Zalman Teitelbaum

One of the two Grand Rebbes of Satmar

Zalman Teitelbaum

Born|  (1951-12-23) 23 December 1951 (age 71)

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[edit]

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[edit]

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 opposes the proposed draft[which?] of Haredi men by the Israel Defense Forces and has 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]

## See also[edit]

* Hasidic Judaism
* Joel Teitelbaum
* Haredim and Zionism

## External links[edit]

* Ruling Leaves Younger Son in Control of Hasidic Sect
* Tempers, bones snap in Hasidic infighting (26 October 2004) Archived 5 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine

## References[edit]

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. ^ a b c d e f Wakin, Daniel J. (22 January 2002). "The Heir Unapparent; Brothers' Feud Fractures a Hasidic Community". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
4. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ "'Terrible desecration of God's name:' Satmar rebbe slams anti-Israel protesters". Jerusalem Post.

* v
* t
* e

Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)

Leadership|

| Rebbes|

* Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum
* Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum
* Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum
* Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum

|

Other leaders|

* Lipa Teitelbaum (Zenta Rebbe)
* Chaim Shia Halberstam (Satmar Rebbe of Monsey)
* Eliezer David Greenwald
* Faige Teitelbaum

Organizations|

* Central Rabbinical Congress
* Mosad Keren Hatzole
* Satmar Bikur Cholim

Places|

| Communities|

* Satu Mare
* Williamsburg, Brooklyn
* Kiryas Joel
* Palm Tree, New York

|

Synagogues|

* Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Hooper Street, Brooklyn)
* Congregation Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Rodney Street, Brooklyn)

Books and publications|

* Vayoel Moshe
* Der Yid
* Der Blatt
* Di Tzeitung

Related groups|

* Siget (Hasidic dynasty)
* Bnei Yoel

Category

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* Israel
* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template