דרשת קידוש השם של הנגיד הרב יואל לנדא אצל מעמד חלוקת שקל הטהור | Satmar Philanthropist Yoily Landau

Description

At a gathering held in honor of the hilulah of the Satmar Rebbe zt”l, Yoily Landau, a billionaire philanthropist from Williamsburg and one of Satmar’s leading benefactors, delivered a powerful and emotional address. The event, attended by Satmar leaders, philanthropists, and yeshiva administrators, centered on supporting Torah institutions that follow the Satmar path of taharas hakodesh, maintaining financial independence by refusing any funding from the Israeli government. The ceremony was part of a series of commemorative events in Yerushalayim and drew a delegation of major donors, led by Landau, who was accompanied by his elderly grandfather, Reb Chaim Yechezkel Stein, a shamash of the late Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l. “It is a privilege and a great merit to be part of this sacred gathering, an evening dedicated to the honor of Torah and kevod Shomayim. Tonight, on the yahrtzeit of our Rebbe, everything we do is for his merit and in the strength of his teachings, which instilled in us the resolve to remain steadfast and to build and strengthen institutions on the foundation of taharas hakodesh.” Landau recalled the Rebbe’s lonely struggle in 1952, when he first stood firmly against accepting “impure government funds,” insisting that Torah institutions remain entirely independent: “Back then, the world mocked him, money was pouring in from unclean sources, but the Rebbe stood like Avrohom Avinu — one man against the entire world — and declared: ‘Do not take this tainted money; it will bring destruction for generations. Take only the shkolim tehorim, pure and clean funds.’ Sadly, many communities failed that test and have long since lost their purity — and now, they are left without even the money they once relied upon.” Landau described how, year after year, the power of the Satmar Rebbe’s message only grows stronger: “As the Bnei Yissaschar teaches from the Zohar, every year on the yahrtzeit a tzaddik rises to an even higher spiritual chamber. But with our Rebbe, we also see the opposite — his influence in this world grows stronger each year. Today, everyone admits that the Vayoel Moshe is truth, and his Torah is truth!” He recounted how his grandfather described the Rebbe’s early days in Eretz Yisroel in 1952: “Back then, the Rebbe arrived with $10,000 to distribute, and by the time he returned to America, he was $10,000 in debt. Looking at the devoted administrators here tonight, I see the same spirit — standing alone, ready for mesirus nefesh, without any guarantees or grand plans.” Landau revealed striking figures showing Satmar’s decades-long financial commitment to Torah institutions in Israel: “From the day the Rebbe returned to America with that $10,000 debt until today, Satmar and its supporters have sent over $3 billion — that’s more than 10 billion shekels — not just money, but shkolim tehorim, pure funds given with mesirus nefesh. And yet, there are those who still ask how it’s possible to survive without taking the treife money from the Zionists. These pioneering administrators sitting here tonight show everyone the way forward. Very soon, the test of whether to take government funds won’t even exist — because there will be no one left to give it.” He emphasized that these institutions stand proudly independent: “Our administrators declare to this corrupt state: keep your favors, your honey and your stings — we want nothing from you, because we will never give you anything in return. Just as we do not negotiate over Shabbos observance, we do not negotiate over a single Jewish soul. Even they admit today that going to the army equals spiritual destruction.” Landau also delivered a harsh rebuke against the chareidi political parties: “There were those who believed the only way to fight the Zionists was from inside the Knesset. But today, we see what has happened — they went in so deep that they’ve forgotten to fight at all. And yes, maybe they do fight — but only over who gets a better seat, who gets the bigger chair, and who gets the better parking spot in Meron on Lag BaOmer. Beyond that, they fight for nothing!” He added that in just the past two weeks alone, Satmar distributed an additional $7 million through the Shkol Hatahor and Keren Hatzalah funds and hinted that this support will continue to grow. In closing, Landau issued an emotional appeal: “In many communities, people are sitting and rethinking their approach, seeking a way to return to the holy path of the Rebbe zt”l. To all those institutions and families, we say: how much longer will you sacrifice yourselves and remain blind? Every day, bochurim and avreichim are being arrested and dragged from their homes. Stop ignoring what’s happening!” He concluded with a pledge of ongoing Satmar support: “Together with our partners in America and around the world, we declare: ‘Hineni, Rebbe!’ We are here, ready and willing to embrace anyone who wants to join us on this path.”