Torah, Torah — Gird Yourselves for the Festival

With great excitement, thousands of members of the kehilla, residents of Kiryas Joel, filled the giant "Beis Rochel Auditorium" at the majestic and exalted gathering marking the siyum of Maseches Yevamos and the start of Maseches Kesubos in the "Yesodei HaTorah" chabura of our holy kehilla. A lavish seudas mitzvah was donated by the patron of the chabura, the distinguished philanthropist R' Akiva Tzvi Klein, in memory of his dear father-in-law, the esteemed R' Menachem Zev son of R' Avrohom Abba a"h.
The chairman of the gathering, HaGaon R' Yoel Weinberger, director of Kvius Ittim LaTorah, opened the gathering with very powerful words about "fixing times for Torah," especially as one sees that "over 1000" learners are connected to the "Yesodei HaTorah" chabura in Kiryas Joel. After him, HaGaon R' Shaul Yitzchak Lichtenstein, one of the distinguished learners of the chabura in Kiryas Joel, spoke, followed by the honored speaker HaGaon R' Shlomo Shabsai Kestenbaum shlit"a. During the gathering, the "Shira" choir entertained the thousands of learners.

At around 9:45 the founder and president of the chabura, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a, arrived and was received by the chairman of the gathering. The Rebbe tasted something and wished a "lechayim" to the entire assembly. The program continued with niggunim, and HaGaon R' Yechezkel Gelbstein, a maggid shiur in the chabura and son-in-law of the philanthropist R' Akiva Tzvi Klein, the patron of the chabura, spoke.
In the holy address, the Rebbe based himself on the verse "Therefore the rulers say, 'Come to the reckoning' — come and let us calculate the accounting of the world," and explained it in the manner of a derush in honor of the day. He spoke about "fixing times for Torah," that everyone needs to have a shiur with a completely fixed, unbreakable schedule, and he highlighted in praise the thousands of learners, especially those who present themselves for examination. "How distinguished is this day" — a tremendous joy for all the people gathered here, the hundreds of Jews who have come together to celebrate the "siyum of Maseches Yevamos" amid a multitude of people, the glory of the King. A large group learned Maseches Yevamos, reviewed it, and stood for an examination on this masechta. "Fortunate are you, Yisroel!! Praiseworthy are you!! You merited to learn through Maseches Yevamos, which one can say is the hardest masechta in Shas!! A very difficult study!! And that such a large group merited to learn it and complete it is truly a great joy!! Fortunate are you in this world, and it shall be good for you in the World to Come!!"
He called out to the members of the kehilla: "...Today, as we begin a new masechta — Maseches Kesubos — I call out in a loud voice to all members of the kehilla to come and join the learners. 'Taste and see that Hashem is good...'" He also brought out the pleasantness of learning Torah when one learns one page each day at a measured pace: "The holy Torah is what connects us with the holy Creator, the Giver of the Torah."

Afterwards the Rebbe spoke in praise of the patron of the chabura, the distinguished philanthropist R' Akiva Tzvi Klein: "...Let us show appreciation to the patron of this chabura 'Yesodei HaTorah,' the esteemed philanthropist who does deeds for Torah with a generous hand..." The Rebbe mentioned his many accomplishments in raising the honor of Torah, especially that the esteemed donor is building a "magnificent building for Torah students, a very large building," as well as the renovation and beautification of the mikvah in the great beis medrash.

The Rebbe added: "...The esteemed donor R' Akiva Hersh, may his merit protect us, to whom Torah is dear, merited to be the patron of this chabura, a large chabura! A distinguished chabura! I will say that he is among those who bring merit to the many!! For when one truly considers the fruits of this chabura 'Yesodei HaTorah,' all the chaburos in all the holy communities of Israel... 'this chabura is the father of all these chaburos,' and all the chaburos of all the holy communities in Israel are its offspring!! The fruits of what was learned!! They saw the success of this chabura and imitated it!! And to all of these we say, 'We do not have any copyright...' Everyone has the right to imitate; everyone should imitate. May he increase and glorify Torah." Afterwards the Rebbe concluded with holy blessings, "with the threefold blessing in Torah," for the distinguished patron, for the askanim, and for all the learners.

After the address, the Rebbe made the siyum and then joined in spirited holy dancing for an extended time in honor of the joy of the Torah and its learners. At around 10:50 Birkas Hamazon was recited, and the Rebbe returned to his holy home, where he davened Maariv. After Maariv, the Rebbe recited Kiddush Levana.

Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, for it is our strength and light

▫️ Satmar'e Niyes 🌴 ▫️