Kiryas Joel, NY – Remember the days Chabad and Satmar were at each other’s throats?
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Back in the 70s and 80s, it seemed that the two would never see eye to eye. The insular Satmars of Williamsburg and the extroverted Lubavitchers of Crown Heights clashed in more than mere ideology. Philosophical disagreements over how to view secular Jews, the secular State of Israel and indeed, the world at large, created bad blood, and worse between the two powerful Chasidic communities.
But if you were at Mr. Meir Hirsh’s Kiryas Yoel home this past Tuesday—or if you’ve been on business in the Far East, or in a growing number of obscure U.S. locations, for that matter—all that enmity was ancient history.
Mr. Hirsch, a lifelong Satmar Chosid and director of Kiryas Yoel’s educational organizations, organized a “Hakoras HaTov” fundraising evening to honor Rabbi Yonason Denebeim of Palm Springs, California, where a rapidly-growing number of Satmar and other Chassidim have been traveling for summer vacations and benefiting from the only acceptable beis medrash, shul, mikvah, and kosher food in town: Chabad of Palm Springs.
During his visit and tour of the Satmar stronghold, Rabbi Denebeim was impressed by the town’s multifaceted communal infrastructure, including a vast slaughterhouse.
From major Far East business centers like Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Singapore, South, and Central America, and now even Vietnam to far-flung suburbs across America and a growing number of major and minor European and FSU cities, many a traveling Satmar has found a familiar face and a helping hand in the numerous Chabad shluchim dotting the globe. And many a Lubavitcher shliach has found a most unlikely financial supporter in a grateful Satmar Chosid. The new Chabad mikvah in Beijing, for example, was primarily funded by Satmar chassidim Mr. Yechezkel Brach CEO of sound around audio Brooklyn, NY, and Avrohom Boruch Godinger, and his partner Mr. Zev Lefkowitz, CEO of Godinger Silver and a resident of Kiryas Yoel.
Odd couples? Perhaps. But it’s one of the fastest-growing secrets in the frum community—not to mention a hugely inspiring example of true Ahavas Yisroel and Achdus Yisroel: Today, Chabad and Satmar have come together.
we love you reb aharon may hashem give you strength to be the meached clal isroel, who knows to me he could be the moshiach.
the leadership of the great satmar rebby shlitye, is greater than
satmar ever was. it shows that hashem is with him every where he goes & does a freilichen and a koshern peisach bridder
yh
You know what? The “troubles” in the 80’s are in many ways myths & legends by now, perpetrated by the twisted minds of people who take enormous pleaseure in the Tzar of others. After all, it take away from THEIR Rebbe’s fights, usually among their own groups.
There haven’t been any issues in many, many, years, except for the ones that are created by mischief-makers and party-poopers.
Leave us all alone. We get along very nicely, thank you, and find common ground on many issues. We mutually assist each other wherever we can. Kills some of you miseries, doesn’t it?
I’m a Lubavicher with Satmar friends, relatives, & business associates & we all display utmost respect to each other. Beautiful!
beautiful! we must never be satisfied with what we are doing now. it’s necessary to increase in all areas of avodah, especially achdus, and especially now that we’re holding by the ikva d’mishicha and the geulah is mamash about to be upon us.
anon. 10:12PM. …what’s next. Are they going to start saying Yechi (for the Rebbi) after davening every day, just like in 770…
No! they’re going to start saying Yechi for the Rebbi in 550…, OK!
What’s the difference. Everyone could say Yechi for his own Rebbi and respect the other. We can each (group) eat potato Kugel according the [traditional] recipe in our own Chassidus and leave the others alone!
I am a Chbadnik who is very inspired by Reb Ahron of Satmar who has shown how to get together with all those who used to be on the other side of Satmar. Examples include getting together with Klausenburg, Lubavitch and the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in their time of need.
He shows to be a real leader who is ready to break all taboo’s for the better. True leadership inspired by true Ahavas Yisroel.
His leadership is also reflected in his new Takonos in Shchita and setting modest standards for weddings. He has set an example to many other Kehilos which will slowly but surely follow in his footsteps.
And no, I have a Rebbe and I am not joining Stamar. But I am inspired to see real leadership by a new Rebbe who will lead his Kehila for many many years in the right path without fear of breaking taboo’s in the direction of Ahavas Yisroel.
Yaarich Yomim Al Mamlachto.
They had there a own Shul for Shabbos. the didn’t daven in Chabad
Anonymous said…
I have no issues with Chabad individuals, and many of htem are wonderful ba’alei chesed. I do, however, have a hashkafic issue with those that continue to believe that the Rebbe z”l is Mashiach – that’s Meenus, and a feel-good story like this can’t change that fact. I will continue to be mispalel that those who express this aberent hashkafa do Teshuva, and appreciate Chabad shlichim in general for their good deeds.
April 4, 2008 4:33 PM
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you mention that you have a problem with lubavitch hasahkafa. does that mean you are ok with satmar hashkafos?
This sounds like a business event. Don’t read too much into it.
Why don’t the Satmar make their own shtiebel in Palm Springs instead of going to a questionable place?
What’s next – are they going to start saying yechi after davening in Kiryas Joel like they do at 770 too?
4:33
give it up man – it ain’t changing in our lifetime. Let that be the worst thing shees …Best join em 😉
I Personally am not chabad but over the years have very much gravitated to them as I’ve been in and around sluchim many times and there achdus and compassion to me and my family in unfamiliar lands and destinations is nothing short of gevaldik.
Frankly I would be a basket case if not for them.
Nice news thanks for postings this VIN.
Let me just add as a Lubavitcher I have witnessed the amazing Bikur Cholim that the Satmar do. When my daughter was in the hospital after a surgery they were the only ones that took the time to come visit and bring food. lets not forget all the women who benefit after childbirth with the amazing bikur cholim rooms thay have in the hospitals!! I can’t thank them enough!! I for one appreciate everything that both Satmar and Lubavitch has and continues to do in their own right!
satmar & chabad perfect together
a kiddush hashem
we’re all shepping nachas 🙂
Mr. Joseph Gutnick when he gave large sums of tzdakah did give to many other non lubavitch tzdakah
With achdus and ahavas chinom we will be zoceh to the guella shlaimah NOW!!!
I have no issues with Chabad individuals, and many of htem are wonderful ba’alei chesed. I do, however, have a hashkafic issue with those that continue to believe that the Rebbe z”l is Mashiach – that’s Meenus, and a feel-good story like this can’t change that fact. I will continue to be mispalel that those who express this aberent hashkafa do Teshuva, and appreciate Chabad shlichim in general for their good deeds.
May the increased achdus bring Mashiach BB”A.
love this news – just great.
LOL on the one post why chabad doesn’t give out of chabad realllllly get a grip. Boy we just gotta have at least one party pooper.
Did anyone say anyone is scar free? No one is perfect at least nice news and what an odd couple indeed.
Good Shabbos to all!
IF STMAR AND LUBAVICH CAN GET ALONG THEN MAYBEE NEXT WE COULD GET FINALY GET ALONG WITH OUR ARBA NEIGBORS…
Goyim are the real threat? How narrowminded a person are you?
B”H for the great news! We can still have our DE-faults! But now, they’re not mutually exclusive!
This [trend] definitely helps bring the Geulah S’hleima [much,much] closer!
It is finally nice to hear that some groups in klal yisroel are getting along. Let them set an example to satmar itself bobov and all the other jews of the world. The only way we can merit in the coming of Moshiach is Ahavas Yisroel.
Well, It’s a fact.
What Lubavitch is doing Worldwide is mamash mesiras nefesh and true ahavas yisroel for every yid from any corner of the globe.
There are Thousands of fellow jews that travel for business or other reasons to many parts of the world where there is no yiddishkeit to be found but always thare is a chabad house like a lighthouse in the dark where there is a shul a mikvah and kosher food and overall a warm welcome smile and offer to help in any way.
This is so beautiful! Yehi RAtzon that there be more and more achdus in klal yisrael, which willbe impetus to bring moshiach bimhaira biyameinu amen!
Look what the Rebbe foresaw!
He was an amazing man that stays alive through what he has left behind!
When will we see the day Lubavitchers give tsedoko to heimishe moidos?
I think that”ll be a major break through.Satmar has always been generous with their money even to people they disagree with vehemently
Thanks for the gr8t news!
Perhaps the faster we Jews all get thogether in unity, the quicker Moshiach will redeem us!
alu velu divrei has-m hayim
well we yidden need to realize fellow yidden with different views aren’t our enemies! goyim are the real threat!
great news!
Now if only the Satmar factions could resolve their differences….
Good – Im happy to see this
yep times changing…
Very nice to see such ahavas yisroel,may hashem help us that we should see the same between the two satmars now…
go chabad go chabadgo yes yes
whatta kiddush hashem!
yidden, no matter their different ways living they love to help each other in each-others hard times.
מי כעמך ישראל!
bh some good news finally
beautiful
Other than a few nutcases, most of the arguments are haskafic in nature. (When the Lubavitcher Rebbe suffered his stroke in 1991, Rav Shach Zt’l davened for him as an individual Yid, not as a representative of anything). TO anyone who knows the real story, this is not neias!
HE IS RIGHT