A major Shabbos gathering for hundreds of leading supporters of Belz took place at the David Citadel Hotel in Yerushalayim, drawing widespread excitement among chassidim in Eretz Yisroel and abroad after the event had been postponed from the previous week.

The Belzer Rebbe arrived at the hotel already on Thursday night and took part in a special program marking Pesach Sheini, after which the assembled donors were received for personal greetings and brachos.

During the preparations, the Rebbe also offered warm words of appreciation to the Bobover askan, Reb Dovid Aryeh Roth, recognizing his role in helping organize the large-scale Shabbos.

Throughout the Shabbos, the Rebbe devoted exceptional attention to the many guests, elevating the atmosphere of the gathering. For Mincha on Erev Shabbos, the Rebbe entered a specially prepared shul at the hotel shortly after candle-lighting time. His eldest grandson, Rav Sholom Rokeach, served as shliach tzibbur for Mincha, while the Rebbe himself led Kabolas Shabbos. During “Lo Sevoshi,” the niggun “Hatov Ki Lo Cholu Rachamecha” was sung, and during “Bo’achem L’Sholom,” the Rebbe encouraged extended singing, with the melody repeated for several minutes. Following the tefillah, the Pinsk-Karliner Rebbe, who was staying nearby, came to wish him a Gut Shabbos, after which the assembled tzibbur exchanged greetings.

The Friday night tish began at 11:00 p.m. in a large hall prepared for the occasion. The honor of lifting the kos for Kiddush was given to Reb Moshe Koenig. During the meal, the renowned chazzan Reb Yitzchok Meir Helfgot performed a moving piece of chazzanus with the composition “Ezras Avoseinu,” originally composed by Reb Moshe Stern in honor of Pesach Sheini. The niggun “Vehi She’amda” was then sung for several minutes by the participants.

For Birchas Hamazon, the Rebbe instructed that Reb Pinchos Lerner, CEO of the central Belzer offices in the United States, be honored with leading the bentching. This was followed by a Sholom Zochor celebration and a special Peiros Tish. At the height of the gathering, Rav Pinchos Friedman delivered an emotional address, speaking about the privilege of seeing the distinguished supporters maintaining their full chassidishe levush and remaining deeply connected to the spirit of the chassidus. He also spoke passionately about continuing tefillos for the Rebbe’s strength and complete recovery, leaving many in the room visibly moved. The niggun “Ki Orech Yomim U’Shnos Chaim” was then sung.

On Shabbos morning, Pesukei D’Zimra were led by Rav Avrohom Shmuel Rokeach, while Rav Pinchos Friedman served as shliach tzibbur for Shacharis, with a niggun sung to “Mimkomcha.” During the Torah reading, the honored guests were called up for aliyos, and the Rebbe himself led Mussaf.

Following davening, the Rebbe returned to the main hall for a Kiddusha Rabba and the daytime seudah with the assembled guests. The kos was lifted by Reb Elimelech Landman. Chazzan Reb Sholom Lemmer performed “Rozo D’Shabbos,” composed by Reb Pinchos Pinchik, and Reb Yitzchok Meir Helfgot added further selections, including “U’v’Menucha Yomar,” composed by Reb Yossele Rosenblatt. Musical accompaniment was provided by Shaya Lebron and Reb Moshe Daman, who had traveled from abroad for the occasion. Reb Shimon Faivush, a member of the Belzer central administration, was honored with Birchas Hamazon.

For Seudah Shlishis, the Rebbe once again gathered with the hundreds of supporters and guests. After delivering Torah thoughts, the niggun “Bar Yochai” was sung, followed by “Omar Rebbi Akiva.” The kos for bentching was lifted by Reb Yisroel Lewinger, chairman of the Belzer building fund.

After Maariv and Sefiras HaOmer, the Rebbe conducted Havdalah. The kos was lifted by senior members of the Belzer administration, Reb Yosef Meir Horowitz and Reb Rafael Klein. The niggun “Hamavdil” was then sung in chazzanus by Reb Yirmiyah Daman and Reb Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, after which the ציבור passed by to wish each other “A Gut Voch.”

Over the course of Thursday night, Friday, and Motzoei Shabbos, hundreds of supporters arrived with substantial contributions, with the Rebbe presenting each donor with a gold goblet and a leather-bound Tehillim for their household.

At the time of this report, preparations were underway for a major dinner in the hotel’s grand ballroom honoring those supporting the construction of new Belzer buildings, scheduled to begin shortly.

{Matzav.com}