Orange County, NY – For many Orthodox Jewish voters who cast their ballot for him, Mitt Romney’s support for Israel was considered a plus, particularly in contrast to President Obama’s tepid support of America’s only Democratic ally in the Middle East.
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But in Kiryas Joel, a village founded by staunch, anti-Zionist leader Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, residents say they were told to vote for Obama. “We were unofficially told to vote for Obama because Romney is pro-Israel,” one villager told the New York Post (http://bit.ly/SV97Po).
Shimon Rolnitzky, a Satmar Chassid said, “Some people voted for Obama to make a statement that they disagree with what they believe are unfair attacks against the president by Zionist interests.”
As previously reported on VIN News, Satmar Jews were instructed by the Grand Rebbe Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum at last year’s annual Satmar dinner to show support for Obama. “We enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of religion,” The Grand Rebbe said. “But recently self-appointed Jewish leaders have gotten up and insulted the President in the worst way. Their words have been broadcast on the radio and television and all the media. Why should Jews come out in public with these sort of statements? It is provoking the nations to hate us and it brings danger upon Jews not only here but all over the globe. We mustn’t forget that this is exile. Who knows what the effects of this irresponsible behavior could be?”
Thus far, the unofficial tally in Kiryas Joel shows Romney earned 1,904 votes of the 5,286 votes counted, while Obama won 1,442, a significant increase for Obama compared with 2008, which saw McCain take home around 90 percent of the village’s vote.
Jews are their own worst enemy
The should all fast twice a week for a year and ask for forgivness
That’s what you call self hatred…
I would like to suggest that a Romney victory would have meant a reduction in aid to municipalities in order to keep taxes down for the wealthiest. It probably would have meant a reduction in Section-8 assistance to the many in the Satmar communities who are recipients of this subsidy. In the end, all politics are local. The protest against Zionist interests took a back to seat to Mi-sheluni paying market rents for the apartments they occupy.
Let’s face it, they need their medicaid, welfare, food stamps and section 8. Nothing at all to do with Israel.
They’re embarrassed to say the true reason why voting for Obamba, so grand rabbi Aaron came up with this excuse. Talk about killing 2 birds with 1 stone!
Nothing like Jews acting to put other Jews at risk. And they have the חוצפה to question how Kastner acted with the train (which saved the Satmar rebbe, btw, who evidently didn’t mind ציונים when it was expedient).
Look,frum Jews in the last few years became increasingly very outspoken about Israel.At one time we know that it is AIPAC the politicians are afraid of which made sense because the money rich American secular Jews give them.But now its Jews from Brooklyn,Queens, Upper west Side who are making every election about Israel which is a great chilul hashem.Anyways, no matter who is President the US remains a friend of Israel so why make noise?Israel are big boys why do they care what the president of the USA says.
Comes to show you that you cant go against Hashgacha Pratis and we were not sent to exile becuase we lost to the romans but becuase Umipnei Chatoeinu Golinu Meiartzeinu till the coming of Moshiach.The creation of the state of Israel was and still is the greatest tragedy that happened to Jews in every way.Israel is the least safest place to live in. Close to thirty thousand Jews were killed in Israel since its creation it doesn’t matter that many were killed in wars it matters that its Jews who were killed.Yeah i know its not popular what i say but its the truth.
Next time they come to LA for Tzedkah we will show them the door!
This comment will most likely never be posted on VIN, but I’ll try anyway. Among Jews, two groups with similar ideologies are the hard core supporters of Obama – Satmar and Reform. Both of these groups may claim to be opposing Zionism, but in reality they’re both strongly opposing the first Rashi in the Torah: “Hashem created the Earth and gave the Land of Israel to the Jews.”
K.J. is one of the most poorest counties in America and heaviest burden on NY State in welfare support. The Grand Rebbe there is not a wizard, but understands that government aid is critical to the survival of his community. All the fantasy anti-Zionist considerations is just smoke screen. No rabbi is insane enough to admit that the reason he ordered his flock to vote for Obama is for government aid.
listen you gotta respect people that follow what they were thought. The Holy Satmar rabbi’s whole life was to demonstrate against zionisim (in his own words), and Kol Hakavod to his followers for listening to him.
Like it or not, if this was his daas Torah, then his followers must abide by it.
Medicade and food stamps conversation does not belong here, its neither here or there, the entire kolel system in lakewood is not much better and i dont hear anyone question BMG about it.
Finally no one should have to answer why they voted for someone or who they voted for. Simcha Felder voted WITH Bloombers against Metzizah Bpeh and EVERY Rabbi endor$$ed him , enough $aid
Let’s see….
Do we vote for someone who OMG!!!! “supports” Israel? …..
Or do we vote for a party whose platform is “pro” everything the Torah in parshas Achray Mos & K’doshim is AGAINST??
So these hassids are in bed with those who support all toayvas. Thank G-d you suckers are in Socialist NY state.
To me and other Jews who think of Israel and formost these creatures dont amount to a hill of beans.
They are first and formost schnorrers who peddle some strange Judaism, that has nothing to do with Yiddishkeit, for Yiddishkeit goes hand in hand with menchlichkeit, which they obviously lack.
Remind me never ever to give them a dime. As a matter of fact I shall never ever give them a thought.
It is so sad that people, our people, can being burying their heads in the sand on any and all issues and turn anything around to serve their own agenda. This Rabbi is concerned about what was said about the president???? What is he not concerned about what the president said about the Jews?
” It is provoking the nations to hate us and it brings danger upon Jews not only here but all over the globe. We mustn’t forget that this is exile.”
Hmm although I hear the concept of the revered late rabbi Joel Teitlebaum ZL, regarding Israel and being in exile. However, what I fail to comprehend is do we need to actually bring this “exile” upon ourselves?!
Yes, there is freedom of speech and etc. and you should indeed utilize it what you feel fit within the boundaries of law. There is nothing that conflicts the fact that we are in exile, with what some feelings we have personally against Obama (i.e. NOT the USA in itself), especially when many Americans feel the same way!
Reply to #9 Next time you come to NY they’ll show you Chesed!
Anyone who votes Democrat even on a state, county level should be Pasul edes
All the Rebe said is that the issue of Israel has nothing to do with Jews which is their Halachag line and they didn’t take it into account while casting their vote.
Still if you are a frum Jew of any type Satmar will help you with your Chesed organizations like Rubashkin who is Chabad got full support from Satmar and their Bikur Cholim helps any frum Jew even the Zionists.
Satmars don’t like to hear that Yoel Mi Satmar was saved by Zionist, while R, Yoel told many of his Chasisidm to rather stay in Hungary then go to Israel.
I think the Rabeini Yole. Would rather vote for anti Gay vs zionist
There is no leader that knows what to do when!!!
Do they think that obama hates a satmar less than a tziyoini?
On another note it is entertaining as always to watch religious fundamentalists abuse the same holy book to invent beliefs they staunchly support. Observation:
One group of frum Jews in 5 Towns are ready to move to settlements in Israel because they think Obama is existential threat to Israel’s existence. Romney’s defeat was like mass Shiva on Long Island. Chossids with their “anti-Zionist” fanaticism use the same holy book to make political decisions and in this case voted for Obama because they think he is anti-Israel and that will save the world. The third frum group from all 5 boroughs ran to vote for Romney because their rabbis have terrorized them with the idea that there will be more destructive hurricanes everywhere because Obama supports gay marriage. Now they invent direct scientific Torah link between natural disasters and gay marriage. Apparently in Sodom and Gemora there was a national movement to legalize gay marriage.
The medinah as a political entity is not the issue. What about the millions of Jews — Satmar chasisdim among them — who live within Ertetz Yisrael? Shouldn’t the voters in Kiryas Yoel be concerned about Jews in Israel who may be in peril without American support?
People who think President Obama has a negative attitude toward Israel should consider the following:
Obama has taken many positive actions for Israel including: rejecting the Goldstone report that criticized Israeli actions in the war in Gaza; asking Congress to approve a $205 million package to help Israel build a new anti-missile defense system; successfully advocating for Israel’s admission into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; giving a speech in the heart of the Arab world, in which he told his listeners that they need to recognize the legitimacy of a Jewish state; stating to the UN General Assembly clearly and unequivocally that “Israel is a sovereign state and the historic homeland of the Jewish people” and “It should be clear to all that efforts to chip away at Israel’s legitimacy will only be met by the unshakeable opposition of the US.”
Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have stated many times that the U.S. has been extremely cooperative in meeting Israel’s security needs.
Another example of Obama’s strong support for Israel is his very positive response to a frantic, middle-of-the-night call from Israeli Prime Min
I think most people fail to see the obvious here, and that is that in spite of explicit instructions by their grand Rabbi, an overwhelming majority of Satmar used their own mind and joined the rest of the Frum community in doing the right thing, voting for Romney.
Bottom line, the vast majority of Frum people, save a few extremists on this site, voted Romney.
#34 Thats why 56% in KJ voted for romney.
As someone who is neither chassidishe or a resident of NY/NJ, I find this conversation fascinating on many levels. It highlights the misinformation that seems to be rampant in the frum community – many voted for Romney because they think he supports their values, when he is opposed to as many Torah values as he claims to support. Others apparently voted for Obama because they falsely believe he is anti-Zionist, when he has the same policies as the Republicans. Some of these who voted for Obama did so because of the influence of a religious leader; however, the Democratic party supports separation of religion and state while the Republican party largely opposes it (as long as the religion is christian). The blue states have the highest levels of income and education, and pay more in tax than they receive, while Romney won most of the states with the lowest levels of economic productivity and education, and the highest levels of federal support, yet frum Jews living in the blue states ignore what surrounds them and claim Democrats take handouts. I was raised thinking Jews were smart and education – I am disappointed in us.
The great satmar rav z”l was once visited by a gentile politician seeking votes, the goy wanted to show the rebbe how fond he is of the jewish people, so he began praising the israeli goverment…it was to late for the people in the room to stop him, however, to the surprise of everyone , the rebbe smiled and gave him a warm blessing…after he left, the rebbe explained to the bewildered chassidim as follows, regardless of our opinion that the state of israel is prohibited by the torah
After reading this article and the postings above, I can only conclude that Teitelbaum is either misinformed or deliberately trying to sow the seeds of sinas chinam among klal yisroel. It is unspeakable to imagine that the rav would order his followers to oppose a Presidential candidate because they have provided moral and economic support to EY. Imagine how many lives of yidden have been saved simply through the existance of the medinah. I voted for Obama and was glad to see him re-elected as our President. However, I have respect for Romney and his unflinching support for EY. Teitelbaum’s position is offensive at best and a chilul hashem at worst.
איך האב געהערט נאכזאגען פון הייליגען “סאקמערער” רבי’ן זי”ע, אז מען האט עהם געזאגט אויף איינעם א קאנדידאט א “מעלה” אז ער איז אקעגען מדינת ישראל, האט ער געזאגט, אז ער איז א “שונא ישראל”. – סוף דבר – א גוי וואס איז נישט קיין סימפאטיקער צו ציונים, איז אן אנטיסעמיט
Hitler was also anti Zionist, and yes jewish leaders said some nasty things about him also. So would the Satmar support Hitler? I guess so!
Dear Reb Joel and Reb Zalman; Where will you and your chassidim run to when the tide turns and the anti Semitic heat turns up in Williamsburg and heilige upstate New York? You’re not worried. You know what you’ll do. You’ll call your travel agent and buy up thousands of tickets to Israel. You know they will accept you with open arms. You’re not losing any sleep because you know that the treife Zionist medina SAVED the life of Rav Yoel from the flames of the Holocaust even though you never acknowledge this when you educate your children. And you know that the awful terrible treife medina will save you and your chassidim because they believe that all Jews stand together. So isn’t it time to stop all this anti-Israel nonsense and join your Jewish brothers in their common fate?
#63 - well written. Total agreement.
Wealthy- Romney
Middle class- Obama
The poor- obvious
Little to do with Israel.
Obama got 69 percent of the jewish votes he got less then 50% of the vote in kiryas yoel but you people condem the jews in kiryas yoel. Sinas Am Ha’aretz L’talmud Chuchem
To Anonymous no. 27. I assume you are a Chabadsker since you have a problem with people using “St.” in the name of the place they may have come from. But even if you’re not, your comment is incorrect.
My father A’H came from Satmar. He always said the name “Satmar” comes from the Romanian name of the city/town “Satu Mare” pronounced “sahtoo mahray” which means large village in English. Don’t believe me? Try Google Translate and translate “sat” and “mare” from Romanian into English.
So – who is the fool?
In this entire forum nobody really gets it, even the satmara….
The issue is that RJC tried to paint obama as a anti-zionist anti-semite etc.. and the reason is simply because his opinion is not as hawkish & radical as the right wing israelis, unfortunately the right wing view was recently adopted in the chareidi community as well, as the biggest supporters of building on illegal settlements etc…
Obama is just following his predecessor George Bush to continue with a peace process, the radical government of bibi is ignoring it for every price & that includes the chareidim… every sane person who is not influenced by settler movement believe that this is greatest threat and danger for the Jews in Israel, besides the point that this is greatest hisgarus beumos (supported by the chareidim), so to argue that Obama is anti-israel because he wants to make peace is just ignorant insane.
Guys, for one moment take away all “love” for Israel for a second, and just think of the safety of the Jewish People, do we need to exchange blood for more land?
The last few years the image of Israel deteriorated drastically because of this big chilul hashem.
Thanks to satmar, they try 2 repair