Kirays Yoel, NY – This Sunday, August 16 the 26th of Av, marks the 30th year since the passing of Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, zecher tzadik livracha, the legendary leader of the robust Satmar Chasidim.
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Rabbi Teitelbaum, or Reb Yoilish (or, more formally, the Baal Divrei Yoel, and Baal Vayoel Mosha), as he was known, rebuilt a devastated Chasidic dynasty on American soil. More importantly, he presided over three decades of the transformation of the Williamsburg, Brooklyn neighborhood into an entrenched, flourishing fortress of Chasidic life.
Reb Yoilish survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during WWII, arriving in the United States in 1946 after a brief stay in the Holy Land.
His uncompromising stance on Orthodoxy became the gold standard used by the dozens of other Chasidic groups that took up residence under his shadow in Williamburg in the post-War years. Among his numerous identifying stances is his insistence on the highest levels of modesty; he approved the Palm brand of non-see-through women’s hosiery manufactured by the Brach family.
Reb Yoilish is perhaps most identified with his staunch opposition to Zionism, which he saw as a grave spiritual threat to authentic Jewish practice and belief. But Reb Yoilish is also known for spearheading in the late 1970s what later came to be known as Kiryas Joel.
With his right-hand man Reb Lipa Friedman A’h and Rabbi Leibish Lefkovits A’h, with various other activists at his side, Reb Yoilish and his Chasidim originally looked at a property in New Jersey upon which to build a new village outside the decadent big city. Ultimately, they ended up in upstate Monroe, New York.
Kiryas Joel, designed to safely isolate future generations of Chasidim from insidious cultural influences in Brooklyn, is now a sprawling oasis of Torah study, tzedakah and chesed that is home to tens of thousands of overwhelmingly Satmar Chasidim.
450 Photos below credit: to Josh
Reb Yoelish’s tzidkus was only matched by his scholarship.
Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt of Memphis, Tennessee, shlita, [a big talmid chocham] a talmid muvhak of Reb Moshe Feinstein, zatzal, told VIN News in a different interview that when he asked Reb Moshe who to consult on Torah learning, he was told, “go to Reb Yoelish—he has kol hatorah kulah in his head and knows more than anyone from this generation.” Rabbi Greenblat told VIN news that when he first met the satmarer rabbi after the advice of his rabbi, he was mesmerized of the Bekias Hatorah of Reb Yolish.
Rabbi Wein, who merited a personal visit from the Rebbe in 1960s Miami Beach while serving as a rov in that city, paraphrases a gemara about the passing of a great Tanna, who was mourned by a contemporary who said, “Now there is no one to be afraid of.” The Satmarer Rebbe, who came to symbolize absolute adherence to the highest levels of frumkeit, inspired awe in all, says the rabbi.
Never Before Seen Video Of The legendary Satmar Rabbi Credit: Shiezoli of YouTube
It can perhaps be said that the greatest measure of a great man is what he leaves behind when he dies—or what he doesn’t. Reb Yoelish left this world with the slimmest of personal possessions, and absolutely no money. Whatever money he had always went to tzedakah, and thousands of Jews will attest that it was the Satmarer Rebbe who was baal chesed of the generation, having discreetly helped them through crushing troubles over the decades.
While there were those who disagreed with Reb Yoilish’s philosophies, especially regarding how to deal with the Zionistic creation of a Jewish State, they all knew they were dealing with a profoundly holy tzadik and maintained the utmost respect. Rabbi Yolish was the first and only Tazdik to write a book specifically about the subject of Zionism known as The ‘Vayoel Mosha’. Rabbi Yolish never wavered. He regarded the establishment of Israel as a satanic act and was convinced that the Holocaust was a divine punishment for Zionism. Even though, as he noted, “I have become the object of scorn and contempt no force in the world shall move me from my stand to accept, God forbid, the [Zionist] heresy, from which the Merciful One must save us”.
The great tzadik and leader Reb Yoelish Teitelbaum passed away in 1979, leaving a huge community, and Klal Yisroel, grieving for its terrible loss. 30 years later thousands of his chasidim still continue to talk with tearful emotions of ‘Der Hilger Rabbi’, as they used to call him.
His funeral was attended by tens of thousands of Chasidim and Jewish (and non-Jewish) leaders, by some estimates in the secular media more than 100,000 including many from the then-young Kiryas Joel. It was considered an historic event in the state of NY.
Reb Yoilish was laid to rest in Kiryas Joel.
Beginning late Saturday night, thousands are expected to pay their respects at his grave.
In the years and decades since his passing, the tziyun of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoilish Teitelbaum has become a shrine for many Jews, from Chasidim to Litvaks and even to secular Jews. Around the year, all have found Reb Yoilish’s kever a most appropriate place for tefilah.
Y’Hi Zichro Baruch. One can truly tell the gadlus of the man as one glances around at the different types of Jews who come and show their respect to this great sage. From Litvish to Chasiddish Tzioni to Meah Sheorim he loved them all
As we commemorate and remember his life, must also remember those who made his life Possible.
He survived being Killed by the Nazis only because of a Zionis, Mr. Kasztner, on the infamous Kasztner’s train.
Although Satmar celebrates his Yom Hatzolah, they never mention that his life was saved by the Zionists of Kasztner’s train.
May The Satmar Ruv ZTl be a Melitz Yoisher for us all in these troubling times.
I think the zioinists bounced that check and kastner had this famous dream
Z’chis Yugayn U’layni V’al Kol Yisrual Umayn.
FYI: The Munkacher Rebbe wrote a sefer about the subject of zionism (I forgot the title) before Satmer Ruv, but it has become less widely known since the publishing of “VaYoel Moshe”.
thanks vin for bringing us this gorgeous clip, most of it is so clear, and so we get a glimpse into his holy life,
I was thinking about #2 ’s comment and I say punkt farkert. Of course the satmar rebbe was thankful to mr. Kastner for saving his life. Hakaras hatov is one of the fundamental parts of yiddishkeit. But even so, when he saw what the zionist entity was doing and how they were intent on distroying the torah and yiddishkeit the way it was for thousand of years, he still overcame his deep feeling and sentiment of hakaras hatov and fought the zionists tooth and nail. I believe this is even greater than just being thankful for saving someones life.
it’s the biggest gethering after miron
While he was a great tzadik and talmid chacham, he also was ahead of his time. Note that the photo shows him driving around in a sleek convertible, not some conservative sedan.
I’m truly jealeous at the ppl who knew this man! I can only imagine how much my life would be different had I known him!
Wow!!! This video is simply AMAZING!!! I’ve seen pictures of my Heiliger Rebbe all my life but never have I seen him alive… It shows just a glimpse of what he was…
May he rest peacefully in gan eiden and be a meilitz yoisher for all of us in these trying times.
Zeicher tzadik l’vrucha…
also my birthday! what a zchus!
The video brought back a lot of memories, one point I would like to make, the Rebee Z’L always showed respect to every Jew regardless of their affiliation as you could see in the video a lot of people who came to him for advise or just to spend some time he talked to them with a hand shake and always a smile, I just hope the current young generation will go back in time and learn from this Holy Man how to treat other Jews.
I am student of world war II, you are wrong, whatever was Kastner’s view about the Satmer Rebbe will never be known, and from history it is not well developed who specifically pushed Kastner to add the Rebbe to be one of the 1600 plus lucky Jews. Regardless what his intent was, Hashem used him as a shliach, him and him only that says it all.
Blaming the Holocaust on the Zionists, others of his stature blaming the Holocaust on the secular Jews and reform movement. How typical of these leaders to come up with their own philosophies and prophecies when only Hashem himself knows the reason. The orthodox settlers in Judea and Samaria today will vehemently disagree with his view on Zionism.
it looks from the video that the rebbe ztl is looking at some sort of maps. Was that maps of the kiryas yoel properties?
thanx for the video, a good part of the video was when the rebbe was in Montreal. You can recognize many ppl on it.
Kastner made grubb gelt off the train. he sold seats on the train for tens of thousands of dollars . I never believed the bubbe maiseh of him having a dream that the satmer rebbe must be included. He was included because of fierce shtadlunos, $$$$, and it helped kastner demand money from the orthodox community in budapest, notably Mr. Stern.
reply to #5
Who cares whether what kastners motives were,the fact is that Reb Yoelish was saved by no less than a tzioni!!!
What makes it not Kastners train?At the end of the day everything is from above…no chiddush in that!!So i guess it was the will of hashem that in levushei hateva he be saved by no less….than a tzioni!!!
I am now a 62-year old man. When I was a bochur in Mirrer Yeshiva, Rav Avraham Kalmonowitz, Z”L, the Rosh Yeshiva then, (Rav Shraga Moshe’s father) told me:
The Satmar Rov is the Godol and Tzadik HaDor. He said the Satmar Rov was the number ONE in his vast knowledge of Torah, and was the greatest yiras shomayim of the generation. He said that the Satmar Rov did not only have the “largest knowledge” of Torah inside him, but the best “Understanding” of Torah. He then added, that the world was staying in existence in the Satmar Rov’s zchus. He said that the Satmar Rov was a gift from Hashem to a generation which had gone far astray, a generation which was rewriting our religion. It is over 50 years, so the words are not exact, but they are darn close.
I was then, and still am a Yeshivish person, not a Chossid. But, I had NEVER to this day heard of any godol of modern times described that way by a person of Rov Kalmanovitch’s stature.
I remember this so clearly because it was the most shocking think I had ever heard a rov whom I respected say. I can still see in my mind today, the Rosh Yeshiva’s face, red with emotion, telling me this.
Two years later, I met Rav Moshe, ZT”L in camp, in the country. I related to him what my Rosh Yeshiva told me. He smiled and said, “Every word of that is the truth. There is no one on this world on the level of the Satmar Rov.”
Every year at this holy man’s yahrtzeit, I remember those two conversations. Nothing ever impressed me more than what these two Rosh Yeshivos told me. May he be a meilitz yosher for us all.
As a young child, in Williamsburg, I was walking on Bedford Ave on shabbos and the Rebbe was coming towards me with a group of men. I saw the Rebbe’s face and I knew that this man was a holy man. I got so scared, I ran into a building and hid till the Rebbe passed by. I dont know why I got so scared but I’ll never forget the look of the Rebbe’s face. Watching this clip brought tears to my eyes.
Zechuso Yagen Aleinu !
## b’h we learned from the rebbe to treat others (which others?)with respect too ,(EG: bikor cholim , hacnasas orchim, hatzalah , gemachs etc etc )
The satmar rebbi was a combination of everything a tzadik has. I remember In his last years when he lived in his last house on Bakerstown Rd in Monroe and we girls were in the garden outside the house looking into the window of his room where he accepted people and one person was there, ( looked like this person was in a bad financial situation)” and we saw how the rebbi took the entire Tablecloth folded it,he was being helped doing this by rabbi gluck his right hand man and he gave the enitre tablecloth and everything inside it ( all the cash ) for this person. I remember i was in awe when I wittness this. zeciso yogen olinu
The Rebbes opposition to zionism after the shoah is what I respect most about him. Prior to the shoah the majority of Jews were opposed to zionism and the state of Israel. But following the shoah out of emotions and disarray droves of Jews came to believe in zionism. The Rebbe OBM did not allow emotions to over rule Torah law and dictate his position. Bless him for this and for all else he has done for the Klol Israel. May Hashem send us another Tzedek like him.
תורתו מגן לנו – הוא מאירת עינינו – הוא ימליץ טוב עלינו
It’s amazing that although the satmar rebbe Zatza”l strongly disagreed with many gedolei harabonim He still had the utmost respect and kavod for them. He demanded that his chasidim also not argue with other factions or fight with them.
The Rebbe worked with and for all yidden. It was his authentic ahavas yisroel and achdus that was incredible. The Rebbe’s shalosh seudos drashos was like living through the churban again. Bechiyos and kolos that came from the depths of his neshama.
May he be a mailitz yosher for all of klal yisroel.
It’s hard to believe that 30 years have passed without him. Today we see what a far outlook he had. He commanded everyone’s respect,even his adversaries had great Yiras HaKavod for him. He truly loved every Jew with a passion. He may have been a Zealot but he was a very gentle perso.
When I see young people named Yoel, I have pity on them that they were not Zocheh to see his holy face.
Zchuso Togen Aleinu
all the agrandizing the rov is too much he was flesh and blood and not a g-d lets put things in perspective and also the hate he created in his demonizing the zionists and out of that we have all theese riots in mea shearim they became a state unto themselfs to me it looks like they are all out for a war with the state they hate everyting that it stands for thank to the rebbe nice legacy he left
I heard from my Rosh Yeshiva that a Satmar chossid once heard about a terror attack in Israel, where a soldier was killed. He began saying how the soldier probably deserved it, because the soldiers there hate frum Jews, and the state of Israel was a terrible thing.
The Rebbe zt”l began yelling at him that yes, he was opposed to the founding of Israel, but the people there are still Jews. We have to daven for their safety regardless of where or how they live, because they are still our brothers.
Zecuso Yagen Aleinu V’al Kol Yisroel
uh oh, think of the traffic in that area today.
uch and vey
The Satmar rebbe was without a doubt one of the holiest individuals produced by the Jewish People, and was the greatest guardian to assure that the Torah of Moses is not forgotten. He was the real and most loyal defender of the Torah, a true leader of the Jewish People!
For all those saying the kastner saved the rabbi. What’s your point?
The reason the Video shows only Non-Stamar is because in according with Stamar doctrins it would be “Achas Doso” if anyone tried to film the Rebbe.
Stamar don’t even permit a video recording today, even at an ordinary Chasuna of a Stamar Chossid.
may his neshama have an aliyah and may his battling nephews and their minions cease to be a chillul Hashem on klal Yisroel
Several times, from different people, I was told that the Lubavitcher Rebbe Zt”l, (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneeersohin) told his chassidim that after the war, that they should rely on Satmar to oversee kashrus in New York. They are the most reliable. In addition (according to what I heard from those who heard) the Rebbe told them not to compete with Satmar in the koshser food business, because they get the credit for bringing scrupulous Chassidish standards to this country.
What we lack today is a Rebbe of the Divrei Yoel’s stature.
Zecher Tzaddik L’Brachah.
Thank you to VIN for the beautiful and moving pictures and video.
he was fallible,how many yidin frum perished during the Holocaust because of the satmer rebbie insistence that people stay behind and not make plans or try to go to the (bad) countries of Israel and USA.
How many could have lived if he would have said go go get out anyway you can.
Interestedly, those very rules did not apply to him.
This is fact, one cannot dispute that is has been verified even by satmer people.
Why did he do that, why did he never say, Maybe I made a mistake never apologized to the families that could have escaped.
I think (but not sure) the belzer rebbie at least said he erred I should have told them to leave.
The satmer rebbie never did. I would like someone to explain that.
Why is it that a satmer chusid can say bad things against any gadol (r mosh fienstin, lebovitsha rebbe,bies yisrol,viznitza rebbe. Klosenburg rebbe,r shach, ovadya.yosef,r aliyashuv) and more………..
But if someone does it to satmer rebbi its the biggest outrage yes satmer rebbi was a tzadik but they were other (mini)tzadikim too….
as evident from this video what ahavas yisroal he had to all colors of the jewish spectrum his personality speaks for it self.
there is a lesson is to be learned here, how much love and compassion he had towards a fellow jew.
the jewish world precieved him as a kanuei and never look at the other side of his personality, unfortunetly the rise of zionisim drew his efforts to fend off the movement which made the people look at him in light of a kanuei, if only this wasn’t his timming, how much whould he achive on his efforts of ahavas yisroel and achdus of klal yisroel which was at his core is almost certain.
so lets do his wishes to love another fellow jew regardless of sector or movement and to care, and respect.
the reason why he didnt tell the jews to run bec the romananians/hungarians pretended to be friends with the jews. at the last moment they gave them over to the nazis. not one jew expected it! speak to the survivors from that area. it simply was a horrible time! no one should judge.
In Russia, within Ribbnitzer Rebbe Ztl’s sukah on Hoshanah Rabbah, through a few moments that seemingly the Rebbe dozed off, he suddenly perked up and remarked in yiddish.. In heaven they are currently listening in to Reb Yoel’s drasha!”
When the Ribbnitzer Rebbe Zt’l was informed of Rabbeinu Yoel Ztl’s passing, he broke down and cried, adding in yiddish.. “The last general fell, I no longer have with whom to talk!”
While Satmar Rebbe Ztl’s yahrtzeit comes on the forefront of the Holy days, the Ribbnitzer lands on the heels of them, Isru Chag.
Note: Also a great part of the picture coming up. The holy Skulener Rebbe Zt’l, the chavrusah of the Ribbnitzer Rebbe, who’s yahrtzeit is on erev Rosh Chodesh Elul.
K’sivah Vichasimah Toivah.. Zichusum Yugen Uleinu!
FIRST: Most of the video is in MONTREAL, where I see myself in the films with the Zsiboer Rav and others (Friedman, Waldman, etc.) when he made visits to roshei kehile with the $$$; also an hachnoses Sefer Torah which I remember.
SECOND: The Videos in the garden and the house by the lake is indeed in Miami when he was editing his sefer AL HAGILA V’AL HATMIRA. He was involved in a lot of arguments with Reb Noson Yosef Meisels and others (this was the only sefer he discussed with others BEFORE publication, because he knew it will cause HUGE controversy) what to include and what to remove. He was in a very agitated condition in that period, after the VICTORY of the SIX DAYS WAR. His concern was that he was in the process of even loosing his OWN followers after that so-called ‘miracle’.
Even his Rebetzin Faige got involved in the discussions when the sefer was edited.
The Rebbe was considering to not only place a ban on the KOYSEL, but to all eretz yisroel, as long as the zionists were in control. A lot was removed in editing, including arguments and sources. I know someone who has in his possession manuscripts of editing and working versions of this momentes sefer.
Some are of the opinion that the spiritual damage caused by the Victory of the 6-day war caused his stroke later that year.
There is no question; this was a Rebbe with guts without fear of confronting the entire so-called jewish establishment. Yet, still was respectful to the INDIVIDUALS with whom he fiercly disagreed, disagreed with him. It was astounding how he gave vast sums of money to his ‘oponents’, even when they adhered to their opposition. HE WAS ONE OF A KIND – IN THE MOLD OF THE CHASAN SOFER _ DIVREI CHAIM. Yiddishkeit WITHOUT compromise. His legacy will live on as long as we remain as a folk. YEHE ZICHRO BURECH
#8 3 whether the holy satmar rebbe will have to  216;explain himself 217; is highly doubtful, to long to elaborate why but 1 little pointer i can,.someone whos whole life was  216;biltu lashem levado 217; for kvod shomaim he has special siatte dishmaye and from moshe rabbainu is no kahe you far from convincingly stated your reason..But a little laymen like you comes on a public form(also the other guys like #8 etc) and says such negetive things about such an unparelleled spititual giant of our generation , och un vey (see gemmorah brochos 18a top)
#88 and what makes you think those’200′ books are accurate? they were also written by human beings who had their agenda and wrote accordingly.
On the issue of Kastner; one just has to read Eichman’s (ysv’z) memoirs. There is solid evidence that Kastner was brought to Auswitz to see what was really happening and was warned to keep it to himself otherwise he and his family a close freinds will suffer the same fate. It was Kastner’s job to pacify those jews who spread rumers of what he knew to be the truth. For Kastner it was pure self preservation, as it was for many jews who ‘helped’. He testified that the only reason he included the Satmer rebbe and some of his entourage was because of his father and mother in law, who said that they wont go and the trip will not succed unles reb yolish was included. They needed him NOT the other way around.
It is wrong to blanketly say that Reb Yolish was against escapping or leaving europe. This is a falicy; because NO country wanted to take in any yidden. PERIOD. For those who could emigrate or escape he gave encouregment to do s, including many of my family, even if it involved zionist certificates to Israel. He was even ready to accept such certificate; as it later happned. How do you think he got into british mandate Palestine from Switzerland? which wanted him out in the worst way.
#99 yes, and what makes you think ‘yad vashem’ are so holies of holies and what they say are kemoshe mipi hagvurah?. the holy difvei yoel you criitzise and mock(from you wording)but these oiverei torah of the ‘yad vashem’ is by you holy. this just prooves our point that you are not a ‘questioner’ as you state but an ‘answerer'(to see meaning of my words see other articlein VIN legabay bais halavi ‘i can only answer a question, not answer an answer’. Our view of your ‘haskafos’ are not derived just the by way you critzise the holy tzaddik but by the comments you make on other articles.
#92 you ar right in your understanding of this guy. if you see his postings on other articles you can clearly see he comes with taines one hears from heretics.
#108 you seek YOUR ‘truth ‘ it should be in sync with YOUR outlook…. lets repeat, your postings on other articles that has nothing to do with satmar but ehrliche yidden or true torah stands you also find chizuk for the ‘other’ side. you say truth,not i want to c’v compare you , but they also ‘have the ‘truth’ (oiso ish). you seek the ‘truth’ from YOUR sources.
#109 you say ‘…and that autoumatically puts them closer to g-d’ those are your words.non of the posters said such a thing. please dont add words that wasn’t said its your own view of how you look at a rebbe and his chassidim, but after all the mishneh says ‘asaei lecho rav’ so what are you complaining about .but the tachles of asei lecho rav, or rebbe which serves the same purpouse, is to elevate one self in avodas hashem. a concept which a person is busy reading 200 books from apikorsim which affects the neshame (ruach hatamah) cannot grasp