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Brooklyn, NY - Satmar Hasidic Battle Over State Senate Primary

Published on:   Sep 08, 2008 at 07:47 AM
News Source: NY Daily News By Elizabeth Benjamin
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100’s attended  A rally arranged yesterday by UJcare in Williamsburg, As Anthony Winner Introduces Senate candidate Daniel Squadron, in the 25th Senatorial District.
100’s attended A rally arranged yesterday by UJcare in Williamsburg, As Anthony Winner Introduces Senate candidate Daniel Squadron, in the 25th Senatorial District.
Brooklyn, NY - A warring Brooklyn Hasidic sect is divided in a key Democratic state Senate primary that involves some of the city's most powerful political figures - and could affect the '09 mayoral race.

The Satmar faction led by Williamsburg-based Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum rebuffed an eleventh-hour plea by Mayor Bloomberg to support his candidate, political newcomer Daniel Squadron, in the 25th Senatorial District.

Zalman loyalists are backing Squadron's target, incumbent Sen. Martin Connor, who is championed by Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

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The Zalman camp received a visit last week from Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey. He pleaded Squadron's case, but left without a deal, said a source close to Zalman's political adviser, Rabbi David Niederman. Mayoral spokesman Stu Loeser declined to comment.

Zalman supporters are gambling that the mayor's potential bid to change term limits and seek a third term will fizzle, said one Jewish political operative.

"Honestly, Bloomberg's disappearing, Vito's not," the operative said. "Who would you choose?"

The Zalman faction is still angry at the mayor after the city Health Department got involved in a ritual Hasidic circumcision procedure deemed risky to the child's health.

And it was infuriated when a nonprofit it supports, the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, lost $150,000 worth of City Council funding in the fiscal 2009 city budget.

Meanwhile, followers of Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum - who is based in Kiryas Joel in Orange County but has a presence in Williamsburg - are supporting Squadron.

That gives the Kiryas Joel faction an in not only with Bloomberg, but also with Squadron's powerful former boss, Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is backing his former aide.

"I have nothing bad to say about Marty Connor, but I think it's time for a change," said Rabbi Leib Glanz, a political adviser to Aron Teitelbaum.

Glanz insisted he had not been lobbied by Bloomberg to support Squadron, but Aron backers have seen their star rise at City Hall.

A new nonprofit they support, United Jewish Community Advocacy Relations and Enrichment, received Council cash for the first time this year to the tune of $205,000.

100’s attended A rally arranged yesterday by UJcare in Williamsburg
100’s attended A rally arranged yesterday by UJcare in Williamsburg

The Brooklyn Satmar community could prove crucial in tomorrow's primary. Its members vote in a bloc, and a few thousand votes could decide the race.

In 2006, Bloomberg personally appealed to the Kiryas Joel Satmars to back Republican Rep. Sue Kelly over her Democratic challenger, John Hall. The plea fell on deaf ears, and Hall ousted Kelly by a few thousand votes.

Both the Zalman and Aron factions have waged voter-registration drives in Brooklyn this year and claim to have signed up some 10,000 new Hasidic Democrats in recent weeks.

"This is a big test for the Hasidic vote," said the Jewish political operative of the Connor-Squadron primary. "If they can't bring it out this year, I wonder about their chances to be able to flex any muscle in the mayor's race."


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Read Comments (26)  —  Post Yours »

1

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:02 AM the rebbes shames Says:

it depends what "pupa" will do

2

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:06 AM Anonymous Says:

a charpe in a beeshe. Shame on you guys. No. Bloonberg didnt have to ask UJCARE to endorse Squadron. Just going farkert does it all.

3

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:22 AM McCain-Palin 08 Says:

lets work on getting conservative guys out there in the next few years

4

 Sep 08, 2008 at 09:57 AM dreidel Says:

a non-profit orginazation may not indorse any political candidate. UJCAE can posibly forfeight it's status as a non-profit orginazation for indorsing polititions.
i don't understand what the big fight between the two satmars is about. the 25th senatorial district includes less than half of the yiddish neighborhood in willi, so how many votes are they fighting over?

5

 Sep 08, 2008 at 10:40 AM Hesh Says:

It's all for naught! The Chasidim don't vote! It's all bluff!

6

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:10 AM jonathan Says:

Squadron is running on a "change" platform, which in recent history has proven to be a winning strategy...it's a very close race he's trying to unsit a 30 year incumbent...at the last election Conner won very narrowly against a chalanger...Squadron has a great shot of winning, in my opinion...

7

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:11 AM Anonymous Says:

ONLY THE MONROE CHASIDIM VOTE, LOOK AT THE KJ BLOC

8

 Sep 08, 2008 at 11:56 AM deepthinker Says:

THIS BLATANT INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICAL MATTERS BY CHASSIDIC LEADERS IS A TERRIBLE BLUNDER, WHICH WILL MAKE ENEMIES OF SOME VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE.

9

 Sep 08, 2008 at 12:03 PM Pupa Chosid Says:

Newcomer Daniel Squadron is being supported by the Pupa People and also the Kehila. We Want fresh Blood to help the community

10

 Sep 08, 2008 at 12:14 PM Anonymous Says:

Rabbi David Niederman should not have taken a part in the Satmer fight, He is a community leader; and has no business in the two brothers.

11

 Sep 08, 2008 at 12:57 PM neturei karte Says:

Anonymous Says:
Rabbi David Niederman should not have taken a part in the Satmer fight, He is a community leader; and has no business in the two brothers.

HE HAD NEVER TAKEN ANY SIDE WITHIN THW 2 BROTHERS
HE IS A DEVOTED ASKEN FOR MANY MANY YEARS

12

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:18 PM Channina Says:

Rabbi Niederman made a dumb mistake a fatal mistake when he choose the Zalonim side in the Satmer fight. Now he is paying the price

13

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:21 PM Pupa cosid Says:

Im a Pupa cosid, and son of a big asken in the khila so I know how much Rabbi Niederman delivered for us in the past funding and help in many ways, thats the reason why the khila and as you all know all khilas except one khila who need to dominate everything is backing UJO and ALL schools and mosdos are sending home with the kids UJO flyers

14

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:48 PM Anonymous Says:

We'll see what is final. Who will be elected?

15

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:34 PM Anonymous Says:

lets see if they vote and not just talk

16

 Sep 08, 2008 at 01:30 PM Yokum Purkon Says:

Any Republicans out there? ...Hellloooo.....

17

 Sep 08, 2008 at 02:46 PM Lock & Load Says:

I think PUPA should finaly have a word in this matter too
They also live in Will.

18

 Sep 08, 2008 at 03:57 PM Anonymous Says:

WHY ALL THE HATE?

19

 Sep 08, 2008 at 04:24 PM Anonymous Says:

This is a Primary election. In NYC, only the democrats usually have primaries. And the democrat winner usually wins. But if you want to put yourself out there as the Republican candidate for the General election, go ahead and good luck.

21

 Sep 08, 2008 at 08:09 PM Anonymous Says:

Is it ok to get money from a government that supports the government of Israel?

22

 Sep 09, 2008 at 02:25 AM chaim Says:

this all wrong no body took any sides .all the kehilas were part of the ujo 9 years ago .as usal by evry election all the kehilas agree on wich candidate to endorce ,at that time members from r.aron side endorced without the agreement of all members mark green for mayor . it is r.aron side that what to be at the weel ,but williamsburg polictics work that we all work together .then r,aron side made a new organisation called cjc ,and endorced marty markowitz for brookly boroug president instead of our old councilmen ken fisher , it is quite clear that they wher the ones who divided of and now they r crying foul that they are not represented.
its intersting 20% of all students men & women who r taking now clases at the ujo r from r.aron side .30 oercent of frum residents living in schafer are from r.aron side.30% of people seek help for all kinds of social servises are from r.aron side.all this are very clear facts . who help the new satmar school the first day they opend to be able to recicve funding for their food program it was the office of the ujo.
these r all veryy clear facts. no sides wher never taken its just as i wrote before they want to run the show.
lets all remember build yourself but not at the same time bash somone els.

23

 Sep 09, 2008 at 10:23 AM yoichy Says:

the fact is, that with a new condidate comes together new programs and more funds, so why should we stay with our old one if we can use a "change" ?!?!?!?!?

24

 Sep 09, 2008 at 02:07 PM Anonymous Says:

As a Williamsburger this is how I see it. A lot of people are angry at Satmar (Zalonim) for trying to shove their opinions down their throats. They are extremely angry at the leadership for not stopping, and are even encouraging the "Shabbos shryers" who are making a big chilul haShem, when tourists or motorists driving by and capture video of it. Therefore many are supporting the "Aaronim" and will vote for their candidate. My opinion is that it's morally wrong to throw an incumbent out if he has served the community well, and I don't care what dirty politics says. It was equally wrong a few years ago when Williamsburg endorsed Schumer against the incumbent Senator DeMato who was a fighter for the Jewish people. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

25

 Sep 10, 2008 at 04:00 AM suicider Says:

It's all over. Yes our candidate has won! After 9 years of hearing what a minority we are, we have shown Williamsburg residents and local politicians who has the power. The results show how very close this race was, a difference of just 2,000. This is even better for us as it shows the politicians how important it is to have our bloc vote.

Let's make a summary:
Monroe is controlled by us.
Boro-Park is controlled by us.
And now Williumsburg is slowly and steadily moving into our column.

26

 Sep 10, 2008 at 12:23 PM Anonymous Says:

"Controlled by us"!!! Who wants to be controlled by you? I don't know why it's so great that one dictatorship will take over another one. It's time that those representing the Williamsburg community should represent the entire community there. "Controlled by us" should not be part of anybodies vocabulary.

27

 Sep 10, 2008 at 05:25 PM ah Mechaya Says:

Don't be trapped in the same trap - Zalonim / Niederman wanted to dictate, yelling shabbos etc. this is their results "big losers". Do what you need to and don't try to force your opinion on others.

28

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