rejoice with the Torah and dance "who separated us from the erring," is a great novelty, and Hakadosh Baruch Hu has great pleasure from it.
- Second Torah: On the stanza of 'Hador Naeh' "Ana Kel na refa na lah" - the word "na" is an expression of request. Simchas Torah is so holy that it elevates all the prayers and requests of the entire year. A mitzvah is not complete unless it comes with difficulty or costs money. Therefore we ask that all the mitzvos that are not complete should become complete through the holiness of Simchas Torah and ascend to Heaven.
- Third Torah: On the stanza of 'HaGalah Na' "For I had the children of Israel dwell in booths" - there is a dispute whether this refers to the Clouds of Glory or actual sukkos. The actual sukkos that the Jews built, with mesirus nefesh, possessed the same holiness as the Clouds of Glory, and it is an even greater novelty and importance than the Clouds of Glory, since "the deeds of the righteous are greater than the creation of heaven and earth." This is why the Torah was given to Klal Yisroel and not to the ministering angels. Likewise, the joy of a mitzvah in This World is more important than the joy of a mitzvah in the World to Come, and this is why the tzaddikim come down from Gan Eden at the Hakafos. The Rebbe also strongly encouraged setting fixed times for Torah, even just one hour a day, which is even more important to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.
- Fourth Torah: On the stanza of 'Bereishis Toratcha' - when Rosh Hashana falls on Shabbos, Hakadosh Baruch Hu takes the tekios from the time when the Beis Hamikdash stood and hears them today, so we can bring about all good even if the shofar is not actually blown. The Bnei Yissaschar says that "Bereishis" is an acronym for "Rosh Shanah Yitke'u Teruah B'shofar Ayil," and likewise "Ratzah Elokim Tishmeru Yom Shabbos B'reishis," that we should not blow the shofar due to concern of desecrating Shabbos. This is the meaning of "Bereishis Toratcha HaKedumah, reshumah chochmasecha hasesumah": the blowing of the shofar is a form of wisdom and not labor, and even though it is "from where will it be found, and it is hidden" when we do not blow on Rosh Hashana that falls on Shabbos, Hakadosh Baruch Hu nevertheless hears it from earlier generations.
- The Torah at the first Hakafah: In the test of Yosef HaTzaddik, "the image of his father appeared to him." Yaakov Avinu has the power to save every Jew from sin. Hakadosh Baruch Hu sends Yaakov Avinu down on Simchas Torah to help Klal Yisroel rejoice with the holy Torah, and therefore Yaakov is "first in joy."
- The Torah for the fourth Hakafah - the Hakafah of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Several niggunei Torah were sung with great arousal and tears, and then the Rebbe stood up and said Torah. When a person learns the thirteen middos by which the Torah is expounded, he thereby arouses the thirteen attributes of mercy. The Rebbe strongly encouraged accepting good resolutions in Torah study, each person according to his level, and everyone must know the importance of Torah study. When a person is occupied all day with earning a livelihood and comes to the beis medrash regularly to learn even just one hour, it is more important to Hakadosh Baruch Hu than one who learns the entire day, and with this one can arouse the thirteen attributes of mercy.
The Torah for the sixth Hakafah - the Hakafah of Yosef HaTzaddik. On Shemini Atzeres, when we have rectified everything we damaged, we can rejoice with true joy of a mitzvah. The Rebbe strongly emphasized that we now stand before the holy sixth Hakafah, the Hakafah of Yosef HaTzaddik. Every Jew was called up today to a Sefer Torah; how can a finger that touched an impure vessel touch a Sefer Torah?! He explained that now is the proper time to accept good resolutions in matters of holiness, with complete regret

for the past and a good resolution for the future, and thus to be able to rejoice with true joy of a mitzvah. He concluded with his holy blessing.

Between the Hakafos the piyutim of the Chareidim were sung with great arousal; rivers of tears flowed, and longings and arousal were felt by tens of thousands of anash.

From the second Hakafah the Rebbe danced only on the bima.
At the first Hakafah the guests from Europe were honored with a Sefer Torah, at the fourth Hakafah all the melamdim were honored with a Sefer Torah, and at the seventh Hakafah the grandchildren of the Beirach Moshe zy"a were honored with a Sefer Torah.
At the sixth Hakafah the Rebbe shlit"a made the swaying motions with the Sefer Torah with elevation and devotion, as is the custom of our holy Rebbes. At the seventh Hakafah, at the passage of "Chazak Meyuchad," the Rebbe took his own Sefer Torah and danced with great affection and elevation, in exalted joy.

At the conclusion, at approximately 6:20, the Rebbe said Vayesayu and recited L'Dovid Mizmor verse by verse.

The Torah readings and prayers were done quickly due to the shortness of time.

- Baal korei: R' Yudel Wertzberger.
- Kohen: R' Shmuel HaKohen Friedman.
- Levi: R' Yudel Wertzberger.
- Shlishi: R' Chaim Shlomo Fischer.
- Revi'i: R' Shlomo Zalman Stein.
- Chamishi: the Rebbe shlit"a.

The reading of V'Zos HaBrachah was read again.
- Kohen: R' Yaakov Friedman.
- Levi: R' Simcha Yisroel Apfel.
- Shlishi: R' Meir Mendel Fischer.
- Revi'i: the bochur Shneur Zalman Eckstein.
- Chamishi: R' Yoel Schwartz (Williamsburg).

The shamash R' Yoel Kaufman, together with another reader, recited the permission for the Chasanim HaTorah, and the Rebbe shlit"a was called up and read with great arousal the passage of "Me'onah."
- Hagbah: R' Moshe Aharon Steinberg.
- Gelilah: R' Yoel Landau.

- Chasan Bereishis: R' Moshe Aryeh Freund (London). A tallis was spread like a chuppah, as is customary.
- Hagbah: R' Yosef Freund (London).
- Gelilah: R' Yudel Stein (Boro Park).

- Chasan Maftir: R' Naftali Hirtzka Stein.
Hagbah: R' Yoel Freund (Brooklyn).
Gelilah: R' Shalom Mittelman (Boro Park).

Musaf was led before the amud by R' Avrohom Moshe Lebovitch, and the customary festivities were held. Mincha was davened immediately afterward. It ended at 7:25.

The Rebbe immediately made Kiddush in his private room and washed for the seudah. The Rebbe made hamotzi on a long raisin challah as is customary, and then went home to his holy residence.

The Pure Table of Ne'ilas HaChag - Gathering for Holy Blessings

At around 10:05 the Rebbe shlit"a entered the Beis Medrash HaGadol for the Ne'ilas HaChag tish, in the presence of thousands upon thousands of Jews.
Upon entering, the Rebbe went out in a festive dance on the floor for several minutes and continued the seudah, extending it with Yom Tov niggunim, and cabbage was brought in as is customary.
Yom Tov niggunim were sung, and then niggunim of the holy Kedushas Levi, whose yahrzeit falls the day after Isru Chag, led by HaRav Hershel Cohn shlit"a.

The Rebbe recited the blessing over the cup.
After benching the Rebbe said Baruch HaMavdil and broadcast his holy words over the microphone.

The Rebbe said Torah on the verse "And for all the great awe which Moshe performed before the eyes of all Israel," connecting the end of the Torah to its beginning. He explained that the reason Moshe Rabbeinu passed away and did not ascend to Heaven alive was so that he would continue to have a connection with the lowly world. As Chazal say, in the future, when Moshe Rabbeinu rises at the revival of the dead, he will bring with him all the dead of the diaspora. This does not refer only to the revival of the bodies, but in our times, when a Jew wishes to do teshuvah, it is in the merit of the spiritual vitality that Moshe Rabbeinu brings into hearts, and this is a form of revival of the dead for the souls. He explained that the fact that so many thousands of Jews dance for long hours and rejoice with the holy Torah is not the natural order of the world and is only through the power of Moshe Rabbeinu, and so on - everything we have today is through the power of holiness of Moshe Rabbeinu.

The Yaitev Lev says that Shemini Atzeres is an "erev" Yom Tov for the future, and "Israel is redeemed only through teshuvah." Only through the power of holiness of Moshe Rabbeinu do we merit teshuvah, and this sustains us until the coming of the Redeemer. We are all students of Moshe Rabbeinu, and his powers and influences have no limit, and he can bestow both spiritual and material blessings. He concluded with abundant blessings for the entire congregation.

The tish continued with Yom Tov niggunim, and then the Rebbe studied the Gemara Maseches Berachos, Bavli and Yerushalmi, as is customary, weaving in beautiful hints and ideas.
The Rebbe stood up and said "L'shanah Haba'ah B'Yerushalayim" three times.

Maariv for Motzei Yom Tov: R' Shlomo Zalman Stein.

After Maariv the Rebbe made Havdalah, and after several minutes came out to the courtyard of the Beis Medrash HaGadol for the gathering of holy blessings, in the presence of thousands upon thousands of Jews, to all the assembled people, both in the ezras Yisroel and the ezras nashim.

Joyous niggunim were sung. The Rebbe wished the holy blessings for a good week and a healthy winter, and encouraged carrying out all the good resolutions accepted during Yom Tov, each according to his level, young and old alike, and that we merit a full house filled with all the good that a Jewish home needs. He concluded with abundant blessings.

Several more niggunim were sung. It ended at around 11:50, and the Rebbe went home to his holy residence.

At his holy residence, hundreds of guests from anash from Eretz Yisroel, Europe and Montreal who had spent Yom Tov b'tzeil hakodesh came in to take leave for an extended time.

May we have accomplished all good, with all blessings and salvations for each and every one, with the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, our king, at our head

"Fortunate is the people for whom this is so; fortunate is the people whose God is Hashem"

▫️ Satmara Niyes 🌴 ▫️