Zalman Teitelbaum

Zalman Teitelbaum
Born	(1951-12-23) 23 December 1951 (age 72) Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, United States
Nationality	American
Other names	Zalmen Leib
Occupation	Grand Rebbe
Spouse	Chaya Sarah
Children	10

Yekusiel Yehuda III Teitelbaum

Yekusiel Yehuda III Teitelbaum shaking hands with his father, Moshe Teitelbaum

Yekusiel Yehuda III Teitelbaum, known by the Yiddish colloquial name Zalman Leib (born 23 December 1951), ^[1] is one of two Grand Rebbes of Satmar, and the son of Grand Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, the late Rebbe of the Satmar Hasidim. He is the son-in-law of the previous Bistritzer Rebbe of Brooklyn. He is currently one of the two Grand Rebbes of Satmar, with his faction being based in central Satmar congregation in Williamsburg, and the Dean of a Satmar yeshiva in Queens.

Prior to taking up his position in Williamsburg, Rabbi Teitelbaum was the rabbi of the Satmar Hasidim in Jerusalem. Before that, he was the rabbi of the Sighet synagogue in Boro Park, which had once been his father's synagogue. Presently, both of those synagogues are led by sons of Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum. He is currently the Rabbi of the central Satmar synagogue in Williamsburg, at 152 Rodney Street. ^[2] Additionally, he controls approximately ten smaller synagogues, as well as separate schools for boys and girls, in Williamsburg alone, and many more elsewhere which cater to over 10,000 students. He oversees several charitable funds and large organizations. The influential Yiddish newspaper Der Yid is published by his followers.

In 2007, Newsweek named him the 15th most influential rabbi in America.^{[ citation needed ]}

Satmar succession feud

Main article: Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)

In May 1999, Moshe Teitelbaum appointed his second son, Zalman Teitelbaum, as the local leader of the Williamsburg congregation. ^[3] This was seen as a signal from Moshe that Zalman was to become Chief Rabbi after his death. ^[3]

Prior to May 1999, it was assumed that after the death of Moshe Teitelbaum, Satmar would be led by Aaron Teitelbaum, the eldest son. ^{[3] [4]} He was his father's representative in communal affairs and assumed his father's responsibilities when his father traveled. ^[4]

Moshe's appointment of Zalman as the local leader caused factions to form around Aaron and Zalman. ^[3] Aaron supporters claimed that Moshe was "swayed by his advisers" to appoint Zalman because the advisers were worried that they would lose influence under Aaron's regime. ^[3]

In April 2006, when Moshe died, each side declared their rabbi as the chief rabbi. ^[5] At that time, Aaron supporters already controlled all assets in Kiryas Joel. ^[5] Aaron supporters initiated legal proceedings to take control of the Williamsburg holdings from the Zalman supporters, including control of the sacred cemetery of the Brooklyn congregation. ^{[3] [5]} The court declined to render a decision, leaving the status quo. ^[5] The non-decision was seen as a victory for the Zalman faction. ^[5] Aaron's followers constructed, and began worshiping in, their own synagogue on Hooper Street.

Anti-Zionism

In keeping with the traditional beliefs of Satmar, Teitelbaum is a strong opponent of Zionism. He is closely affiliated with the Jerusalem-based anti-Zionist Eidah HaChareidis, particularly with the late Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss. Teitelbaum has referred to the State of Israel as "this generation's Amalek" 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 proposed draft of Haredi men by the Israel Defense Forces and encouraged resistance against the draft decree: "We must fight it uncompromisingly so that such ideas won't even cross their minds." ^[6]

Following the 2023 Hamas invasion of Israel, Teitelbaum condemned the activities of Neturei Karta. ^[7]

COVID-19 wedding controversy

In October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a whistleblower reported to authorities that a wedding planned to attract 10,000 worshippers at the Williamsburg synagogue, ^[8] in contravention of regulations regarding public gatherings. ^[9] Governor Andrew Cuomo directed that the wedding of Rabbi 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]}

See also

• Hasidic Judaism
• Joel Teitelbaum
• Haredim and Zionism

References

1. Arye Ehrlich. Malkhut shel Khesed . Mishpacha , 13 December 2012 (p. 28).
2. Zohar, Gil (7 September 2007). "The House of Satmar". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
3. Wakin, Daniel J. (22 January 2002). "The Heir Unapparent; Brothers' Feud Fractures a Hasidic Community". The New York Times . Retrieved 7 July 2014.
4. Mintz, Jerome (2009). Hasidic People: A Place in the New World. Harvard University Press. pp. 87–91, 127–138, 209–210. ISBN   978-0674041097.
5. McKenna, Chris (21 November 2007). "Brooklyn faction wins in latest Satmar ruling". Times Herald-Record . Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
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 . Retrieved 18 December 2023.
9. "Hasidic Wedding Scheduled For Monday In Williamsburg Could Test Resolve Of COVID Enforcement". CBS News . 17 October 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
10. Israel, David (18 October 2020). "Satmar Trying to Avoid Showdown with Governor over 10,000-Strong Wedding". Jewish Press. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
11. Israel, David (19 October 2020). "Cuomo to Satmar: Have a Big Wedding Next Year, Invite Me, I'll Come". Jewish Press. Retrieved 18 December 2023.

External links

• Tempers, bones snap in Hasidic infighting (26 October 2004) Archived 5 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine