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

At around 6:00, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a davened Maariv in his holy home. Before Maariv, the bochur Refael, son of Moshe Yosef Wertheimer, lit the menorah.

"These lights are holy"

At around 9:20, the Rebbe shlit"a entered the Heichal of the great beis medrash in Kiryas Joel for the lighting of the Chanukah candles, amid a multitude, "in the multitude of people is the glory of the King," in the presence of thousands of men. The Rebbe shlit"a poured the oil as the choir sang inspiring niggunim for several minutes. Then the Rebbe recited the blessings over the lighting and lit the candles.

While the Rebbe shlit"a recited the zemiros, inspiring niggunim continued to be sung, and afterwards the choir sang the piyutim as is customary.

Then R' Shlomo Hersh Eckstein sang Mizmor Shir Chanukas as is customary, accompanied by song and music, with drum and harp.

After the zemiros, the Rebbe distributed coins to the singers and to the children of the choir.

"And test us now with this, says Hashem of Hosts"

Then the uplifting lechayim tish took place in honor of Zos Chanukah, where inspiring and deeply heartfelt niggunim were sung for an extended time while the Rebbe shlit"a wept at length. Then the Rebbe shlit"a delivered brief words of Torah, saying that the Chanukah candle brings forth upright children, and he blessed those present that they merit lives filled with love of Torah and fear of Heaven, and children who are talmidei chachamim.

Afterwards, the singing of inspiring and joyous niggunim continued.

In his holy words, the Rebbe shlit"a first delivered a discourse with pilpul on the sugya in Maseches Shabbos of "kibsa zakuk lah," and then continued in the vein of aggadah, saying that on the eighth day of Chanukah the merit of Yitzchak Avinu is aroused, for he blessed Yaakov Avinu with the blessings, "and he gave, and repeated, and gave again," both material and spiritual, with the material first.

The Rebbe then said that today, Zos Chanukah, marks 9 years since the founding of the chabura "Toras'cha Sha'ashuai," and that today they completed the 26th masechta — Maseches Shevuos — and are beginning Maseches Avodah Zarah. In connection with this, the blessing "like the fragrance of a field that Hashem has blessed" is fitting, since the name Havayah equals 26. He then concluded with his holy blessings to all the participants in the chabura, that they merit to complete all of Shas in good health, and with abundant blessings for the entire community.

After the words of Torah, the singing of niggunim continued, and then the Rebbe drank a lechayim and offered his holy blessings. The gathering concluded at around 11:15.

▫️ Satmara Niyes 🌴 ▫️