Satmar Donor Announces Discounted Wedding Hall in Borough Park
At a central sheva berachot celebration in Borough Park, Brooklyn, marking the marriage of businessman R. Lipa Friedman’s daughter, and held together with the הכנסת ספר תורה to a Satmar cheder that Friedman donated in the presence of the Rebbe, Friedman made an emotional announcement: a new, luxurious wedding hall will be built in the community institutions’ new building and will be offered at heavily reduced prices for local families.
Friedman said he opened his remarks with the verse, “What can I repay the Lord for all His benefits to me,” and explained that as he stood at his first daughter’s wedding, he asked what a person can do to give back for divine kindness. “There is only one thing a Jew can do, to increase acts of kindness for other Jews,” he said. He added that after arranging his daughter’s wedding, he saw firsthand how expensive weddings are and how many families struggle with the costs.
He also said one major problem today is the difficulty of finding an available hall date, which delays weddings and adds daily waiting expenses. Friedman said he discussed the issue with the Satmar Rebbe, who strongly encouraged the effort, leading to the decision to build the hall in the new building. He praised the institutions’ leadership for agreeing to forgo significant income so the public can hold weddings “with dignity, beautifully, and at a price that is truly affordable every night.”
Friedman noted that the event took place on 18 Sivan, a date of special meaning for Satmar Hasidim, because it marks 27 years since the late “Birkas Moshe” appointed the current Satmar Rebbe as community rabbi. He also spoke about his father, R. Moshe Friedman, known as “Moishe Gabbai,” praising his years of loyal service to the late Rebbe and his role in strengthening Satmar worldwide. Friedman linked the evening to last week’s inheritance division of sacred items from the late Birkas Moshe in Monsey, saying his father was appointed trustee for that process and completed it with wisdom and patience, bringing honor to Satmar and the late Rebbe.
