The First Days of Yom Tov Pesach — 'B'tzeil HaKodesh' with the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a

On Erev Yom Tov at around 8:15 in the evening, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a entered the beis medrash, approached the amud for Mincha and began Hodu. After Mincha, the Rebbe recited the order of the Korban Pesach and looked into the text of the Yaavetz. Kabbalas Shabbos and Maariv: HaGaon Rabbi, the Av Beis Din of Sighet shlit"a. The Rebbe approached Hallel with emotion and arousal. After davening, the Rebbe went up to the Aron Kodesh and wished the entire congregation "A gut Shabbos, a gut Yom Tov," and then went straight home to his holy residence.

At the sedarim, hundreds of chasanim, talmidim of our holy yeshiva, merited to take part, seated around like olive saplings in a royal setting, with a masterful arrangement that the devoted house bochur arranges every year, so that everyone can partake in the elevated moments in the shadow of holiness: the fulfillment of the mitzvos of the night, the recitation of the Haggadah and divrei Torah, and the recitation of Hallel with holy emotion and outpouring of the soul.

Before the seder, the Satmar Rebbe shlit"a distributed matzos to the grandchildren. At around 11:00 the Rebbe entered the seder wrapped in his tallis over the kittel, first sat down and said Asakinu Seudasa D'Malka and Ribono Shel Olam, and then began Shalom Aleichem with emotion and sweetness through Melech Tamim Darko, and Eishes Chayil. The Rebbe's grandson, the bochur Yoel, son of HaGaon Rabbi, the Av Beis Din of Sighet shlit"a, was present. The Rebbe smelled fragrant hyssop, and sat down to arrange the ke'arah, the matzos and the simanim.

Then the Rebbe said "Kadesh" in a loud voice according to the custom of his holy forebears. The Rebbe's grandson, the child Moshe, son of HaGaon Rabbi, the Av Beis Din of Sighet shlit"a, recited the simanim in Yiddish at both sedarim. The Rebbe said "Hineni muchan u'mezuman" to fulfill the mitzvah of the first cup, stood up, recited the Leshem Yichud of Kiddush, and made Kiddush with holy fervor. During the seder the Rebbe said divrei Torah ten times; right after Maggid the Rebbe recited the passage of the Zohar HaKadosh "Pikuda basar da".
Before Mah Nishtanah, the Rebbe clapped his hands, palm upon palm, as was the custom of his holy forebear, the Beirach Moshe zy"a, according to the Belz custom.
His son, HaGaon Rabbi, the Av Beis Din of Sighet shlit"a, asked the questions, and then all the grandchildren together. The Rebbe recited the Haggadah with emotion and sweetness. After the second cup, the Rebbe removed his tallis, washed his hands, recited the Leshem Yichud and the berachah of Hamotzi and Al Achilas Matzah, ate the kezeisim of matzah, and later the kezeisim of maror and korech with deveikus.
At Shulchan Orech, the Rebbe ate the eggs from the ke'arah, and the Rebbe himself ate the afikoman right away, before chatzos. The afikoman had been "stolen" by the Rebbe's grandson, the bochur Yissachar Ber, son of HaGaon Rabbi Boruch shlit"a, Rav of the Beirach Moshe beis medrash. After finishing the afikoman, the Rebbe waited for the Yom Tov meal to be served to all the participants, and in the meantime the Rebbe looked into various sefarim and haggados. Then the Rebbe took a small piece of afikoman and sent it around to all the participants. After the tefillah of Shfoch Chamascha, said with arousal and emotion, the Rebbe's fourth cup was filled from the Cup of Eliyahu, and shirayim were sent to all the participants. Then they continued with the recitation of Hallel with great arousal and longing, especially at the piyut of Nishmas Kol Chai, where the Rebbe lingered with holy emotion, weeping and with an outpouring of the soul. After the seder they continued with the piyutim and zemiros as customary, and then sang "Vehi She'amdah" and "L'chvod Shabbos, az bayom hashvi'i." They finished at around 3:45, and the Rebbe went up to his private room, where the Rebbe recited Shir HaShirim with holy emotion.

▫️ Satmara Niyes 🌴 ▫️