Hasidic Rebbes and Rabbis Mark Shabbat with Commemorations and Celebrations
Across various Hasidic courts, prominent rebbes and rabbis are observing the upcoming Shabbat with a mix of commemorations and celebrations. The Belz Hasidic community in Jerusalem will mark the Shabbat preceding the 15th yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of Rabbi Shalom of Belz, with the current Rebbe leading a "tish" (gathering with singing and blessings) on Friday night.
Several other communities are observing yahrtzeits. The Ungvar Hasidic dynasty will commemorate the 15th yahrtzeit of the "Mishne Halachos" Rebbe, whose anniversary falls on Friday, the eve of Rosh Hashanah. His sons will lead gatherings in Jerusalem, Boro Park, and Modi'in Illit. The Bialla Ramat Aaron community will mark the 16th yahrtzeit of their Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov of Bialla, with events in Bnei Brak.
In addition to commemorations, several "sheva brachot" (festive meals celebrating a new marriage) are scheduled. The Satmar community in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, will host a sheva brachot for the grandson of the Satmar Rebbe. The Koson, Dush, and Komada communities will celebrate a sheva brachot in Boro Park, with the Koson Rebbe attending. Other sheva brachot events are planned for the Chernobyl-Tzanz, Spinka, and Lelov-Modzitz-Opalin communities in Boro Park and Bnei Brak.
Several rebbes are also spending Shabbat in various locations for prayer and spiritual gatherings. The Kaliv Rebbe will be in Lakewood, the Zvhill Rebbe in Meron for the traditional "Shabbat Selichot," and the Mebakshi Emunah Rebbe in Bnei Brak. Rabbi Yosef Dov Halberstam, the Tzanz Hasidic rabbi in the US, will be in Boro Park. Rabbi David Dov Dushinsky will be in Sighet, Romania, for a pre-wedding visit to ancestral graves.
Furthermore, several new synagogues and study halls will be inaugurated. Thousands of Satmar Hasidim will inaugurate their expanded central synagogue in Williamsburg on Sunday morning. The Koson community will inaugurate "Ateret Shalom" in Linden, and the Rachmastrivka community will inaugurate "Ohr Yitzchak" in Lakewood, both on Sunday morning during Selichot services. The Vizhnitz Rebbe will return to Bnei Brak on Saturday night for Selichot prayers, as will the Sanz-Klausenburg Rebbe, who is visiting Israel, and the Vizhnitz Rebbe of Beitar Illit.
Finally, the article lists Shabbat candle-lighting and Havdalah times for various cities in Israel and around the world, and includes prayers for the recovery of prominent rabbis and yeshiva leaders, as well as congratulations for various communal figures on recent simchas (joyous occasions) like bar mitzvahs and weddings.