There is much controversy among the tzibur regarding the Satmar organized protest in Manhattan against the planned draft of bnei yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael. There are those who praise the actions of the participants while others condemn them, accusing participants of causing a chilul Hashem.
Kikar Shabbat reported on Tuesday, 3 Tammuz 5773 that HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita telephoned the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel Shlita to commend him for organizing the event, giving him a bracha to merit continuing being MeKadesh Shem Shomayim.
“You (written in the plural) deserve a big Yasher Koach on your activities to save the Torah world, and your vigilance to protect and defend the principles of Yiddishkheit in Eretz Yisrael against those trying to limit our ways,” Rav Auerbach is quoted as saying.
UPDATE: Sources confirm to YWN that HaRav Shmuel Auerbach also phoned the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg to thank him.
Speakers at the event included Rav Yaakov Weiss, rosh yeshiva in Satmar Yeshiva of Kiryas Yoel; Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg; Rav Yaakov Horowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Bais Meir; Rav Berel Katz, Dushinsky Rov; Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum, rov of Khal Nachlas Yitzchok of Queens; the Galanta Rov; Rav Yaakov Nachman Stauber, menahel of the Satmar Yeshiva of Queens; and Rav Pinchus Jung, menahel of Bais Rochel Girls School in Monsey.
Rav Naftoli Herzka Frankel of the Badatz of the Eidah Hachareidis led the recital of Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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18 Responses
Now, who should we believe?
Can’t know whom to believe. Who said what?
You write: while others condemn them, accusing participants of “causing a chilul Hashem”.
It is good that you wrote “while others” instead of “other gedolei yisroel” since there is not one gadol who condemned it being a chilul Hashem. All HaRav steinman claims is that it doesn’t help, so rather be marba betorah utfilla.
Please bring me one Gadol who condemned it being a chilul Hashem. I’m Waiting!
I don’t see how a peaceful demonstration could be a Hillul ha-Shem. They were demonstrating for learning Torah, and against the war. By making it known you can be
both Jewish and against war it is a tremendous Kiddush ha-Shem, and can be a first step in reaching out to many of our long lost cousins who have come to confuse militaristic zionism with Yiddishkeit. If the crisis continues, it is to be hoped that moderates such as Satmar will be in control, as opposed to the hooigans are apparently are already getting ready to “upgrade” from tossing diapers and light trash cans to methods of protest more common in the middle east.
As much as I dislike Satmar the bottom line is we are not the church. One person does not rule everyone. If Rav Shteinman said you should not go then those that listen to him should not go. If there are others that think you should go then OK. I just totally disagree with the entire protest in general.
#3 Is on target. YWN continues to write they’re own view as if the gedolim agree. Please name one gadol who said it is a “chilul Hashem”. YWN please respond. Don’t continue to hide behind some of your crooked followers to cover for you.
As I read these comments, I have to wonder who opened up the looney bin? Let’s call a spade a spdee. Our Satmir friends have never seen Medinat Yisrael with any love to begin with. Now, do they believe that the government is going to wake up and say “Wow, we’re wrong!” Let the 5,700 to 6,200 boys that we were going to draft circa 2016 stay in their natural environment. Bibi and Yair will get up in front of all of the TV stations and admin that they’ve been wrong.
Or perhaps will the government and most outside the tent forces (our bnai eisov neighbors) just look at these folks on Sunday as just a bunch of guys in black having a day out.
I have not seen anything so far on any of the “Official” channels to indicate that the government is shaking in its boots over this. Chevra Satmir, I think you should go back to where you came from and wait for your next WIC / SNAP /EBT /HEAP payment to arrive.
Rosh Yeshiva of MIR-Flatbush also spoke.
We give credit for YWN for publishing this article. A lesson must be learned not to rush to judgement. Those who are close to R’ Shteinman know, that he only said, they shouldn’t make the protest, and Never told anyone not to go. Same thing applies to Rav Chaim, he only said you should listen to all that R’ Shteinman says. Once It was scheduled By others,He didn’t say to boycott it. There were tremendous gedolei torah there, and it was a big Hisoreros for all that went. Those who stayed home and learned Torah, HKB”h yeshalem secharum. There was no right and Wrong here, except for saying loshon Horah on People.
How can you call it a “real” protest? Not one dumpster went up in flames! Americans obviously don’t know how to do it up right!
I am still waiting for response.
#6 Thanks!
I can’t figure out YWN’s policy of when they reply and when not. Is it perhaps SHTIKA KEHOIDAOH? That’s a good sign and I congratulate them for being erlicha yidden to be mekabel emes memi she’omro.
It would be nice if they remove the words “chilul Hashem” from the main article so that it should be a tshuva “shlaimah”. (I have no problem to have removed thereafter all my comments relating this issue, I’m serious!) Mi ke’amcho Yisrael!
NO GODOL OPPOSED THE RALLY. Many supported it. The ones that didn’t support, didn’t oppose it. They simply felt it more productive to learn Torah during that time than to protest. The other Gedolim felt a protest was necessary even if you had to close the Gemora for a few hours to do so.
akuperma, none of us can ever generalize an entire group based on a few. However, its a stretch to call that event a chillul Hashem. Gentiles at work, who read about the protest can’t seem to understand the purpose or reason for the protest. It’s a stretch to call Satmar moderate, as if they had control one would be punished if they had a TV or internet in the home- which is up for a whole ‘nother argument.
“that moderates such as Satmar” —- I guess in comparison to Hamas or the Taliban.
Satmar didn’t just demonstrate against the DRAFT, they used the time to shout, scream and yell about the Jewish State and its establishment of 65 years.
#15 That is exactly right!
Can you please bring me any other rabbi (aside of Mizrachi) who wasn’t against the establishment?
The dispute was always only on HOW to fight them, if by joining them within, or by demonstrating against, but in concept all gedolim agreed that establishing a state before the coming of Moshiach is not allowed,
Of course it was a chillul hashem! When someone held up a sign against Rav shteineman and no one said boo until one lone individual took the sign away from him, that’s a chillul hashem. When Rav shteineman and Rav kanievsky say to learn torah and say tehillim and others don’t listen and transgress לא תסור מכול אשר יורוך, that is a chillul hashem.
#17
You are right about this if people who are usually adherent to Rav Steinman and Reb Chaim didn’t listen this time. However, you must not forget that there are other gedolim in this world too b”h. There are thousands of Yidden who have other Gedolim as their daas torah. It is no chilul Hashem if one listens to “HIS” daas Torah, and I bet you that these 2 gedolim agree to me.