The Bochurim from Satmar

ב“ה The Bochurim from Satmar As told by Mrs. Leah Kahan ב“ה In the early 5740s – 1980s, a prominent Satmar many questions about the welfare of these Rosh Yeshiva and several Satmar bachurim began young bachurim, but even how their parents and learning Tanya and Chabad Chasidus and the yeshivos were faring in the wake of the attending the Rebbe’s farbrengens. All of this was controversy: done in complete secrecy, and slowly but surely, • How were the parents of the bachurim taking they became ever-more attracted to the Rebbe this change in their children? and Chasidus Chabad. After several years, they decided they wanted to stop hiding their • Are the families suffering because their children “secret,” and to become Lubavitcher on the became close to Lubavitch? outside as well. • Are the children remaining respectful to the When this became public, the Satmar community parents? Will they still be in contact? turned against these bachurim and all of • How are the yeshivos that these bachurim Lubavitch, creating much trouble to the belong to handling it? bachurim, their teachers and to Lubavitch as a whole. (In the end, everything was worked out, • How are the bachurim adjusting to this major BH). The parents of these bachurim were also change in their lives? very much against their sons learning Chabad • If they are being shunned by their community, Chasidus. how will these bachurim get married? My husband was involved with these bachurim, and I spoke with Rebbetzin about this. She had so ב“ה Respecting with Time and Money As told by Rabbi Mendel Notik One of my many jobs was to go to be extra careful.” shop at the various stores in Crown If she even thought she was going Heights. On occasion I’d take care to get delayed, she would call and of paying the Rebbetzin’s accounts say, “Oh, I am so sorry” – at the stores. apologizing profusely – “I’ve gotten When I would come to the a little delayed” or “I got a very Rebbetzin’s house, the cash would important phone call” – from be laid out on the table together England or Israel – “It’s going to with the bills, ready for me to take. take me another ten minutes to Before I would take the money, the get there...” Other people’s time is Rebbetzin would always insist that serious, it’s valuable. I count the money again. To put it in context, we need to The Rebbetzin explained, “In my understand: I was a fifteen, father’s (the Frierdiker Rebbe’s) sixteen, seventeen-year-old, youngster in Yeshiva; and ”געלט האט home I was taught that notwithstanding that, she was very ליב א חשבון, און מיט יענעם'ס געלט Money careful and very proper and — דארף מען זיך זיכער היטן loves careful accounting, and with appropriate. someone else's money, one must ב“ה !Go for it As told by Mrs.Louise Hager The Rebbe had been encouraging very subtly; I didn’t realize this at both men and women to be more the time. But looking back, I can involved in mivtzoyim. I had a see how she was doing it – with dilemma: As a chasid, I really little hints and little tips. wanted to do the Rebbe’s work. At “I’m sure you can do this,” she the same time, I am very shy and would say. “Go for it, try it!” felt uncomfortable approaching people whom I had never met, and Today, as the chairman of the Chai asking them whether they were Cancer Care where we provide Jewish. I was feeling very conflicted many services to Jewish families about this. with an ill family member, I have found many ways to promote I shared this with the Rebbetzin. various mivtzoyim. I have become She understood me, who I am, and more vocal, and I am involved in my dilemma. She would say, sharing about Yiddishkeit with my “There will be a time…” She never colleagues and clients. In the back made me feel inadequate for not of my mind, I hear the Rebbetzin being able to do the more public encouraging me, “I’m sure you can mivtzoim. At the same time, she do this. Go for it, try it!” always encouraged me to push myself a little bit more. She did it ב“ה The Overturned Becher As told by Rabbi Menachem Junik On the night of Simchas Torah Hamikdash. תשמ“ו — 1985, he Rebbe held an Later that evening, I came to the extraordinarily lively farbrengen Rebbetzin, who was staying at the before hakofos. After the first sicha, library, and told her about the the Rebbe stood up at his place and farbrengen. I described to the danced to the nigun vigorously. Rebbetzin how the Rebbe had Later in the farbrengen, the Rebbe turned over his becher and had told finished the wine in his becher and everyone to do the same. then turned it over, and instructed As she was listening to me, I noticed everyone else to do the same. The that the Rebbetzin had taken a small Rebbe waved the becher from side bottle of liqueur that was standing to side during the singing, and on the table and turned it over. She afterwards he explained the source did it in a way that was almost for his actions according to nigleh, entirely unnoticeable. comparing this to the upside-down cups on the menorah in the Beis ב“ה Mitzvah Tanks in Eretz Yisrael As told by Mrs.Louise Hager I visited and spoke with the Rebbetzin She had been so, so impressed with this often. Every time I came or spoke with film, and she wanted me to share the her, she was quick to tell me of what nachas of seeing what the Rebbe had the Rebbe had been doing, about the done. new projects and the latest mivtza. She In the years when the Rebbe had just spoke of Tzivos Hashem, Mivtzah started Tzivos Hashem she said to me, Neshek, and the many others. She “I know how it’s working here in spoke of the work of the chasidim in America, but how have the children Eretz Yisrael and the work they are reacted in London?” doing with the soldiers there. Of course, I was able to tell her of the Once when I was there, she asked great excitement and how keen the somebody to bring in a film of the kids were to go up in rank and what Mitzvah Tanks in Eretz Yisroel when was happening. they went out to the soldiers, to the far -flung areas. She was so excited to And her eyes just shone. And this huge show it to me. She was so impressed smile came on her face, and she said, it with the chasidim, their dancing and was almost shyly: “My husband had a singing with the soldiers, and good idea, didn’t he?” distributing some good food to the soldiers on those lonely bases. .

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