Hassidic courts and yeshiva leaders mark major sabbath gatherings across Israel and abroad
A wide range of Hassidic courts and rabbinic communities will spend this Sabbath in special gatherings, reunions, and memorial observances across Israel, the United States, Canada, Europe, and Switzerland. The central event is a major Modzitz unity Sabbath in Metzpeh Yericho for all Modzitz Hassidim, held at the Netivot Yosef compound, marking 20 years since the death of the Modzitzer Rebbe, author of Netach Dan. Organizers said this is the first such concentrated Sabbath for the whole community in Israel in 13 years, and called it a historic event tied both to the anniversary and to the community’s longstanding desire for a full-scale gathering.
Other Hassidic courts will host similar occasions. Gur will mark the 34th yahrzeit of the Lev Simcha, while thousands will spend the Sabbath with his son, the Gur Rebbe, in Jerusalem. Czanz will hold a sheva berachot in Netanya and also observe the 32nd yahrzeit of the Shefa Chaim. Vizhnitz courts, Alexander, Kasan, Slonim, Peshwarsk, Satmar, Tosh, Skver, Spinka, and others are holding weddings, sheva berachot, and youth Sabbaths in Williamsburg, Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Antwerp, Monsey, Safed, Beit Shemesh, and elsewhere.
Several leading rabbis and roshei yeshiva are also spending the Sabbath on the road for family celebrations, community strengthening visits, or rest. Rabbi Chaim Feinstein will speak at a special Shabbat meal in Jerusalem, Rabbi Elimelech Biderman will be in Beit Shemesh, and Rabbi Nisan Dov Kivak will lead prayers and gatherings in Williamsburg. Rebbeim from Satmar, Tosh, Bobov, Vizhnitz, and other courts are likewise dividing their time between celebrations and retreats in places including Swan Lake, Canada, Malibu, Davos, and Moshav Kokhav Yaakov.
The article also notes ongoing prayers for several seriously ill rabbinic figures, and lists Sabbath entry and exit times for cities in Israel and abroad, for Parashat Chukat, or Korach outside Israel. Readers are asked to accept Shabbat half an hour before sunset in merit of the sick and the wounded in the war.