Harav Chaim Yosef David Weiss, shlit”a, senior Dayan of the Satmar kehillah in Antwerp and widely known by the acronym of his name, the Chid”u, was verbally attacked while attending a Kiddush held in honor of his grandson’s aufruf at the Bobov-45 Beis Midrash on Chaggai Street in Bnei Brak this Shabbos.

The Rav, who had been seated at the mizrach and engaged in divrei Torah with the Rabbanim and Admorim present at the table, was suddenly approached by an individual who proceeded to hurl a torrent of harsh and deeply disrespectful words at him, reportedly in connection with recent halachic rulings the Dayan had issued in matters affecting the broader community.

For close to ten full minutes, the man continued his verbal assault before the assembled crowd. Family members and distinguished guests, visibly shaken by the brazen affront to the Dayan’s kavod, moved to intervene and remove the individual from the hall.

It was at this moment that the true greatness of the Chid”u became manifest to all present.

With complete and unruffled calm, the Dayan raised his hand, signaling quietly but firmly to those around him that no response was to be given. He met the man’s words with a composed and steady demeanor, allowing him to conclude without interruption. When the individual had finished, the Chid”u turned to him with a warm “Gut Shabbos” and resumed his Torah discussion with those at the table, as though nothing had occurred.

The Chid”u, a brother of the Horodenka Rebbe, shlit”a, of Manchester, is regarded as one of the foremost poskim in European Jewry. His response to the incident has been widely praised by rabbinic figures in Bnei Brak and in chassidishe kehillos abroad.

A grand chasuna for the Chid”u’s grandson is scheduled to take place this coming Tuesday at Ganei Dekel hall in Bnei Brak, and steps are being taken to ensure the simchah proceeds in an atmosphere of joy and dignity befitting the occasion.