[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

The Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, HaRavi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum Shlita, spent this past Shabbos in Borough Park to celebrate the opening of the new Satmar Bais Medrash. The new facility, located on 52nd Street between 13th and 14th Avenues, has been under construction for the past seven years, and will be utilized for both daily and Shabbos Minyanim.

The Rebbe was accompanied by two thousand followers from Williamsburg and Kiryas Joel who spent Shabbos in the area in honor of the historic celebration. Four hundred yeshiva students were among those who flocked to Borough Park for this special occasion and food was distributed to close to one thousand Satmar Chassidim at the Renaissance Hall on 14th Avenue. Several hundred additional Satmar Chassidim walked in from Williamsburg on Shabbos afternoon in order to take part in the synagogues inaugural Shabbos.

Sources tell YWN that the Rebbe raised another $10 million over the weekend which will be used to finance the final phases of the construction project.

The weekend’s festivities culminated after Shabbos with the Rebbe being escorted by his Chassidim to 48th Street, amid music, dancing and children holding torches to illuminate the Rebbe’s route. The highlight of the weekend came as the Grand Rabbi emerged onto a balcony and blessed the assemblage of three thousand followers.

“This is a special moment”, said Lipa Klein, one of the thousands participation. “the new shul will bring thousands of Satmar Boro Park Chasidim together”.

Logistics for the entire weekend were coordinated by the NYPD who, once again, proved themselves to be New York’s finest, coordinating security and traffic control with the greatest sensitivity and professionalism.

YWN PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos taken at a Seudas Rosh Chodesh held on Friday at the home of Reb Volf Zichermman.

NOTE: Additional photos will be published shortly.

Click HERE to watch this video on a mobile device.

(YWN Desk – NYC)