On the 17th of Tammuz, a fast day, my son, Dovi, and his friend Dovid Tanner were driving home from camp when they got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic on Route 17 East near Goshen NY.
In the slow moving traffic Dovi’s car slightly tapped the car in front. The two cars pulled onto the grassy highway shoulder. There was no discernible damage and they exchanged information. The other car drove away.
Dovi started driving and after a short distance the battery warning signal lit up and the car stalled out. It would not start. Getting stuck on Route 17 on a very hot fast day is not fun.
As they waited for assistance, not far from Kiryas Joel, a town comprised of Satmar Hassidim, it seemed that every Hassidic person who drove by rolled down their window and asked if they could help. A very kind Hassidic fellow stopped and gave them the contact number for Chaverim, a volunteer organization that helps people in need. Another Hassid helped push the car off the road and tried to jump start the car, to no avail. Either the battery or alternator was not working.
My son Dovi
They called Chaverim and Reb Yoily Zandal, the Chaverim on-call volunteer, stayed with Dovi and Dovid to try and figure out what to do with the car. With the assistance of the NY State Police the car was towed to Chet’s Garage in Goshen.
Reb Zandal then brought them to Beis HaKnesess HaGedolah in Kiryat Joel for Maariv, the evening prayer service, and went to arrange accommodations for them.
Meanwhile, Reb Yaakov Kellner spotted the two of them after Maariv and offered to bring them to his house for supper and got them food and drinks to break their fast. Reb Zandal returned and explained to Reb Kellner that he had already made arrangements for them.
Reb Zandal then drove them to Rabbi Gross’s house who insisted that he carry their belongings out of the car into his home. After apologizing that he would have provided a more befitting feast had he known in advance that they were coming, Rebbetzin Gross provided a multiple course meat meal. Rabbi Gross sat with Dovi and Dovid for hours and they shared words of Torah and stories. Rabbi Gross invited them for any Shabbos – “just let me know a few days in advance”. At 11:40 PM the rabbi escorted them to two neatly set beds to sleep for the night.
On Monday morning they went to shul and learned for a little while. They returned to the Gross residence and Rebbetzin Gross greeted them with a lavish breakfast.
Later that morning, as they waited for the car to be fixed, they went to the Kollel Bais Medrash and were greeted very warmly. Dovi called the garage and was told that the car would be ready in the afternoon.
After Mincha, the afternoon service, a local resident accompanied them back to the Gross’s house. “It was Heavenly ordained that you ended up in Kiryas Joel,” he said, “because encounters like these break down the perceived borders between members of Klal Yisrael. There are too many divisions amongst the Jewish people.”
They were driven to the garage and on the way, Rabbi Gross called to wish them well. At 10 PM Rabbi Gross called again to make sure everything went smoothly and that they arrived home.
We are in the middle of The Three Weeks, leading up to Tisha B’Av when we lost our Holy Temple due to sinat chinam, baseless hatred. My son and his friend experienced a tremendous outpouring of ahavat chinam, unconditional love. In the merit of all of our people doing acts of kindness every day may we see the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdosh, the Holy Temple, speedily in our days.
(24) Ellie Kesselman, July 8, 2020 2:27 PM
Eve of 3 weeks before Tish B'Av
My heart was filled with sorrow on the eve of the three weeks prior to Tish B'Av. I am a sad childless Jewish widow with no hope or joy in my life. Thank you for this anecdote of compassion and love.
(23) Moishe Nudell, January 2, 2019 2:59 PM
My wife gets the aish. Com blog . I like what I see and read
(22) Shaine Leah, July 22, 2018 3:14 PM
What if they had been women?
Somehow I think Jewish women, dressed a bit less than Hasidically, would not have been welcomed quite so warmly. Even if they were fasting.
(21) Rose, July 15, 2018 4:30 PM
Commendable, but I wonder...
Such kindness is to be praised! But I can't help to wonder if those 2 boys were non-jews (stranded as they were), would they have received the same kindness.
(20) Gabriel, July 15, 2018 3:09 PM
I want to live in “Kiryas Joel” !
Wonderful story of love. To serve each other is love. Thank you.
(19) Dovid Brown, July 15, 2018 1:46 PM
Making me smile
Thank you Achim
(18) flora, July 15, 2018 9:22 AM
בזרות החסד
there is no words to express the deeds of such wonderful people. please hashem for their sake send mashiach.
(17) Leah, July 13, 2018 2:09 AM
Wow!
Tears of pride!!!!
(16) Moshe Zvi, July 12, 2018 6:49 PM
Why are they so anti zionistic?
It is hard to feel any positive feelings towards Satmer even in the 3 weeks. They have caused much Sinah among Jews because of their anti Zionism stance.
Heshy, July 12, 2018 10:36 PM
Why they are anti zionistic.
Many people outside ultra orthodox circles don’t understand why on different levels ultra orthodox meaning chassidim as well as Yeshivash are anti Zionist. If you study the modern day history of israel you would understand that the founders and leaders of the Zionist movement were very anti Torah. They sought to create a Hebrew speaking Portugal. There are so many issues over the years from forced autopsies on every Jew who died in israeli hospitals to today’s gay parades in cities throughout Israel. Of course there are different levels of being anti zionists. Be it protests or just not allowing an Israeli flags in the vast majority of shuls.
Anonymous, July 13, 2018 5:28 PM
The Satmar Rav Was Brilliant
I am not Satmar or Chassidish at all. I grew up secular / traditional and now I am modern orthodox. However, I read, ¨Divrei Yoel¨, by Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, the previous Satmar Rav and found that what he wrote about Zionism makes more sense than any other book that I read on the topic. In fact, I never found a book with reliable sources and scholarship value that refutes what he wrote. Does anyone know of such a book? I would be interested to see.
Chezky, July 19, 2018 5:11 PM
Yes, theres a book by R Yoel Kahan
... a great Chabad scholar who wrote a sefer to counter Divrei Yoel, I forgot the name of it
Anonymous, July 20, 2018 5:30 PM
... a great Chabad scholar who wrote a sefer to counter Divrei Yoel, I forgot the name of it
and I know a book to counter that book, however, I don't remember the name :)
Alan Shuchatowitz, July 30, 2019 6:43 PM
Em Habanim Semacha
The sefer refutes the fundamental arguments of the Satmar Rebbe. It is available in Hebrew as well as in English.
(15) Alan Ira Silver, July 12, 2018 4:10 PM
Yesh LiVdok Lefnei HaShemoosh
The same way I look for infestation in foods is the same way I look at infestation within sadly some of our Jewish communities. The Melech HaMishpat is the ultimate judge as He sees all. He looks at the total picture without bias. When someone slights Eretz Yisrael, I look at their background for it tells a story. One rotten apple can and in some cases does infest the whole barrel. One chesed doesn't cancel out ongoing ill feelings towards the existence of Eretz Yisrael and its government. It was Klal Yisrael that pushed Shmuel HaNavi to ask for Klal Yisrael to also have a human King like all the other nations. Be careful what you ask for and I ask for Shalom Al Yisrael. May we all be zoche to receive Moshiach Tzeedkaynu B'Mehara B'Yamaynu. AMEN
Anon, July 25, 2018 8:00 PM
More accurately: one opinion that you disagree with does not cancel out many many chasadim done by the Satmar community.
Anon - continued, August 3, 2018 1:51 AM
Continued from Anon, above
"Infestation"?! Are you for real? That is an extremely harsh, even hateful, way of expressing yourself. And for what? - an OPINION that you consider to be "slight(ing) Eretz Yisrael."
Your defense of Eretz Yisrael should not come at the expense of slighting (actually, vilifying) other JEWS.
Anonymous, August 15, 2018 3:24 AM
So It's not OK to hate the secular Israeli state, but it's perfectly OK to hate Satmar (wonderful folks, BTW).
a, June 20, 2019 11:19 AM
fact check
tha satmars have never spoken bad about eretz yisrael. never. they love the land. the satmars are only against the goverment. their great rebbe's strong opinion is based on his great torah understanding only, as explained in his seforim in great length and breadth.
btw im not considerd a satmar.
(14) Joshua, July 12, 2018 2:59 PM
Weep for the past, smile for the future
I spent a short time learning in Monsey at Ohr Someyach and on motzei Shabbos Hanukkah we went to New Square. It was still Shabbos in New Square. After the tisch we baalei teshuvos walked around talking to folks. One old timer asked weren't we misnagdim? I told him we were Jews and weren't taught to see differences among us in a negative light. We were so happy to be among our brothers. May Klal Yisroel forget its divisions and finally, finally show the ahavas Yisroel we need to bring the coming of the final redemption speedily in our days!
(13) Anonymous, July 12, 2018 2:56 PM
United we stand a chance
This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Halevi all of us just unite and bring the long awaited redemption :)
(12) Leah Bleiberg, July 12, 2018 2:51 PM
Great story
Thanks for sharing such a beautiful, but not surprising story. May we receive much Heavenly merit!
(11) Gary Diamond, July 12, 2018 2:50 PM
Nice story
Good read
(10) M, July 12, 2018 2:16 PM
What if?
Would a stranded woman get the same attention?
Yisroel, July 12, 2018 2:48 PM
35 years ago, over 75 miles from the nearest Satmar community, my wife
...received help from Satmar Bikur cholim after the birth of a child led to postpartum difficulties.
We had no connection with Satmar. A “litvishe” friend that also had no Satmar affiliation, but may have been helped by them, called up and shared the issue with someone on the phone and shortly thereafter, a sizable check came to help out with the burden.
Some 20 years later one of my sons got a serious infection while working single in Brooklyn, New York. We rushed to Brooklyn on Erev Shabbos (with 2 younger boys) and Satmar Bikur found out about us in the rounds some Satmar ladies were doing to pass out kosher meals to all Jewish patients.
They took care of us, unasked, royally! And offered continued resources.
No this was not an unattended lady on the road situation, but (a) something tells me that many would have stopped (see gemara, RE woman drowning) and (2) Satmar is not like Saudi Arabia that, until last week, forbade their women from driving. As I have already mentioned, Satmar ladies are quite good at offering Chessed.
Shalom al Kol Yisroel!
Aaron H., July 13, 2018 4:41 PM
Last week in MT. Sinai Hospital
One day last week about 10pm in the evening I was waiting for a relative to come out of surgery in the Family waiting area in Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC. As I was waiting I happened to see an older chasiddishe woman (I'm not sure if she was Satmar or not) walking very slowly with a walker. She seemed to be about 85-90 years old. She was walking around alone shlepping two shopping bags while pushing the walker. I was wondering if she maybe needed help. I went over to her and asked if there is maybe something I can help her with. She responded "and How can I help you? I'm from the Bikur Cholim organization"!!
Hashem, You made a good choice when you chose the Jews as Your nation!
Carol Teitelbaum Levy, July 15, 2018 1:14 PM
Good question
I was wondering the very same thing. Before you “pin a medal” on the men who helped your son, consider what they would have done had it been your daughter!
M, July 15, 2018 3:23 PM
Exactly, Carol
Neither of the above responses addressed the issue. Would they stop and help a woman stranded on a highway?
Sam, July 25, 2018 3:09 AM
Of course
Yes. They surely would have. Let's not create straw-men.
(9) Matisa, July 12, 2018 1:45 PM
Snobbery
The retelling of this story sounds as if the storyteller was surprised that chasidim would help a yeshiva man. This is the prejudice of small expectations. Do you gave similar stories of yeshiva people helping anyone outside Lakewood? I'm sure there are but you wouldn't publicize it because "what else would they do". All jews are holy.
Yisroel, July 12, 2018 2:18 PM
(1) it is what happened (2) satmar in particular
Gets a lot of negative press.
It’s good for Aish.com to give positive press to Satmar.
Shalom al Kol Yisrael!
(8) Anonymous, July 11, 2018 9:48 PM
Wow! how beautiful this Ahavas Yisroel!
(7) Zissi, July 11, 2018 7:52 PM
Very kind community
My husband works in Kiryat Joel and they are a very kind community
Izzy good, July 12, 2018 10:18 PM
It is well known in the chasidic world that Satmer are masters of Chesed, and indeed they do that with no connection to affiliation of chasidus or what community you belong to, but the sad part is that the issue they have against Zionism brings out some Chilul hashem which makes them look bad unfortunately many times, but overall their chewed and tzedakah is very big and yes the Litvish world has loads to learn from them in this matter
Zissi, July 12, 2018 11:36 PM
The anti Zionism is understandable
Their opposition to Zionism is because they oppose the Zionists' insistence that yeshiva bochrim are drafted into the IDF. The IDF also will be drafting women, which is immodest (men and women are not to mingle). They also have anti-Torah philosophies (autopsies, etc)
(6) Ari, July 11, 2018 5:20 AM
Thank you for sharing
We need more stories like this ( and there are plenty) Satmer Chassidim are masters of Chessed. We don't all have to agree on things but let's appreciate that we are Am Yisroel.
(5) Anonymous, July 11, 2018 3:46 AM
Gevaldig
True Ahavas Yisroel
(4) Akiva, July 10, 2018 10:28 PM
Identical story with Satmar to the rescue 33 years ago in catskills
Our son then 4 months old woke up early shabbos morning with 105 temp. We were driven to the hospital at 730am by taxi. He was diagnosed with 2 ear infections and a red throat. We were discharged at 9am. Here I was, a young dad, a diaper bag filled with goodies for the lil one. No talis for me. No siddur. No food (what were we even thinking- or were we). So I just sat in the hospital waiting room thinking how foolish I was and how to make the best of the day. Daven whatever I remembered by heart. No kiddush. No food. Nothing. Just focus on the lil guy. At 11am, a long came 2 angels. Chasidim. The dialogue went as follows: How long are you here? Which colony are you from? Do you have food? Accommodations? Ok. Thank you. We'll be back soon. 20 minutea later, they returned with a goy pushing a carriage (there was no eruv yet in those days) They took us to a neighboring colony. Five star treatment is an understatement. They assigned a rotation of the most pleasant, caring girls to babysit. They showed me to a luxurious private bungalow. Talis. Siddur. Lavishly prepared assortment of most delish foods. And sooooo much more. Hachnosas orchim to the Nth degree! Still remember it like it was yesterday. Mi k'amcha yisroel??
(3) ALTERG, July 10, 2018 8:44 PM
Wow wow, what a wonderful story, that's what the holy satmar rabba z"l learned us, & most of the org' satmar created: bikur choilm, hatzulah, shomrom, chased, rccs, & so on.... Kiryas Joel (monroe) is the holiest jewish place in the world, not even 1 not observing lives there,
(2) MESA, July 10, 2018 2:14 PM
What a wonderful story! All too often, we hear stories of bad behavior, so this story is so refreshing.
(1) Tzvi, July 10, 2018 11:52 AM
The Satmar ROCK!!
When I was in Yeshiva University, I spent many Shabboses in Williamsburg with the Satmar chasidim. As both a Y.U. guy & (at the time) Vice President of the Chabad Club, Shabbos In Williamsburg was holy beyond words. It’s a different realm of Jewish existence altogether. You feel the ruchnius like electricity permeating your bones. Shabbos davening is, without any exaggeration- REGAL!!!!!
I could write for another 50 pages, but my words do no justice to the experience. All I can say is- get there for a Shabbos. Let the energy of the Geulah permeate your bones. YOU WON’T REGRET IT!!