Zalman Teitelbaum
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Grand Rabbi Zalman Leib (Yekusiel Yehudah) Teitelbaum (b. 1952) is one of two Grand Rebbes of Satmar and the third 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 the Grand Rabbi of the Satmar congregation of Williamsburg and the Dean of the Satmar Yeshivah of Queens. Prior to his position in Williamsburg, Rabbi Teitelbaum held the position of the Rabbi of the Satmar in Jerusalem. Prior to his position in Jerusalem, he was the Rabbi of the Sighet Synagogue in Boro Park, which was his father's synagogue. Presently, both of those synagogues are lead by sons of Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum. He oversees the central synagogue, and around 10 smaller synagogues, as well as a boys school and girls schools that teach over 7,000 children plus a high school of about 700 students, the charitable funds and several large organizations. He has been named in his late fathers' will as the late Rebbes' choice as successor as Grand Rebbe of the Satmar Hasidim. However, the validity of that will is in dispute by his brother Grand Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum. In year 2007 Newsweek named him the 15th most prominent rabbi [1]
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[edit] Satmar Succession Feud
Rabbi Zalman is currently involved in a dispute with his older brother Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum over who will succeed their father in leading the global Satmar community. At present Zalman is the de facto head of the Satmar community in Williamsburg which, his supporters say, gives him a strategic edge over Aaron. However, observers point out that in reality, the lines of loyalty are not as fixed as some have made them out to be: both brothers are actively involved in recruiting new supporters from each other's enclave.
Zalman also had the benefit of being both geographically close to Rabbi Moshe as well as having a cordial alliance with his entourage, ensuring him regular access with his father. Conversely, Aaron was strongly opposed by the rebbe's entourage and was often prevented (sometimes physically) from speaking with his father on occasions when he was seeking his blessing or support.
After the death of the previous Grand Rebbe on April 24, 2006, both brothers' camps issued declarations anticipating that the rebbe's will would name their favorite as his successor. Initially, Aaron's supporters claimed that they were in possession of a copy of the will which passed the leadership to Aaron, allegedly in the possession of Rabbi Hertzke Zweibel, Rosh Kollel of Satmar. However, a public reading of the will at Zalman's coronation as Grand Rebbe on April 25 confirmed that Moshe had chosen him, instead. [2]. The will was given support by the Satmar beit din, or rabbinical court, in Williamsburg, which agreed with his reading of the will, and named him the legitimate successor. [3], [4] However, Zalman's critics have pointed out that the Beit Din in Williamsburg is firmly in Zalman's camp, so the ruling is neither surprising nor necessarily seen as authoritative by all Satmar Hasidim. [5].
Aaron and his followers remained defiant following Zalman's coronation, declaring that "The grand rebbe's will does not determine succession. Only the Satmar Board of Directors can make that decision. That's how the grand rebbe himself was selected. And that's how his successor will be selected." [6] Both sides have announced that that they will be filing further litigation in the New York State Supreme Court. [7]
[edit] Background to the present conflict
There are conflicting reports about how the disagreement began. Rabbi Zalman's supporters say that Rabbi Aaron's leadership-style in Kiryas Joel, described as "totalitarian", made him a significant number of enemies. Additionally, his behavior on multiple visits to the Satmar's major enclave in Williamsburg has been seen by some in the community as arrogant and presumptuous (Although it is tradition that the oldest son often succeeds the father after his death, there have been many occasions since the founding of the Hasidic movement when a younger son was chosen instead). Many have specifically cited the perceived disrespect by Rabbi Aaron towards his father's personal assistant and gabbai, Rabbi Moses Friedman, as having begun the conflict. [8]
Rabbi Aaron's supporters, on the other hand, deny that Rabbi Aaron’s leadership style is at all different from his brother's or father's. They also claim that Rabbi Friedman had become increasingly powerful due to the rebbe's illnesses and saw Rabbi Aaron as a threat. Aaron's followers believe that Rabbi Friedman supported Zalman in order to embarrass Aaron and threaten his support in Williamsburg, and is largely motivated by self-interest.
Both sides agree that Rabbi Friedman has been instrumental in elevating Rabbi Zalman as Rabbi Aaron's rival to inheriting the dynasty. With Friedman's help, Zalman, who had previously been of relatively minor standing, rose through the ranks, and was eventually appointed rabbi of the Satmar congregation in Williamsburg in 1999, seen by many as an indicator that he could potentially be chosen as his father's successor, instead of Aaron.
Since then, there have been a number of public and private confrontations between the two brothers and their supporters, generally occurring in Williamsburg. Some of these incidents have resulted in low-level violence and occasionally arrests. There have also been very publicized disputes in rival Satmar newspapers, as well as some Satmar websites. Additionally, a number of court battles were and are currently being waged between the two brothers (or their proxies) as they struggle for control of the movement. Several of the court cases pertain to Satmar property, while others involved legal guardianship of the then elderly and ailing rebbe.
Even minor events in the Satmar community have become issues of dispute. For example, on November 3, 2005, Rabbi Aaron's eldest grand-daughter, Roza Blima, was married. Afterward, the parties either inflated or downplayed the number of attendees.
The Satmar conflict has been a hot-button news topic in the Haredi world, particularly due to its longevity. There have been several incidences of rabbis and rebbes publicly taking sides, and urging their followers to follow suit. At least five other prominent Teitelbaum brothers or relatives have aligned themselves with either Rabbi Aaron or Rabbi Zalman. The late rebbe had generally refrained from making comments regarding which son could be his eventual successor, although occaisonal minor statements or actions of his were often analyzed with great scrutiny by those interested in the succession battle as possible indications of preference.
[edit] Comparisons to earlier conflicts
The conflict between Rabbis Aaron and Zalman Teitelbaum is in some ways comparable to the longstanding disagreement between the two rebbes of Vizhnitz, as well as Toldos Aharon (this is somewhat debatable, as the present nature of the two brothers' relationship is unclear). The conflict is becoming increasingly similar to the ongoing dispute in the Bobov community.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Ruling Leaves Younger Son in Control of Hasidic Sect
- Tempers, bones snap in Hasidic infighting (10/26/2004)
- Google videos
- Thousands of Satmar Chasidim dancing at the Wedding of Grand Rabbi Zalmen's son Rabbi Lipa Teitelbaum. In Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 10/22/2006
- Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum leading the celebration of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY
- Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum dancing with Rabbi Kopelman, the Dean of the Yeshivah of Lucerne, Switzerland
- Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum at the Wedding of the grandchild of the Spinka Rebbe
