Sanz-Kloiznburg Rebbe Weeps Over Jewish Exile Despite Western Wall Liberation

In the summer of 1967, following the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem from Arab control, Jews regained access to the Western Wall, a sacred remnant of the Temple. On the Sunday of Selichot that year, the revered Sanz-Kloiznburg Rebbe delivered a heartfelt address in which he wept continuously. He expressed profound sorrow over the Jewish exile, stating that the pain of exile was even greater at this moment. The Rebbe likened the situation to a famous parable about a king's son who sinned and was banished, only later allowed to return to a ruin near the king's palace but never to the palace itself or to see his father's face. This poignant speech was recorded and preserved by the Ba'otzra HaChaim Institute, which has transcribed and translated the rare Yiddish recording into Hebrew to ensure its preservation for future generations. The Rebbe's lamentation highlights the enduring spiritual pain despite the physical return to the holy site.