How He Became Reb Moshe New Yorker

One day in the Satmar beis medrash, around Mincha time for Rav Yoel's minyan, a stranger walked in and went to the back of the shul, where he began reciting korbonos with the tzibbur. Only the Rebbe seemed to notice him. He approached the stranger and offered his holy hand in greeting. "Shulem aleichem, vi azoi heist a Yid? What is your name?"

The stranger answered simply and enigmatically, "Moshe." "Fun vi? From where?" the Satmar Rav continued to ask. "Fun New York. From New York," was the simple reply. As he did not elaborate any further, the nickname stuck: Reb Moshe New Yorker.

Onlookers remarked how uncharacteristic it was for the Satmar Rav to walk all the way across the beis medrash to greet a stranger, unless it implied that he was a man of hidden qualities.