Rav Zalman Leib of Satmar Heads to Eretz Yisroel

After months of meticulous planning on both sides of the Atlantic, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum of Satmar has traveled to Eretz Yisroel to attend the wedding of his granddaughter there. The Rebbe departed from New York last night, Motzoei Shabbos.

This visit is the first time in thirty years that a Satmar Rebbe has traveled to Eretz Yisroel and marks the first time that Rav Zalman Leib will be visiting Eretz Yisroel since the petirah of his father, the Beirach Moshe of Satmar zt”l.

Rav Zalman Leib has led his kehillah in Williamsburg for the past seven years, following the passing of his father, Rav Moshe Teitelbaum zt”l, who was the admor of Satmar for thirty-five years until his petirah in 2006 at the age of 92.

Rav Zalman Leib’s brother, Rav Aharon, leads his Satmar kehillah in Kiryas Yoel/Monroe, NY.

Rav Zalman Leib’s main bais medrash in Williamsburg is located at 152 Rodney Street. His kehillah has over thirty smaller shuls, schools that educate approximately19,000 boys and girls, and various tzedakah funds and organization, as well as a bais hakvaros and matzoh bakery.

Rav Zalman Leib’s departure last night begin with a gala farewell celebration, which began at 7:30 p.m. outside his home at 550 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. Approximately 5,000 gathered to bid farewell to Rav Zalman Leib and receive his bracha prior to his trip.

Rav Zalman Leib greeted his chassidim from the balcony of his home and there were two hours of music and dancing.

A procession, including schoolchildren bearing torches, accompanied Rav Zalman Leib for five blocks, from his home to Williamsburg West, after which he and his entourage proceeded to JFK Airport accompanied by a police escort.

Numerous agencies have been involved in coordinating the complex logistics of Rav Zalman Leib’s travel plans. These include the NYPD, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration, all of whom have been thoroughly briefed on what to expect as the expected masses passed through both JFK and Newark Airports on their way to Eretz Yisroel.

Rav Zalman Leib is flying to Eretz Yisroel on Delta flight 268, a non-stop flight that departed JFK at 11:10 p.m.  Rav Zalman Leib is scheduled to land at 4 p.m. He will travel from Ben Gurion Airport to Yerushalayim is is scheduled to meet with Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, Gaon Av Bais Din of the Eidah Hachareidis. A large kabbolas ponim/rally will be held in Kikar Shabbos in Geulah in the evening.

In Eretz Yisroel, Rav Zalman Leib will attend his ainikel‘s wedding in the city of Beit Shemesh on Wednesday, January 23. Guests from across Eretz Yisroel Israel, the United States, Canada, England and France are expected to attend.

{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}