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Zalman Teitelbaum

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Rebbe
Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum
(Zalman Leib)
יקותיאל יהודה טייטלבוים
TitleGrand Rebbe of Satmar – Williamsburg
Personal
Born(1951-12-23)23 December 1951(age 72)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn,New York City, U.S.
ReligionJudaism
SpouseChaya Sarah
Children10
DenominationHasidic
OccupationDean
Jewish leader
PredecessorMoshe Teitelbaum
SynagogueCongregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Rodney Street, Brooklyn)
BeganMay 1999(1999-05)
DynastySatmar
Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum
Teitelbaum (left) with his fatherMoshe Teitelbaum

Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (III),known by theYiddish colloquial nameZalman Leib(born 23 December 1951),[1]is one of the two GrandRebbesofSatmar.He leads the dynasty'sWilliamsburg, Brooklynfaction, which is based at the community's centralCongregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar on Rodney Streetthere. He is the dean of a SatmaryeshivainQueens,New York.

Early life and career[edit]

Teitelbaum is the second son born toMoshe Teitelbaum,theGrand Rebbeof theSatmar Hasidim,inWilliamsburg, Brooklyn.His older brother isAaron.Early on, Teitelbaum became the rabbi of theSighetsynagogue in nearbyBorough Park,which had once been his father's synagogue. He later became the rabbi of the Satmar Hasidim inJerusalem.In May 1999, he was designated by his father to lead theWilliamsburg congregation at 152 Rodney Street,which was seen as a signal that Teitelbaum was to become Chief Rabbi after his father's death.[2][3]Additionally, he controls approximately ten smaller synagogues and gender-segregated schools in Williamsburg alone—with many more elsewhere—which cater to some 10,000 students. He oversees several charitable funds and large organizations, and the influential Yiddish newspaperDer Yidis published by his followers. In 2007,Newsweeknamed him the 15th most influential rabbi in the United States.[citation needed]

Satmar succession feud[edit]

Main article:Satmar (Hasidic dynasty) § Succession

Prior to May 1999, it was generally assumed that Satmar would be led by Aaron after the death of their father, since he was the older brother.[2][4]Aaron was his father's representative in communal affairs, and assumed his father's responsibilities while he was traveling.[4]But Teitelbaum's designation as the local leader caused factions to start forming around both brothers.[2]Aaron's supporters claimed that their father was persuaded by his advisers to appoint Teitelbaum because they were worried that they would lose their influence if they fell under Aaron's regime.[2]

When the Grand Rebbe died in April 2006, each side declared their rabbi as the chief rabbi.[5]By that time, Aaron's supporters already controlled all of the assets in the community stronghold ofKiryas Joel, New York.[5]They then initiated legal proceedings to take control of the Williamsburg holdings from Teitelbaum's supporters, including control of the Brooklyn congregation's sacred cemetery.[2][5]Since the court declined to render a decision, the status quo remained,[5]which was seen as a victory for Teitelbaum's faction.[5]Subsequently, Aaron's followers established a parallel congregation in Williamsburg by erecting a dedicatedsynagogue on Hooper Street.

Anti-Zionism[edit]

In keeping with the traditional beliefs of Satmar, Teitelbaum is a strong opponent ofZionism.He was closely affiliated with the Jerusalem-based anti-ZionistEidah HaChareidisand its leader,Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss.Teitelbaum has referred to theState of Israelas "this generation'sAmalek"and said that" the Zionists came from the seed of Amalek. There has never been such a sect that caused so much damage to the Jewish people. "He opposed the 2013 proposeddraft of Haredi menby theIsrael Defense Forcesand encouraged resistance against the draft decree: "We must fight it uncompromisingly so that such ideas won't even cross their minds."[6]

Following the2023 Hamas invasion of Israel,Teitelbaum condemned the activities ofNeturei Karta.[7]

COVID-19 wedding controversy[edit]

In October 2020, during theCOVID-19 pandemic,awhistleblowerreported to authorities that a wedding planned to attract 10,000 worshippers at the Williamsburg synagogue,[8]in contravention of regulations regarding public gatherings.[9]GovernorAndrew Cuomodirected that the wedding of Teitelbaum's grandson could not proceed on the basis of a health order that read "...the owners or occupants of the venue to immediately cancel or postpone any event in excess of the 50 person gathering limit."[10][11]

Personal life[edit]

Teitelbaum married Chaya Sarah, the daughter of the previousBistritzerRebbe of Brooklyn. Teitelbaum's sons lead both the Borough Park and Jerusalem congregations that were previously administered by him.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Arye Ehrlich.Malkhut shel Khesed.Mishpacha,13 December 2012 (p. 28).
  2. ^abcdeWakin, Daniel J. (22 January 2002)."The Heir Unapparent; Brothers' Feud Fractures a Hasidic Community".The New York Times.Retrieved7 July2014.
  3. ^Zohar, Gil (7 September 2007)."The House of Satmar".Jerusalem Post.Retrieved27 May2012.
  4. ^abMintz, Jerome (2009).Hasidic People: A Place in the New World.Harvard University Press. pp. 87–91, 127–138, 209–210.ISBN978-0674041097.
  5. ^abcdeMcKenna, Chris (21 November 2007)."Brooklyn faction wins in latest Satmar ruling".Times Herald-Record.Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2014.Retrieved7 July2014.
  6. ^Nachsoni, Kobi (12 April 2013)."Satmar: IDF draft worse than annihilation".Ynetnews.
  7. ^Klein, Zvika (13 November 2023)."'Terrible desecration of God's name:' Satmar rebbe slams anti-Israel protesters ".Jerusalem Post.
  8. ^Moster, Naftuli (20 October 2020)."I blew the whistle on the planned 10,000 person Satmar wedding. Here's why".Jewish Telegraph Agency.Retrieved18 December2023.
  9. ^"Hasidic Wedding Scheduled For Monday In Williamsburg Could Test Resolve Of COVID Enforcement".CBS News.17 October 2023.Retrieved18 December2023.
  10. ^Israel, David (18 October 2020)."Satmar Trying to Avoid Showdown with Governor over 10,000-Strong Wedding".Jewish Press.Retrieved18 December2023.
  11. ^Israel, David (19 October 2020)."Cuomo to Satmar: Have a Big Wedding Next Year, Invite Me, I'll Come".Jewish Press.Retrieved18 December2023.

External links[edit]

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