A group of leading Admorim and Roshei Yeshiva are reportedly scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House this Thursday, in what is expected to be a highly significant meeting between the president and senior leaders of the frum community.

Sources tell YWN that logistical arrangements for the visit have been worked out in recent days. The delegation is expected to advocate on a number of issues affecting the frum community while also expressing appreciation to President Trump for his administration’s support on matters important to Orthodox Jews.

Among those reportedly invited are the Satmar Rebbes, the Skverer Rebbe, the Bobover Rebbe, the Bobov-45 Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, and BMG Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, along with additional Admorim, Roshei Yeshiva and askanim.

The planned meeting was publicly confirmed in part by the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel, who revealed over Shabbos that he had received an invitation to meet President Trump at the White House this Thursday together with other rabbonim and askanim.

Speaking to talmidim at the Satmar Mesivta in Kiryas Joel on Friday night, the Rebbe said he initially considered declining the invitation.

“Last Sunday, I received an invitation from the White House to meet with the president this coming Thursday, together with other rabbonim and askanim,” the Rebbe said. “At first, I thought not to confirm my participation. We are in the middle of Chodesh Elul, immersed in the yeshiva in the sugya of ‘Chatzi Shiur,’ and we need to prepare for the Yamim Noraim.”

The Rebbe then explained what ultimately convinced him to accept Trump’s invitation.

“I remembered that about 30 years ago, I had a similar situation, when there was a meeting with the president at the time. During that period, there was a Jew who was in distress, and through that meeting we were able to help him. Since there is now another Jew who is in distress, I thought perhaps we could help him through this meeting — and therefore I ultimately agreed.”

The Rebbe added that he hopes to use the extraordinary access to the president to raise another matter of major concern: the ongoing draft crisis facing bnei yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel.

“Even now, tens of thousands of Jews in Eretz Yisroel are in distress because of the decree to draft yeshiva students. We hope that we will be able to appeal to the president to help with this situation.”

The Rebbe concluded by cautioning the talmidim against allowing the attention surrounding the White House visit to distract them from their learning.

“I ask all the bochurim — events like these can distract a person. Every one of you should continue diligently learning the sugya of ‘Chatzi Shiur.’ Do not neglect Torah and do not become immersed in all this ‘Trumpism.’ I am telling you: One shiur in the sugya in yeshiva is worth more to me than this entire matter!”

Following the remarks, the assembled chassidim and bochurim broke into spirited singing of “Atah Vechartanu Mikol Ha’amim.”

The White House meeting is scheduled for Thursday, with additional details regarding the delegation and the issues it intends to raise expected to emerge ahead of the visit.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)