Moshe Teitelbaum (Satmar)
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Rabbi Moshe (Moses) Teitelbaum (November 1, 1914 – April 24, 2006) was a Hasidic rebbe and the world leader of the Satmar Hasidim, which is believed to be the largest Hasidic community in the world, with some 100,000 followers.
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[edit] Early life
Moshe was the youngest son of Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, the previous Sigheter Rebbe and brother of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum. His mother's name was Bracha Sima. He (Rabbi Chaim) authored the Atzei Chaim. Moshe and his brother, Yekutiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, were born in Sighet (then Hungary, now Romania), and were orphaned, in 1926, when they were eleven and fourteen, respectively. Moshe was raised by family friends and relatives, including his uncle, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, and his grandfather, Rabbi Shalom Eliezer Halberstam of Ratzfert.
In 1936, he married his cousin Leah Meir, daughter of Rabbi Hanoch Heinoch Meir of Karecska, where Moshe held the position of Rosh Yeshiva (dean). In 1939, he became the rabbi of Zenta, Yugoslavia (presently in Serbia; till 1918 and between 1941-44 Hungary).
In late spring 1944, the Hungarian government, assisted by Nazi forces led by Adolf Eichmann, began deporting Jews en-masse. Rabbi Moshe and his wife were sent to Auschwitz, where Leah died. Moshe was then transferred to Theresienstadt, where he was liberated in 1945.
[edit] Post-war
After the war, Rabbi Moshe married the daughter of Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum of Volovo, and moved back to Sighet, and briefly revived Jewish life in his father's home town. Fleeing Communist persecution, the couple eventually immigrated to New York City, where Rabbi Moshe became known as the Sigheter Rebbe. Moshe initially established a beth midrash, Atzei Chaim Siget in his uncle Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum's Satmar enclave in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and later moved to Boro Park in 1966. He succeeded his uncle as Satmar rebbe, following his death in 1979, though some dissidents in Satmar opposed him, including the Bnei Yoel (or Kagners, opponents), a group of Satmar Hasidim that did not accept Rebbe Moshe as Rebbe and remained loyal to Rebbe Yoel's Wife, the Rebbetzin Alta Fayga Teitelbaum, and her candidate for rebbe, Nachman Brach. [1], [2], [3].
Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum was the author of a five-volume Hasidic commentary on the Bible entitled Berach Moshe. He was survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters (his eldest daughter from his second marriage died in his lifetime), over eighty-six grandchildren, many great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter, born earlier on the day that he died.[4][5]
[edit] Death and succession
On April 24, 2006, at the age of 91, the Rebbe passed away. Tens of thousands of members of the Jewish community attended his funeral and burial procession in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and later in Kiryas Joel, New York. Eulogies in the main Satmar synagogue in Williamsburg were said by all the Rebbes’ children or their husbands in order of their respective ages. The Rebbe was buried near his uncle, the previous Rebbe, in the sect's cemetery in Kiryas Joel.
Following the Rebbe's death, a major split developed among the Satmar Hasidim as to who should become their leader. Two of Rabbi Moshe's sons, Rabbi Aaron and Rabbi Zalman, are the candidates to succeed their father. Rabbi Aaron has followers in Kiryas Joel, New York and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (where allegedly he has the support of 70% of the congregation). Rabbi Zalman's followers are only in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and account for about 30% of the congregation[citation needed]. According to Rabbi Aaron's followers, the split originated in 1999, when Rabbi Zalman took advantage of his father's old age to convince the Satmar community that Rabbi Moshe bypassed his oldest son Rabbi Aaron. However medical records show that by 1999 Rabbi Moshe was already suffering from Alzheimer's disease.[citation needed]
[edit] Reactions
- George Pataki, Governor of New York State: "The Rebbe . . . touched and inspired the countless people who came into contact with him while shepherding his congregation to enormous growth over the past decades of his leadership. May his memory be a blessing for all of us."
- Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City: "[The] Rebbe . . . was a gentle soul who carried himself with poise and distinction. From the fires of the Holocaust, the grand rebbe and his uncle [Joel Teitelbaum] performed a miracle here in New York by rebuilding their community to match its glory days in Europe. Our hearts and prayers are with the Satmar community in this city and worldwide as they mourn the passing of their beloved spiritual leader." See also, Mayor Bloomberg attending the funeral procession.
[edit] Sources
- Rabinowicz, Tzvi M. The Encyclopedia of Hasidism. New York: Jason Aronson, 1996. ISBN 1-56821-123-6
