Suspension of Reality:Satmar Looks Back On The Satmar Rebbe, 30 Years After His Death

Perhaps the most controversial and ungrateful man in all of Rabbinic history stars in a fairy tale spun by Satmar hasidim.

Before you read this love letter to Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum from VIN News, please see these three posts:

The Satmar Rebbe and the Holocaust.

Satmar and the Holocaust.

Killing Kasztner.

And also remember that the Satmar Rebbe survived Bergen-Belsen because he and his entourage were passengers on Kasztner's Train (more here), the Zionist organized rescue of almost 1800 Hungarian Jews negotiated with Adolph Eichmann, the Nazi in charge of the Final Solution.

The train was diverted to Bergen-Belsen by Adolph Eichmann and its passengers were held there as Eichmann waited to see if the Jewish Agency could come up with additional ransom meant to save other Jews.

The Kasztner hostages – who had marginally better conditions than other prisoners – were released on Eichmann's orders, 318 after about one month and the remainder after close to five months. All were taken to safety in Switzerland.

After the War, when Kaszter was libeled and the government of Israel sued in support of Kasztner, The Satmar Rebbe was asked to testify on Kaszter's behalf. The Satmar Rebbe allegedly replied, "I was saved by God, not by Zionists."

The Rebbe – who had ordered his hasidim to stay in Hungary and who steadfastly refused to believe the Nazis would harm Hungary's anti-Zionist Jews, fled Nazi-controlled Europe with the help of the Zionists he so vilified, leaving his followers to burn in Auschwitz.

Today is the Satmar Rebbe's 30th yartzeit:

Tens Of Thousand To Attend Thirtieth Yahrzeit Of Reb Yolish Teitelbaum, Dean Of Chasidic America 
David Gold • VIN News

Kirays Yoel, NY - This Sunday, August 16 the 26th of Av, marks the 30th year since the passing of Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, zecher tzadik livracha, the legendary leader of the robust Satmar Chasidim.

Rabbi Teitelbaum, or Reb Yoilish (or, more formally, the Baal Divrei Yoel, and Baal Vayoel Mosha), as he was known, rebuilt a devastated Chasidic dynasty on American soil. More importantly, he presided over three decades of the transformation of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood into an entrenched, flourishing fortress of Chasidic life.

Reb Yoilish survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during WWII, arriving in the United States in 1946 after a brief stay in the Holy Land.

His uncompromising stance on Orthodoxy became the gold standard used by the dozens of other Chasidic groups that took up residence under his shadow in Williamburg in the post-War years. Among his numerous identifying stances is his insistence on the highest levels of modesty; he approved the Palm brand of non-see-through women’s hosiery manufactured by the Brach family.

Reb Yoilish is perhaps most identified with his staunch opposition to Zionism, which he saw as a grave spiritual threat to authentic Jewish practice and belief. But Reb Yoilish is also known for spearheading in the late 1970s what later came to be known as Kiryas Joel.

With his right-hand man Reb Lipa Friedman A'h and Rabbi Leibish Lefkovits A'h, with various other activists at his side, Reb Yoilish and his Chasidim originally looked at a property in New Jersey upon which to build a new village outside the decadent big city. Ultimately, they ended up in upstate Monroe, New York.

Kiryas Joel, designed to safely isolate future generations of Chasidim from insidious cultural influences in Brooklyn, is now a sprawling oasis of Torah study, tzedakah and chesed that is home to tens of thousands of overwhelmingly Satmar Chasidim.

Reb Yoelish's tzidkus was only matched by his scholarship.

Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt of Memphis, Tennessee, shlita, [a big talmid chocham] a talmid muvhak of Reb Moshe Feinstein, zatzal, told VIN News in a different interview that when he asked Reb Moshe who to consult on Torah learning, he was told, "go to Reb Yoelish—he has kol hatorah kulah in his head and knows more than anyone from this generation." Rabbi Greenblat told VIN news that when he first met the satmarer rabbi after the advice of his rabbi, he was mesmerized of the Bekias Hatorah of Reb Yolish.
Rabbi Wein, who merited a personal visit from the Rebbe in 1960s Miami Beach while serving as a rov in that city, paraphrases a gemara about the passing of a great Tanna, who was mourned by a contemporary who said, "Now there is no one to be afraid of." The Satmarer Rebbe, who came to symbolize absolute adherence to the highest levels of frumkeit, inspired awe in all, says the rabbi.
Never Before Seen Video Of The legendary Satmar Rabbi Credit: Shiezoli of YouTube

It can perhaps be said that the greatest measure of a great man is what he leaves behind when he dies—or what he doesn't. Reb Yoelish left this world with the slimmest of personal possessions, and absolutely no money. Whatever money he had always went to tzedakah, and thousands of Jews will attest that it was the Satmarer Rebbe who was baal chesed of the generation, having discreetly helped them through crushing troubles over the decades.

While there were those who disagreed with Reb Yoilish’s philosophies, especially regarding how to deal with the Zionistic creation of a Jewish State, they all knew they were dealing with a profoundly holy tzadik and maintained the utmost respect. Rabbi Yolish was the first and only Tazdik to write a book specifically about the subject of Zionism known as The 'Vayoel Mosha'. Rabbi Yolish never wavered. He regarded the establishment of Israel as a satanic act and was convinced that the Holocaust was a divine punishment for Zionism. Even though, as he noted, "I have become the object of scorn and contempt no force in the world shall move me from my stand to accept, God forbid, the [Zionist] heresy, from which the Merciful One must save us".

The great tzadik and leader Reb Yoelish Teitelbaum passed away in 1979, leaving a huge community, and Klal Yisroel, grieving for its terrible loss. 30 years later thousands of his chasidim still continue to talk with tearful emotions of 'Der Hilger Rabbi', as they used to call him.

His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of Chasidim and Jewish (and non-Jewish) leaders, by some estimates in the secular media more than 100,000 including many from the then-young Kiryas Joel. It was considered an historic event in the state of NY.

Reb Yoilish was laid to rest in Kiryas Joel.

Beginning late Saturday night, thousands are expected to pay their respects at his grave.

In the years and decades since his passing, the tziyun of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoilish Teitelbaum has become a shrine for many Jews, from Chasidim to Litvaks and even to secular Jews. Around the year, all have found Reb Yoilish’s kever a most appropriate place for tefilah.

[Hat Tip: Seymour.]

Comments

[seymour]

sadly, if one reads many of the posts in VIn

There was no reason to thanks kastner he was paid or forced to save the satmer. Or, g-d made him do it. They do not see the point.

Also they are unwilling to face that the satmer rebbie told his flock to stay and not go to the USA Israel, and countless died because of that. But of course he left to the same place he told his flock not to go.

The real sad part of this he never reflected publicly,and said, if I only had more foresight been smarter I could have saved many.I erred and ask forgiveness to those families.

As far as I know the Belzer rebbiealso told his flock to stay, of course left. But after the war at least he admired he erred and made a mistake to tell people to stay.

f course when I mention this on other frum web sites I get attacked called apekoreos and what not.

However, they never touch on the issue never answer the questions as if he is a god.

If that is not blasphemy I do not know what is.

[soso]

I don't think VIN is so nice:

"Among his numerous identifying stances is his insistence on the highest levels of modesty; he approved the Palm brand of non-see-through women’s hosiery manufactured by the Brach family."

Would you like to be remembered for this kind of achievement?????

[Tibi]

He's remembered among those of us who are 2nd generation descendants of the Survivors of his region as a poseur and opportunist.

My father, referenced in the post linked above, confirmed to me recently that the Rabbi who was considered the spiritual leader of Jews in that region was the Klausenberger Rebbe: R' Halberstam z'tl. He recalls Yoilish as a wealthy merchant/rabbi who had strong connections to the local Gentile government.

I spoke to another of the few remaining survivors from my father's hometown: Nagy Banya. He confirmed my father's statements. His opinion was that Yoilish returned to a vacuum of leadership after the war and was consequently able to synthesize his "Satmar" Hassidim from the remnants of other sects who'd lost their Rebbeim in the Holocaust.

Then again, why should anyone be surprised by this revisionism. They have the audicity to describe Kiryas Yoel as a center of Tzedakah. In the real world it's considered a center for the receipt of tzedakah in the form of public tax money from both New York and the US governments.

[seymour]

a few things people have said on other frum web sites that makes me wonder if they are not insane

"Some are of the opinion that the spiritual damage caused by the Victory of the 6-day war caused his stroke later that year."

"The Rebbe was considering to not only place a ban on the KOYSEL, but to all eretz yisroel, as long as the zionists were in control. A lot was removed in editing, including arguments and sources. I know someone who has in his possession manuscripts of editing and working versions of this momentes sefer."

'there is solid evidence, that it was the Zionists who wanted the Hungarian Jews killed, as Weitzman said, they are as dust, they will have to go with history. yimach Shemo," (i asked for evidence, documentation but i do not think I will even get an answer)

Pupa ruv Says:

“There was an interview a few years ago by a zionist that was on the train and he said that evryone on the train felt that the open miracles they had was because the holy satmar rebbe was with them.”

you get the picture

[PishPosh]

A favorite anecdote that I was told as part of a class I was taking some years back in Yerushalayim was about the visit of the then Satmar Rabbi, I think around the 70s, its been a while.
He was being given a tour of Har Tzion and while at Kever Daveed he allegedly asked the guide in a very scornfull manner, "So, you think Daveed Hamelech is really buried here eh"?
The reply from the guide was pure gold.

" Well maybe he is buried a little to the left of this makom, this place, maybe a little to the right of this makom, but I can assure you that he is definitley not buried in Williamsburg"

[MalachHamovies]

That comment was made by the gerrer rebbe, the bais yisroel to some american gerrer chasssidim including david werdyger, the father of the singer mordechai ben david.

And i think it was that he is said that he is definitely not buried in borough park...

[seymour]

A favorite anecdote that I was told as part of a class I was taking some years back in Yerushalayim was about the visit of the then Satmar Rabbi, I think around the 70s, its been a while.
He was being given a tour of Har Tzion and while at Kever Daveed he allegedly asked the guide in a very scornfull manner, "So, you think Daveed Hamelech is really buried here eh"?
The reply from the guide was pure gold.

" Well maybe he is buried a little to the left of this makom, this place, maybe a little to the right of this makom, but I can assure you that he is definitley not buried in Williamsburg"

Posted by: PishPosh | August 16, 2009 at 06:43 PM

That comment was made by the gerrer rebbe, the bais yisroel to some american gerrer chasssidim including david werdyger, the father of the singer mordechai ben david.

And i think it was that he is said that he is definitely not buried in borough park...

Posted by: MalachHamovies | August 16, 2009 at 07:37 PM

what ever the story pure gold

[PishPosh]

Malach Hamovies its possible, I did hear this story over 30 years ago. Elu Velu...LoL.

[Robert Wisler]

His legacy to his chassidim testifies to the "tzidkis" of his life. The two warring factions would kill each other if they had the chance. THAT will be Yoel Teitlebaum's legacy.

[seymour]

go to vin if you want to see outrageous comments

there is not need to thanks the Zionist for saving the satmer rebbie and no reason to thank the allies for rescuing them

weird

[seymour]

I just went on a tirade to the satmers how they complain about the goyim did not due enough the Zionist did nothing every is to blame for not doing enough except the frum, durring the holocaust

those F*** ingrates

this is what I wrote am I wrong

war is hell, people being blown apart hundreds of thousands soldiers being killing thousands every day. It not as simple as you think just to divert a battalion to save Jews when the world was fighting for it live and soul and not have Germany occupy the whole of Europe.

Maybe if frum yidden would join the army and fight then they will be able to say something. But just sitting and praying and having others do the dirty work they the Goyim and secular Jewish soldiers did much more to save jews than the ultra orthodox. Jews. why didn't the frum go to war as Americana or British soldier and fight and maybe die to rescue Jews in Europe. Did any yeshiva say, go to the army they need every last person to fight the German and save our people did any rebbie say no kollel we need men to fight the evil Germans and save yiddin, I am willing to bet not one did. No one was willing to tell their people to risk their lives to save yiddin in Europe and you have the chuzpa to complain about Goyim or secular that maybe they did not do enough.

Please enlighten me what did the frum do, besides, pray and or complain to politicians to help the Jews, did they put their live on the line did they send their children fathers husband to fight NO.

So any person in the army any solider did more to help the jews then hundreds of frum Jews in The usa. If you are not willing to die to help your own Jews you have no right to complain or say they did not do enough.

what did the orthodox do please let me know I would love to think I am wrong, but sadly I am right

[Yoel Mechanic]

In Eichler's I have seen the book "Perfidy" by Ben Hecht. I used to wonder why such a book would appear in such a Boro Park bookstore... but the discussion above gives some suggestions as to why: The book helps to illustrate the negative side of the early secular zionists.

Now this could be a spur for one positive development: if this controversy motivated some Yeshivahs to actually teach history, and instill a sense of historic consciousness at least some good might come out of all this. I would like to see real historians teach such classes in actual Yeshivahs. And a trained, serious, research historian *within* the frum world should write a book about this subject.

[seymour]

Yoel Mechanic

Of course Eichler's carries the book as a boro park boy myself it makes complete sense,the book justifies anti-Zionist attitudes amongst chasidiem and that is enought reason. truth is not the goal here only to strenghen their belives that the zionist where evil and the rebbies did all they could to save jews,. truth is a non factor, I am afraid to say.

A true historian when confronted with new evidence can change their minds and say with this new evidence it sheds new information to te issue, even if it contradicts his/her previous theory.
sadly the frum community works the other way around they will only looks at things that agree with them and just ignore the ones that don't

your original question

one did, she does not deny the facts but justifies there actions

http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2008/09/haredim-and-t-1.html

[Reb Doniel]

His worldview is one of the most intolerant and superstitious ones you could ever have the misfortune of reading about.

I love the story of Rabbi Teichtal- the Eim Ha Banim Semeichah. Here is the story of an anti-zionist Hungarian Klausenberger Hasid who realized that Zionism was correct amid the horrors of the Holocaust.

He is far more a tzadik than yoelish.

Also, he pushed for sociological chumros in his responsa books. Rav Breuer lambastes him and says that real Hasidim, righteous ones, are those who are ethical and good people, not those who insist on glatt kosher meat and high mechitzos.

The Satmarers attacked and even threatened Reb Moshe's life over the AID teshuva in igros Moshe.

A kanoi is a kanoi.

[M. Wisler]

Seymour,

My father, a hareidi Jew from Chicago, fought in the Pacific during WW2. He was a member of the Navy.

[seymour]

Posted by: M. Wisler

thnaks this are things I like to hear my uncle was in the korean war.

However, I think they where the exception and not the norm

[Lawrence M. Reisman]

"Here is the story of an anti-zionist Hungarian Klausenberger Hasid who realized that Zionism was correct amid the horrors of the Holocaust."

Hardly. The Klausenberger Rebbe blamed the Zionists for telling the Hungarian Jews that it was safe to let the Germans relocate them. He blamed the Zionists for the death of his first wife and all his children. The only difference between the Satmar and Klausenberger rebbes was that the Klausenberger rebbe believed in playing nice when it got him money or brownie points.

[Charles S. Weinblatt]

My great-great grandfather was a famous rabbi in Russia (Litvak). He was about to be posted as head rabbi for his region when he became villified for his anti-Zionist rhetoric. So, this story hit home with me. While I love Israel, I can also understand that my famous ancestor was only doing what he believed was correct, according to Jewish law. At the same time, his actions did not result in any deaths. This topic will forever be fraught with controversy. But, we can remember these sages as doing their best for their congregants under sometimes impossible situations.

Charles Weinblatt
Author, Jacob's Courage
http://jacobscourage.wordpress.com/

[Jpel]

You talk about proof were is the proof that r'yoel told his ppl to stay. The only proof I saw that any one said to stay is the belzer rabbi I saw the divre Torah were he said it

[seymour]

My great-great grandfather was a famous rabbi in Russia (Litvak). He was about to be posted as head rabbi for his region when he became villified for his anti-Zionist rhetoric. So, this story hit home with me. While I love Israel, I can also understand that my famous ancestor was only doing what he believed was correct, according to Jewish law. At the same time, his actions did not result in any deaths. This topic will forever be fraught with controversy. But, we can remember these sages as doing their best for their congregants under sometimes impossible situations.

Charles Weinblatt
Author, Jacob's Courage
http://jacobscourage.wordpress.com/

Posted by: Charles S. Weinblatt | August 17, 2009 at 12:07 PM

this is true but we are talking about rebbies who told their flock to stay and they themselves left

[Pablo Faird]

Seymour,
You seem to be letting off a lot of steam, you must have had some issues in the past. You are entitled to your own opinions, however keep in mind that R`Yoel (forget about his chasisdim for a moment, chasidim tend to go overboard when it comes to their Rebbes)did everything l`shem shamayim. You may not understand everthing however I guarantee you that after 120 years you will be mightily enlightened and you will beg him for mechila for all your venting. Be careful whom you vilify.
FYI, I`m not a chossid.

[M. Wisler]

"Pablo",
You are not in a position to judge what will be a person's fate in the afterlife. In fact, it's forbidden by Torah to do so. Look up the halachas for yourself (hint, they're in Yorah Deah) and then beg Seymour for mechila (you don't have to wait until the afterlife).

[The Monsey Tzadik]

however I guarantee you that after 120 years you will be mightily enlightened and you will beg him for mechila

No Bunker, It will be Yoelish Teitelbaum who will have ask mechila from the Zionists who saved his sorry ass.

[Pablo Faird]

M. Wisler,
I never claimed to be a judge, I am just coming from a different angle. If I am wrong, I will be first in line to apologize to Seymour.
I repeat, just because you do not understand or agree with everything he did, does not mean you are correct in your thinking. He was niftar 30 years ago and unfortunately Seymour can`t ask him for an explanation.
Oh and also as much as he had many detractors in both religious and secular circles alike, they all reverred and respected him, because they knew that everthing he did (and I`m focusing mainly post war activities, as pre war is less known) was l`shem shamayim, and as Seymour would say this was the norm not the exception.

[Ben]

I admire the people who know for sure what will happen in the afterlife and to whom exactly it will happen. However, since too many people seem to posess this rare ability I instituted a little test. The test is easy for the people who know what will happend decades from now. I'd like to know what are the winning combinations for New York state lottery for the next 3 months. I am also willing to share awards with the fortune tellers. On the other hand, to be true to Torah teachings if a fortune teller is mistaken in 1 of 3 predictions he'll be put to death immidiately.

Pablo the prophet?

[Pablo Faird]

Ben,
Were you in Monroe yesterday? Did you see all different walks of Jewish life davening at the Kever? There is obviously a lot more to him than some of the posters are willing to see. Take off the sunglasses, and face reality, you may not like it. I bet that if someone had a pressing medical need ( and I do not wish this on anyone)he would be among the top of the list of Rabbonim whom one would go to for a bracha, and take that to the bank.

[Shlomo]

Maybe if frum yidden would join the army and fight then they will be able to say something. But just sitting and praying and having others do the dirty work they the Goyim and secular Jewish soldiers did much more to save jews than the ultra orthodox. Jews. why didn't the frum go to war as Americana or British soldier and fight and maybe die to rescue Jews in Europe. Did any yeshiva say, go to the army they need every last person to fight the German and save our people did any rebbie say no kollel we need men to fight the evil Germans and save yiddin, I am willing to bet not one did. No one was willing to tell their people to risk their lives to save yiddin in Europe and you have the chuzpa to complain about Goyim or secular that maybe they did not do enough.

Please enlighten me what did the frum do, besides, pray and or complain to politicians to help the Jews, did they put their live on the line did they send their children fathers husband to fight NO.

So any person in the army any solider did more to help the jews then hundreds of frum Jews in The usa. If you are not willing to die to help your own Jews you have no right to complain or say they did not do enough.

what did the orthodox do please let me know I would love to think I am wrong, but sadly I am right

Posted by: seymour | August 16, 2009 at 11:01 PM

Seymour, I have to take great umbrage with what you said. My grandfather was frum and a direct descendent of the Baal Shem Tov. In WWII he fought on the front lines in Germany with the US army and was decorated several times for valor, including two purple hearts. He always looked at his service with pride at what he did for the jewish people, and so did many of his veteran friends who were also frum. Please take greater care about such generalizations.

[Lawrence M. Reisman]

To add to Shlomo said, there were quite a few Orthodox Jews (of all stripes) serving in WWII. The Agudah had a regular program to send Kosher food (non-perishables) to Jewish soldiers abroad.

[seymour]

Shlomo

as I have said I know they where some I never said not one but I am sorry to say I do not think it was the norm and neither did the yeshivas or many rebbies tell their US talmidim to join the army.

If you know of cases I will be more than happy to change my mind.

But a few cases here and there does not change the general attitude of the ultra orthodox.

for every rule or generalization there are exceptions, I just wish your grandfather and his friends where not the exeption but the norm

I am truly just guessing I hope people can prove me wrong

[seymour]

Pablo Faird,

I do not think I will need to ask forgiveness,
I think the satmer is still doing it, asking for forgiveness for all the people he told to stay and died in concentration. camps while he fled.

It one thing to tell people to flee and he flees, its one thing to say stay and do not go to a Zionist state or USa and die with the ship with his flock. Or, maybe even later in years admitting publicly his error

It is appalling to tell people not to go to a Zionist state and then go there himself.

I look at a rebbie and his action to decide if he is worthy, not just because of a title

[The Monsey Tzadik]

Some information about this menuval Teitelbaum
(from makor rishon)
סבתי ניצולת שואה, היא הגיעה מהונגריה, והייתה חסידת סאטמר.
בעיצומה של המלחמה, כאשר היהודים כבר הושמדו בפולין, ולפני שהגיעו המרצחים הנאצים להונגריה,
ניגש אבא שלה אל הרבי מסאטמר, הרב יואל טייטלבאום, ושאל אותו אם לעלות לארץ ישראל, והאם
יש צורך לברוח מהונגריה מפני הגרמנים.

הרבי הורה לו, ולעוד חסידים רבים ששאלו באותו עניין, להישאר בהונגריה.
כשהגיעו הנאצים נמלט הרבי ברכבת קסטנר.
הוא הציע לאביה של סבתי להצטרף אליו, אבל סבא רבא שמואל סירב. ''יש לי משפחה עם שמונה ילדים קטנים, איך אוכל לעזוב אותם?" אמר לרבי "לאן שייקחו אותם, גם אני הולך''.
הרבי מסאטמר כידוע ניצל.
סבא רבה שמואל, ואשתו ביילה, עם שבעה ילדים וילדות, נרצחו בתאי הגזים.

שרדה רק ילדה אחת- סבתא שלי.

סבתי עברה עשרה מדורי גיהינום במחנות ההשמדה, היא ניצלה ועלתה ארצה

Free translation: My grandmother was a Holocaust survivor and also a follower of the Satmar Rebbe. While the Holocaust was raging in Europe and most of Polish Jewry had already been liquidated, she asked the Rebbe whether she should flee Hungary for Pre-State Israel lest the Nazi threat hit Hungary as well.

The Rebbe categorically forbid her from leaving and told her and all his other Chassidim in no uncertain terms to stay in Hungary. As is well known, he himself fled Hungary in time with the Kastner train. When he offered my great-grandfather safe passage along with him, he (my great-grandfather) refused and vowed to stay with his family till the end.

The Satmar Rebbe was of course saved but my great-grandfather, his wife and seven children all perished. The only one who survived was my grandmother who went through seven circles of hell and emigrated to Israel.

This shameful and utterly cowardly and treacherous behavior is remembered well by Teitelbaum's landtsmen. Yossi Klein- Halevi in his book Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist recalls his father who grew up in the same town as Teitelbaum (he would call him "Teitelshmuck") calling the latter a traitor who sold out his people to save his own skin.

http://ungaren.blogspot.com/2007/01/satmar-rebbe-and-holocaust-what-really.html

[Reb Doniel]

Lawrence Reisman,

You misunderstood me. I said that Rabbi Teichtal WAS an Anti-Zionist Klausenberger Hasid who had a paradigm-changing experience and then became a Religious Zionist.

[carlebach_link]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn2__K0Gydc

[carlebach_link]

As a relatively young person, I have to say that almost half a decade after the holocaust, my faith in a good god began to crumble because of it. It is pretty remarkable that he remained true to the faith experiencing it first hand.

As for the people under his care who it sounds like he let down, obviously a terrible tragedy. Considering he stayed 'till later in the war, his idea of staying at least seem genuine to me. Does anyone know what he told his followers leading up to the time he himself left? (e.g. after he began considering leaving?) I understand he was quite depressed afterward and that certainly seems like an acknowledgment much deeper than mere words.

Either way, it's hard to imagine how he could not feel that god had abandoned his people and that the world was not broken. Good for him for keeping the faith alive. Although it'd probably be more fun to live like a number of cultures over Hungarian :)

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

What we know is that he did not tell all his followers: flee, hide, fight but dont just wait till they come for you.

BTW,R. Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz had a son in the army. Obviously he could have rigged a divinity deferment, but he knew that would not be right.

There were plenty of orthodox Jews in America who fought in WWII, probably the majority. During WWII draft dodging was very rare among non-religious Jews or among gentiles. Among chareidim draft dodging was common. If they want to claim they had holy reasons at least they should be consistent and not take a penny from the American or Israeli government.

[Zev Kaftori]

'Satmaritis" is a Disease ....

The Grand Rabbi of St. Mary/Satu Mare/Satmar Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum was saved by Zionists i.e. Israel Kastner who hand picked the Rebbe among
the 1,500 Jews saved from Hungary.

When Kastner was on trial in Israel for a defamation charge the Satmar Rebbe refused to testify on his behalf.Not only was the Rebbe saved by Zionists; he had VIP treatment all thewhile in Belzen Bergen; The Rebbe did not cut his beard; is it a miracle; righteousness; which involved heavy bribery of the Nazi officials big time; huge political pressue from the Zionist Judenrat; until he was whisked on the Magic Bullet Train to Switzerland.

The "Holy Rebbe" not only had NO "Hakoras Tov" gratitude to the Zionists that saved him; instead he went on a total rampage of an all out attack on the Jewish State; claiming it is a creation of TheSatan; denying the miracles of Israel's rebirth. The only miracle he recognizes is him being saved by the-Almighty who provided him a dreamof his mother saving him. The State of Israel; the largest Jewish community in the world; The largest supporter of Yeshivot & Kolelim worldwide; Over 300 Seforim monthly are being published in the"Satanic" State of Israel.

For the occasion of The Rebbe being saved in the Holocaust; the Satmars have their annual day of celebration 21 of Kislev with huge fanfare attended by Rabbis, Clergy & public officials among thousands of people sitting around dinner tables in a festive mood.
No one that survived the Holocaust let alone a Rabbi would celebrate in the open over the victims of 6 million Jews.
When Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai literally saved Torah in Eretz Yisrael by securing Yavneh & their Sages, did not proclaim a day of celebration on the backs of Jews that perished.

You need have "Chutzpah" to proclaim a day of celebration when you aresaved with Jewish money & Jewish Blood.
Instead of keeping a low profile like the other Rebbes that were saved, The Satmar Rebbe went on a total offensive.The best defense is offense. It totally baffles you & become speechless. How could it be? He is so Holy? If not for him there is no

Judaism in America?

Judaism in America? It reached a saturation point where the Haredi Jewry in America uses the Kashrus yardstick by buying all meat products from Satmar Hecshser as the ultimate in Glatt Kosher products. In reality Satmar tenticles are all over the Glatt Kosher scene. Satmar is the ultimate in Kashrus they must be ubiquituous & pristine. According to some Agudah officials Satmar is the mirror to which we always look back whether we have strayed.

The Haredi crowd all of a sudden prostrate themselves with a gushing adulation towards "Satmaritis" out of fear of terror & ignorance. "Zchor ymos olom binu shnos dor vador" ....(Devarim 32:7) Know yourhistory & learn from it.

[Shmulik Kaftori]

'Satmaritis" is a Disease ....

The Grand Rabbi of St. Mary/Satu Mare/Satmar Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum was saved by Zionists i.e. Israel Kastner who hand picked the Rebbe among
the 1,500 Jews saved from Hungary.

When Kastner was on trial in Israel for a defamation charge the Satmar Rebbe refused to testify on his behalf.Not only was the Rebbe saved by Zionists; he had VIP treatment all thewhile in Belzen Bergen; The Rebbe did not cut his beard; is it a miracle; righteousness; which involved heavy bribery of the Nazi officials big time; huge political pressue from the Zionist Judenrat; until he was whisked on the Magic Bullet Train to Switzerland.

The "Holy Rebbe" not only had NO "Hakoras Tov" gratitude to the Zionists that saved him; instead he went on a total rampage of an all out attack on the Jewish State; claiming it is a creation of TheSatan; denying the miracles of Israel's rebirth. The only miracle he recognizes is him being saved by the-Almighty who provided him a dreamof his mother saving him. The State of Israel; the largest Jewish community in the world; The largest supporter of Yeshivot & Kolelim worldwide; Over 300 Seforim monthly are being published in the"Satanic" State of Israel.

For the occasion of The Rebbe being saved in the Holocaust; the Satmars have their annual day of celebration 21 of Kislev with huge fanfare attended by Rabbis, Clergy & public officials among thousands of people sitting around dinner tables in a festive mood.
No one that survived the Holocaust let alone a Rabbi would celebrate in the open over the victims of 6 million Jews.
When Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai literally saved Torah in Eretz Yisrael by securing Yavneh & their Sages, did not proclaim a day of celebration on the backs of Jews that perished.

You need have "Chutzpah" to proclaim a day of celebration when you aresaved with Jewish money & Jewish Blood.
Instead of keeping a low profile like the other Rebbes that were saved, The Satmar Rebbe went on a total offensive.The best defense is offense. It totally baffles you & become speechless. How could it be? He is so Holy? If not for him there is no

Judaism in America?

Judaism in America? It reached a saturation point where the Haredi Jewry in America uses the Kashrus yardstick by buying all meat products from Satmar Hecshser as the ultimate in Glatt Kosher products. In reality Satmar tenticles are all over the Glatt Kosher scene. Satmar is the ultimate in Kashrus they must be ubiquituous & pristine. According to some Agudah officials Satmar is the mirror to which we always look back whether we have strayed.

The Haredi crowd all of a sudden prostrate themselves with a gushing adulation towards "Satmaritis" out of fear of terror & ignorance. "Zchor ymos olom binu shnos dor vador" ....(Devarim 32:7) Know yourhistory & learn from it.