רבי זכרונו לברכה איז עולה אויף א ס"ת מיט א "טריפה'נעם" מגן דוד

...רבי יואל מסטמאר בארה"ב בעליית התורה ולידו מעיל של ספר התורה בעיצוב של מגן דויד ובתוכו התאריך של תש"ח
"דהיינו 1948  - שנת הקמת מדינת ישראל "ראשית צמיחת גאולתינו"

Photo credit: Rabbi Shmuel Knopfler

Kotler, Grosowski, Belkin, Soloveitchik

Source: Seforim Blog

Looks like amohl we knew that in times of crisis we can band together, put our differences aside, petty or stark as they may be, and fight for the common cause. 

רוח הקודש פונעם געררער רבי'ן דער אמרי אמת זצוק"ל

Reb Hersh:

In today's קנאות era where the trend is to follow whoever can produce better curse lines on Israel from Shmuel Auerbach's movement to hamodia editorials, these Rebbes like Reb Avrohom Mordechai of Ger's views of pro State are yesterday's style.  No customers for it.  They just don't sell. In the book ימי מגורי he recalls what Reb Avrohom Mordechai said from tehillim before the creation of the State, when things looked very bleak, mamesh prophecy on the new country,  and he saw a big yom tov coming. I'm not so sure it shtims with your Rebbes' views, both RYY and the Rebbe, but it's always good to stick it to the "kanoyim."

In 1948 people like the Bluzhever Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Elias, Telsher Rosh Yeshivas Reb Mottel Katz and Reb Elya Meir Blokh, and Mike Tress were on the board of the Haganah Religious Defense Corps

Addendum to August 19th 2012 post - wedding 19 Kislev 5709

That was at the Kabbolas Ponim. This was at the chuppah. Pirsum Rishon? Maybe. Lubavitch Archives seems to think so. I think I may have seen this picture before. Same Lubavitcher wedding. The chosson, zol gezunt zein, doesn't look impressed.

הלוואי אויף היינטיקער רביס געזאגט

Sereter Rebbe ב-1948 בתור חיל בפלמ"ח

Speak to the ליצני הדור and to those who dislike or disrespect Seret-Vizhnitz for some reason, and they'll tell you the "dirty little secret" about the Rebbe being a soldier in the Israeli army way back when. I would imagine that even some in Seret גופא are uncomfortable with this tidbit of their history, since they've gone far right in recent years, and a Rebbe a soldier in the Zionist Army doesn't go well with today's ideology. But it turns out that the man who you would think would be embarrassed by it is not and never was! And he always made sure to show them kindness and respect, especially in public amongst his Chassidim! Which is why I say הלוואי אויף היינטיקע רביס געזאגט. Not that they and their many descendants all need to join the army - although that wouldn't be such a terrible either - but they can learn from the Sereter - the last of the old time Rebbes - how to be proud of who you are and where you come from, no matter if "times change." And if duty calls let them join the army with the regular zhlobs as well.