After Lakewood Yeshiva's Israel Branch Pledges To Stop Taking Money From The Israeli Government, Satmar Rebbe And Followers Offer Financial Support

"A historic celebration took place this week in Williamsburg at the home of Reb Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, as the Satmar Rebbe met with Rav Malkiel Kotler of Lakewood’s Beis Medrash Govoha and Rav Yakov Eliezer Schwartzman, grandson of Rav Aaron Kotler and rosh yeshiva of the Israeli branch of the Lakewood yeshiva. During the meeting, Rav Schwartzman announced that his yeshiva will no longer be accepting funds from the Israeli government. Rav Schwartzman’s statement was followed with the drinking of a celebratory l’chaim.…"

The Williamsburg Satmar Rebbe Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum

Yeshiva World reports:

A historic celebration took place this week in Williamsburg at the home of Reb Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, as the Satmar Rebbe met with Rav Malkiel Kotler of Lakewood’s Beis Medrash Govoha and Rav Yakov Eliezer Schwartzman, grandson of Rav Aaron Kotler and rosh yeshiva of the Israeli branch of the Lakewood yeshiva. During the meeting, Rav Schwartzman announced that his yeshiva will no longer be accepting funds from the Israeli government.

Rav Schwartzman’s statement was followed with the drinking of a celebratory l’chaim. Ten of the Satmar Rebbe’s supporters were invited to the meeting and were requested to pledge their financial support to Bais Medrash Govoha of America in Eretz Yisroel, located in the Ramot section of Jerusalem. A group of askanim was also brought in to create a base of support in America to help the yeshiva make up for the funding it will no longer be receiving from the Israeli government. Additionally, the Satmar Rebbe reached out to several other wealthy individuals to arrange a personal visit with both himself and Rav Kotler to collect money for the yeshiva.

The news was well received within the Satmar community and a spokesman said, “We are seeing today concrete proof of the words of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel zt’l who said that the yeshivos in the holy land cannot take funds from the unholy government without also acceding to its demands, including the draft.”

The Satmar Rebbe renewed the pledge he made last summer to other Chasidic sects, offering financial assistance to any yeshiva that stops taking funds from the Israeli government.

“The Chasidic community will be happy to distribute as much money as it takes to bring satisfaction to the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoe zt’l in the heavenly realm, by doing whatever possible to bring pure chinuch to mosdos in the holy land,” said one Chasidic leader.

Comments

[Jeff]

"The Satmar Rebbe renewed the pledge he made last summer to other Chasidic sects, offering financial assistance to any yeshiva that stops taking funds from the Israeli government."

Good, let them take him up on the offer - then they'll all go broke.

[percherondad]

Why accept funds from the Israeli government when they steal from the US treasury every single day .

[David]

They should be paying the Israeli Government for being gracious enough to let these freeloaders live there.

And where DOES Satmar get these boat loads of cash?

[WoolSilkCotton; I must be seen to be believed]

Like a meeting of mafia capos.

[Jeff]

"Like a meeting of mafia capos."

I was thinking that myself. It's like the meeting of the Five Families.

[Barry]

"And where DOES Satmar get these boat loads of cash?"

From philanthropists such as Menachem Stark.

[bendinai]

Firstly, none of this will happen. Does anyone honestly believe money that could be used in support of ZLT will be graciously directed to another mosad?

Secondly, I do not for one single moment believe BMG in Israel will stop taking money from the Israeli government.

Thirdly, what happened to the philosophical differences between these two groups? According to Litvak lore, Rav Aharon Kotler once told Reb Yoel, "you have brought glatt kosher and cholov Yisroel to America, but we have brought the Torah." It is beautiful when two large components of klal Yisroel can bridge their differences; it's a disaster when it is all about money. The spiritual mistakes made pre-holocaust are being repeated, and this time on steroids. None of this will end well.

[jancsibacsi]

I just wish that they keep their word,halevay
but i think its all a mind game they will find a way to steal to finance this debacle.

[bendinai]

@ jancibacs.....while I never agree with your postings, this time I am pretty close to agreeing. Change the word from "steal" to "manipulate," "mislead," "cheat," or "maneuver" and I am on board with you.

[ah-pee-chorus]

notwithstanding this unholy alliance of lakewood with the vile satmar, the refusal of funding from israel doesn't solve the draft problem for them. if draft dodging is treated criminally, they'll still have to go to the army whether their yeshivas are funded or not.
this should be another wake up call to the MO that they have little in common with ANY charedim. most MO have a fairly positive attitude towards lakewood and don't see them as having much in common with satmar. this puts that notion to rest.

[jancsibacsi]

ah-pee-chorus---"most MO have a fairly positive attitude towards lakewood and don't see them as having much in common with satmar. this puts that notion to rest"
i KNOW ABOUT LAKEWOOD MY COUSINS 3 SONS LIVE THERE NON WORK THE FIRST TIME I SAW THAT ONE OF THEM WHO CAME TO BP VISITING IN THE HOSPITAL HE DID NOT WANT TO DRINK FROM THE FOUNTAIN HE KEPT ASKING FOR BOTTLED WATER SINCE FOUNTAINS DONT HAVE THE FILTER ON IT TO FILTER OUT LITTLE BACTERIA OR WHATEVER I SAW THAT HE IS A MENTAL CASE THEY BRAIN WASHED HIM THEY ARE JUST AS FANATICAL AS THE SATMERERS ARE.

[ah-pee-chorus]

jancs-

i agree that theyre fanatics and lunatics. But they still have a good rep among many MO who look up to them. most big MO communities have some kids that end up there. But these same MO
almost unanimously hate the satmar, mostly because of their anti-israel position.
So when the 2 get together like this it should open some eyes in the MO world that like you said, they're (lakewood) to be hated too.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

Yasher Koach to Zalmie for putting his money where his mouth is! Let's recognize integrity when we see it, because if we blink we might miss it.

[Bas Melech]

Every year Lakewood becomes more and more like Satmar especially with their chumrahs. Many share the same anti-zionist attitudes.

I do not know why Israeli Lakewood takes money from the Israeli government. It is a US yeshiva with rich alumni supporters.

[rebitzman - $101 to read my posts]

The fact that they are no longer taking money indicates that at one point they did.

I didn't think leeches were kosher?

[Yochanan Lavie]

Lakewood is the Kiryas Joel of New Jersey.

[Alter Kocker]

It's a shame these jokers can't find a new homeland, possibly at the bottom of the ocean.

[HavaMina]

I weep for my people.