The evening was spent in Lijensk. After Shacharis on Thursday morning, the Williamsburg Satmar Rav received the shochtim from Jerusalem who were working there on assignment from the Eidah Hacharedis.
The next destination was Shiniva and then it was on to Lanzut where, on his yahrzeit, tefillas were recited at the resting place of Rabbi Naftali Zvi Horowitz, zt”l (1760-1827), revered Ropshitzer Rebbe and author of Zera Kodesh.
Taking a bus to Hungary, the group arrived at Uheil in the late afternoon. Minchah took place near the ohel of the Yismach Moshe, where Tehillim were recited and inspirational songs were sung. The journey continued to Liska and then to Kerestur, where supper was served in the recently refurbished home of Rabbi Yeshaye Steiner, zt”l(1852-1925), Keresturer Rebbe.
Shabbos In Sighet
For Shabbos Acharei Kedoshim, the Buti Hotel in Sighet was rented for the group and for additional chassidim from Europe who joined for the stirring Shabbos. Friday morning after Shacharis a L’Chaim Tisch was held before the group proceeded to the ohel in Sighet where a charity collection was made for Kollel Atzei Chaim and for Kollel Meir Baal HaNes. Payers and supplications were then said at the gravesite of Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, zt”l (1808-1883), Sigheter Rav and author of Yetev Lev. The Yetev Lev is the great-grandfather of the Berach Moshe, who was the grandfather of the Williamsburg Satmar Rav. Tears flowed as prayers were said on behalf of sick family members, childless couples, and single children in need of shidduchim. Amid the intense pleading, the Williamsburg Satmar Rav begged the Yetev Lev to grace the forthcoming wedding with his personal presence. The group then moved its focus to the other tzaddikim buried in the ohel. After several hours of prayer, the group left to prepare for Shabbos.
Kabbolas Shabbos was held under the open sky on the very location where the beis medrash of the Sigheter Rebbes had stood and where they lived, prayed, and taught Torah. The Sigheter Rebbes received thousands of chassidim at that very place. For Sigheter and Satmar chassidim, it is their holy of holies.
At the Shabbos meal the chassan taught from sefer Yetev Lev and tales of the tzaddikim were related by his father, the Williamsburg Satmar Rav. Zemiros were delegated to esteemed leaders of the Satmar communities, some from America and some from Europe. The Shabbos noon meal was very similar to the Friday meal. The Shalosh Seudos was a reenactment of what was conducted by Sigheter Rebbes of old. The Williamsburg Satmar Rav repeated divrei Torah once delivered by his ancestors. After Maariv Motzaei Shabbos, the Melaveh Malkah was held, after which the entire group went on to Kaliv, were prayers were recited at gravesite of the Rebbes of Kaliv. Exhausted but inspired, many returned to New York, while others returned to their homes in Europe.
The Williamsburg Satmar Rav proceeded to Manchester, where he spoke at the fund-raising dinner on behalf of Satmar institutions there. As is customary among chassidishe rebbes, he visited the rabbis and rebbes of Manchester.
