Some of the gedolim who attended election rallies. From the left: HaRav Dovid Cohen, HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, HaRav Boruch Povarsky
At a yahrtzeit tisch for the Yeshuos Moshe of Vishnitz which took place last week in the spacious beis medrash in the Vishnitz neighborhood, headed by his son, the present Vishnitzer Rebbe, thousands of Chassidim heard an address by HaRav Yisroel Miller, member of the Shikun Vishnitz Beis Din. Among other things, he recounted memories and facts from the period of his study in Yeshivas Ponovezh and the years following, when the late Admor favored him and guided him along the paths of Torah and avodas Hashem.
Among his recollections, he told the following vignette: "Upon one of the opportunities when the Rebbe returned from a visit to America, I entered his chamber together with my father-in-law, HaRav Boruch Waltzer, one of the administrators of the Vishnitz institutions, to welcome him back. The Rebbe told us that while in America, he was visited by a delegation of Satmar Chassidim who tried to persuade him that the time had come for him to embrace the Satmar policy of proscribing the State and every connection with Zionist authorities therein.
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and HaRav Gershon Edelstein
"The Admor replied that his father, the Imrei Chaim, established his institutions in Eretz Yisroel at the same time that the Satmar Rebbe, the Divrei Yoel, founded his institutions in America. At the time when the delegation came, after a generation has already passed, Torah and chessed institutions were flourishing in both places, producing the significant fruits of those who toil in Torah and are replete with yiras Shomayim.
"If, as you claim," he said, "the policy of banning all contact [with the Zionists] is one which we should all embrace, then now, after a full generation has elapsed, we should have witnessed somewhat of a change by those who refused to accept your way. Not only has there been no such aberration, but our institutions here in Eretz Yisroel continue to produce blessed produce of an education in pure Torah and yiras Shomayim, in huge dimensions without any veering from the time-tested path. Is this not a resounding proof that our policy is truly anchored in holy ways? Don't come and tell us that our rabbonim erred and misguided us. The facts speak for themselves, proving that we made no mistakes but that our guiding principle was one of purity and sanctity."
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