The gabbai • The visit which moved the SatmarRebbe

One of the most interesting visits which were conducted at the residence of the SatmarRebbe, the day before returning to the U.S., was from a Jew who is 90, has no beard, a character with a glorious past, which includes a security track record in the U.S. military service, UNRWA officer, an institution member for years and a good businessman: RebMordechai David Hollander.

Hollander's father, was a disciple of the Rebbethe DivreiYoel of Satmarzt"l and close to my father the Baruch Moshe. "He knew him from childhood, attended his wedding, and was a student at the yeshivas, 'Kartzki' and 'Zanta', became a gabbi, was his right hand and helped the Rebbe out on various difficulties. He accompanied him until the moment the Rebbewas sent to Auschwitz, where their ways parted.

After the war, they met in the United States in the year תש"ז, and when Hollander married, the Rabbi served as his mesaderkedushin, and continued to maintain close contact with him for the rest of his life.

Hollander was born in the village of Moz'aye, Hungary in תשפ"ג, told the Rebbe about his relationship with his father: "My first encounter with your father was, in our village where seventy-two Jewish families lived. It was under the leadership of the DivreiYoel, who was the rabbi of Orshiwa and provinces, including Mozai, and to the Rebbes visits to Mozai he was sometimes accompanied by his nephew the Baruch Moshe.

"Even then," Hollander described, "I noticed the respect the DivreiYoel had to his young nephew.

I will not abandon the community

Hollander went on to reveal interesting details about the wedding of the Baruch Moshe in his zivugrishon, the daughter of Rabbi HanochHenichHagaonMaiarzt"l-Rabbi of the town: "the wedding was on Friday, and was attended by rabbis, rebbes and many others, led by his grandfather the Rebbe, Rabbi Shalom Eliezerzt"l from Rezfart - his mother's father and uncle the Rebbe the DivreiYoel.

"On Friday night, all the people of the town came to celebrate as is customary. I remember a very interesting conversation which took place that Shabbos at seudashlishit, between the SatmarRebbe and the mechutan Rabbi Henich. The Beit Midrash was a littledark, and I was a boy of fourteen, I was sitting next to them. I heard the details, but it was a private conversation, even today it is important to me to keep its discretion."

Later, when studied with him, Hollander disguised as the Baruch Moshe, to get him a sciences degree in Hungarian. The Rebbe did not speak this language, and to continue his tenure as official rabbi of Zanta, he had to get a degree in it. Hollander came to the aid of the Rebbe with the Hungarian language wearing the Rebbeskapote and a broad hat; he was able to fool the College as if he is Moshe Teitelbaum, Rabbi of Zanta. The trick was successful and he achieved the title.

Hollander also described how he saved the Rebbe several times from stabilization of the Hungarian army, and later, how kind he was to him during the Holocaust, when he and his family provided kosher food, a description that moved the Rebbe and those present.

Towards the end of the war, Rabbi Hollander offered the Rebbe to escape the Nazis with his family in the town ghetto, Sa'gadin, using the military truck which was in his possession as a soldier at the Hungarian labor.

"The Rebbe told me then," Hollander recalled, "I am a community leader and I do not leave the flock. Wherever they go I go, and where they are led I will be led. I am here with them until our situation clears up and we know what will happen to us." In the end, the rabbi and his family were sent to Auschwitz, the Rebbe was saved, but his wife the Rebbetzin and three children hy"d was killed.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!