Crown Heights, NY – Speaking Motzei Shabbos at the annual Satmar dinner commemorating the escape of Grand Rebbe R’ Yoel Teitelbaum Zt’l from the Nazis in 1944, Satmar Rebbe R’ Aron Teitelbaum, from Kiryas Joel, NY, spoke passionately about how the Rebbe taught his followers to be proud of their Satmar heritage, to continue in their customs in America, the dangers of Zionism and strongly condemned those who speak out against President Obama.
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R’ Teitelbaum told a crowd of thousands at the New York State Armory in Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY that we are obligated to make a public statement that religious Jews pray daily for the welfare of the United States, which includes a special blessing for its leaders wishing them continued success in their efforts to bring peace to the world and said that it is those leaders who support the state of Israel who are guilty of insulting President Obama in a public forum.
“We live in a malchus shel chesed,” said R’ Teitelbaum. “We enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of religion. But recently self-appointed Jewish leaders have gotten up and insulted the President in the worse 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?”
The 21st day of Kislev is celebrated annual by Satmar chasidim worldwide as the day R’ Yoel Teitelbaum escaped from Hungary and this year marks the 67th anniversary of the Grand Rebbe’s escape from the Nazis. R’ Teitelbaum was among over 1600 people who were transported out of Hungary by train due to the efforts of Rudolf Kastner, one of the leaders of Budapest’s Vaadat Ezra V’Hatzalah, who brokered a deal with Adolph Eichmann to let the passengers leave in exchange for a large sum of money, diamonds and gold. While Eichmann reneged on the deal and had the train sent to Bergen Belsen, the train was finally released after four months of negotiations and the passengers finally obtained their freedom when they arrived in Switzerland.
To listen to the speech in Yiddish below:
We may disagree with the President (its America) but it must be done in a respectful way.
Git Gezugt Rabbi Shlita
I was there last night, it was an amazing sight, the biggest event ever in Satmar’s history, I heard the Rebbe talk about President Obama, you could hear a needle drop, such a suspense, in reality there has been an Hefkeirus with many so called Jewish leaders trying to outdo each other with bashing our President, come on? as Torah Jews in Galus we must respect our government who protect us like never before in Jewish History, the Rebbe is 100% correct on this.
The. Fact that obama claims that he is the best to israel where in fact its a lie still deserve critics……..
I’m not affiliated with Satmar in anyway, but I have to agree with the Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum.
I am pro-Israel etc., but if you listen closely to what he says (never mind the accent) he says “Dvarim shel ta’am”!
Bottom line: we’ve got to be caerfull what we say and where we say it.
We don’t have to agree with the president, but we have to respect him nevertheless.
Let’s use our freedom of speech for wisely!
He is right and definitely made a big kiddush Hashem by saying this! You may disagree with the president (as I do on every I repeat on every aspect) but you gotta do it in a respectfull way hes right! We jews gotta be reminded that we are told to be misspallel for the president in all his ways even though hes a democrat and even obama!! Lol.
Let’s all disagree with the president & vote him OUT!!
The issue is not to criticize Obama and disagree with his policies, but to bash him because of Israel that a problem.
He’s still busy with the tzionim, sixty some years later.
He’s making a valid point. There is something I don’t understand maybe someone can explain it to me. How is that satmar has these ultra liberal politicians and figures come to their sukkas and gatherings (bloomberg who should be considered according to satmar a mimer lhachis…) And they applaud these lowlifes and shake hands with them in a holy sukka! If I recall there is a halacha that you should not be mischabar im harasha…. If someone has a valid explanation please share it.
You should respect the president and also the people living in your village!
He doesn’t get it. American Jews are embarrassed at having elected a leader that has spent his presidency squeezing Israel and appeasing terrorists. Obama will be bashed by every educated American Jew until he reverses the damage. Fortunately, there are prior commitments and a Congress that prevents Obama from completely abandoning Israel or trashing a portion of American policy on Israel.
Never thought I’d agree but the Rebbe is correct.
Well said.
BTW, his brother Rabbi Zalman Leib Shlita also spoke about this matter in from of about 6000 followers last night, as he strongly opposed those attack our honorable president
Yup, well said. We should never forget the Chessed that America does for us. We might disagree sometimes with the President but we may never act disrespectful. Hakoras Hatov!
The other satmar rebbe said d same thing.
I as a survivor of concentration camp even though not a Satmarer have the greatest derech eretz for what he Rebbe said and it should be heeded and it should be a lesson for some of the nivel peh which even appeared on this website. He is a the Rosh hamemshela of the greatest power in world and country where Yidden have an unprecedented status politcally and otherwise. Don’t be foolish that you have direct line to hashem yisborach. MAybe Satmar has more insight due Reb Yoel zeicher zaddik livrocha escape
Why do rabbanim talk politics when they don’t pay attention to this “shtus”???
Obama is anti-Israel. Satmar is anti-Israel. Therefore, they agree and you can’t take anything they say about each other as 100%… take it with a few grains of salt.
The only way to stop anti-semitism, is by teaching ourselves, to sincerely care for all of mankind, Yidden and the Umos Ho’olom.
Only then will HKB”H, Never-Again, instigate anti-semitism.
Speaking about anti-semitism, while at the same time, repeating the Memreh, of Eisuv Soineh L’Yaakov, which includes every single non-jew, is counter productive.
when Hitler yemach shemo came into power in the 1930’s, and started ranting and raving against the jews,there were some Rabbonim in Europe who insisted,that jews should not make waves,and should keep quiet,and keep on making MI SHEBERACH’S in SHULL for Hitlers government,of course we know the tragic ending of this,
now,am i comparing Hussein Obama to Hitler ?,of course not,but let’s be aware and understand,that Obama’s policy’s in the middle east,is just as dangerous to the six million jews living in Israel,as Hitler’s policy’s was in Germany,therefore us jews who care for our brothers and sisters in Israel,and don’t want to see another holocaust,we must do everything in our power to make sure Hussein Obama is not re’elected.
Interesting. So his shita is, that in golus, we’re never allowed to criticize the president? That’s quite a daas yochid. I’d be interested in seeing any tshuvos from gedolim that say that.
thank you VIN for posting the Satmarer Rebbe’s drusha, wise and appropriate devorim.
more then 10,000 pepole are saying yes the rabbi is 100% correct
Since both Satmer Rebbe’s spoke about The President the same thing, doesn’t that make u think that these 2 brother’s are really in good terms and speaking 1 to the other , and just the chasidim are fighting ?
If u look how many people both had Noch a Mazel they r separated, u couldn’t off put all the people in 1 place
One can respect the US government but still criticize Obama, who is just one part of the government who has to be accountable to us and can be voted in or out every four years.
For once I agree with him…
Is the blood of Jews in Eretz Yisroel not sacred?!
Would Obama assist terrorists attacking a Satmar neighborhood, would the rebbe shlitta still hold that it is forbidden to speak out against him?!
Bill Ayers sent the flotilla, and Obama openly called for an investigation into the marines killing of 9 terrorists in self defense, and then Obama declared on national TV that the blockade of Gaza is unsustainable. Every Jew is obligated to pray for the welfare of all Jews, and that means that criminals and terrorists such as Obama should be removed from endangering us.
The Rebbe is 100% right. And it could be the Rebbe mentioned this, I didn’t hear his speech, but beyond the fact we have to be disrespectful when disagreeing but the fact is this president- and I’m not a democrat and did not vote nor will I vote for President Obama, did a lot of good things for Israel. We are not privy to all what goes on but officials in both governments continuosly say there is remarkable intelligence sharing and real time co-operation between both countries in all areas. I think it sends a terrible message when us Jews don’t show any appreciation for anything he has done. That said I hope Mitt Romney becomes our next president.
I think Rebbe.is mixing up,elected official,with Malchus.
As we live,in a democracy,we have every right to critcize,the elected leader,as this IS
democracy,at its best.
He,Obama, is being villified,and ostracised,by the majority of USA citizens.
So,why not add our voices,to be heard.
Hisagrus Beumois?Give me a break.
It is b’geder loi Samoid al dam reiachu,if someone believes,Obama is damaging Israel,and keeps quiet.Wheter this is the case,needs discussion.
But critique,and disagreement,is important,and is not Hisgarus.
While I agree with the thought that we should show Hakores HaTov to the US, I spit on Obama. I didn’t really have a problem so much with Clinton because although he was rough on Israel I didn’t think his policies stemmed so much from hate. Obama’s do. So I RESPECTFULLY disagree with the Rebbe & I will continue to use every chance I can get to attack Obama & his administration.
By the way, America has seen more & worse acts of anti-semitism since Obama & his obviously pro-Muslim/pro-Arab cohorts came into office. So the US ain’t so great for the Jews at the moment. Let’s give the Republicans a chance in 2012: it can’t be worse, except to see Israel obliterated.
Chairman Obama’s policies have greatly damaged the US economy, his policies have been intensely hostile to Israel, he has caused radical Islamic regimes to proliferate under the guise of spreading democracy, he has appointed vicious Jews haters, leftists, and terrorists to government offices, he has vigorously promoted homosexuality, and he has undermined state efforts to control illegal alien criminals. All these policies have caused great anger and dissension in the heartland of America, and yet Jews continue blindly supporting Obama.
Exactly which policies of Chairman Obama does the Rebbe consider to be acceptable, and not warranting criticism?
The Rebbe claims to be concerned about provoking hatred among the nations. Is the Rebbe so detached from reality that he doesn’t understand that when Jews defend the most un-American and most anti-Israel president, this causes decent heartland Americans to utterly despise Jews?
Lev melachim v’sarim b’yad Hashem. If Obama does something “bad” for Jews, being upset and bashin him is silly. He didn’t do it. Hashem made him do it. So instead of bashing we should daven for the safety of EY and all Jews.
The problems with the US president and Israel is the same whether the president is democrat or republican. Israel needs to stand up and say it has a G-d given right to the land and to protect its citizens. Even though Satmar does not think there should be a Jewish government in power before Moshiach, what does it say about a terrorist president from Iran that is threatening Israel and Arabs who when given land, attack Israel more? Does he really think that Jews and Jewish holy sites would be safer if, G-d forbid, Arabs or international bodies were in power?
Nice to see that between the two groups thousands of Jews commemorated the liberation of the Grand Rebbe R’ Yoel Teitelbaum Zt’l from the Nazis in 1944. Why is politics discussed at these events. Are those who bash Obama attending the event? And if the bashers were listening (non other than via the internet) do they understand Yiddish? If the bashers are being addressed why not speak in a language which they understand. I am not sure who the audience is when discussing politics. It would be best that the speeches be kept to real issues affecting the Satmar communities, like banning the internet, ensuring that only Yiddish is spoken, modest clothing, etc.
Most of us don’t hold and don’t paskin with what the Satmar say.
listen closely what this so called rebbe is saying,we jews here in America baruch hashem,we live in a malchus shel chesed,never in history have we jews had it so good,we have all the freedoms,all the lavish government programs,please let’s not rock the boat,and get the goyim angry at us,even though it is pretty obvious that Hussein Obama is doing everything in his power to help the Arab nazi’s to destroy Israel and perpetuate another Auschwitz on our brothers and sisters in Eretz yisroel,well it’s not our problem,we have to worry first and foremost about us here in the U.S,let the jews in Israel take care of themselves,
doesn’t this remind us that this exactly what Stephen Weiss and the other reform rabbi’s argued 68 yrs ago when millions of our brothers and sisters were gassed and burned in the crematoriums.
CH.S
#45 let me educate u. Its not satmer who is against having a jewish state. Its the torah. (If u know what it is ) and don’t ask sill questions. Hashem has all the power
He’s brother said m’mu nafshoch we not aloud to talk against the president, if he is not an anti semite and he will hear so much that he is , till he will get an anti semite . Divrei pi chuchom chein.
I am no Satmar fan but I am impressed with Rav Aron’s sentiments regarding the President and the U.S. in general.
satmar takes issue with american zionist jews meddling there power to advance an “israel first” agenda, the rebbe wanted to set the record straight that for jews in america their loyalty stands with the USA first, and that is the safest policy for jews all over the globe, including jews in israel.
It’s odd that none of the other gedolim criticize people for criticizing Obama, only the Rebbe. And he only condemns criticism of Obama’s stance on Israel. One wonders if he would be condemning Obama critics if it were some other issue involved like cleaning up old cemeteries in Europe, money for Kiryas Joel, which color socks to wear on shabbos vs weekday, or some other issue of greater importance than Israel.