Rabbonim involved in assisting Jewish federal prisoners met with the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, at his Williamsburg residence ahead of the Rebbe's anticipated meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.

The delegation asked the Rebbe to use the rare opportunity to bring the concerns of Jewish inmates directly before the president, focusing on the difficulties faced by prisoners serving lengthy federal sentences and the religious and family challenges that can accompany incarceration.

During the meeting, the rabbonim and askanim raised several issues they hope could receive presidential attention, including prison conditions, visitation policies and greater flexibility for qualifying inmates seeking temporary leave for important family simchos.

The meeting comes as preparations intensify for Thursday's anticipated gathering of prominent admorim and rabbonim at the White House.

The delegation expected in Washington includes the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum; the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum; the Bobover Rebbe; the Vizhnitz-Monsey Rebbe; and Rav Malkiel Kotler. The Skverer Rebbe is expected to be represented by his eldest son, Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky.

According to reports, the Oval Office meetings are scheduled for Thursday afternoon, with plans calling for the Torah leaders to have individual time with President Trump. A possible joint meeting with the participants seated together has also reportedly been under consideration.

The Williamsburg meeting was also attended by the Satmar Rebbe's son, Rav Yaakov Ber Teitelbaum, the Sigeter Rov, who has been extensively involved in assisting Jewish prisoners. Senior Satmar askanim, including Reb Moshe Dovid Niederman and Reb Avrohom Yehoshua Freund, participated as well.

Preparations are simultaneously taking place elsewhere ahead of the Washington visit, including consultations among senior askanim at the Kiryas Yoel residence of the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum.

The visit is expected to place several issues of concern to Haredi and Orthodox communities directly before the president. For the prison rabbonim who gathered in Williamsburg, the approaching meeting presented an opportunity to ensure that the needs of incarcerated Jews are among those concerns.