As the controversy grows surrounding the upcoming Netanyahu speech to a joint session of Congress, a letter written by the Mayor of the Satmar Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel is adding fuel to the fire.
In a letter obtained by YWN, Mayor Abraham Wieder calls upon Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney to boycott Netanyahu’s speech.
Interestingly, Wieder advises Rep. Maloney to see a radical Neturei Karta-affiliated website for information about what Torah ideals are. This website is affiliated with the same people who attended the Holocaust denial conference in Iran. [SEE NOTE BELOW]
This is not the first time Wieder has mixed into Middle-East politics. In 2009, YWN reported that Wieder praiser President Obama for his “noble efforts” to stop the “senseless bloodshed” in the Middle East.
Wieder wrote that letter in reaction to the anti-Obama rhetoric of some religious pro-settler organizations, which had become increasingly vocal as the Obama administration continued to push the Israeli government to curb settlement growth in the West Bank as a prerequisite for a peace settlement.
The following is the letter written by Mayor Wieder to Rep. Maloney:
Dear Rep. Maloney:
The core theme in Judaism is strict adherence to true Torah ideals and Jewish people, the world over and through the ages have identified and continue to identify with this philosophy. and your constituents in the village of Kiryas Joel, home to almost 25,000 orthodox Jews, all the more so.
Torah ideals guide us to be loyal citizens in our country of residence, to respect our elected leaders and to pray for their well being and prosperity ( for further insight visit TrueTorahJews.com) We were therefore utterly dismayed by Israeli PM Netanyahu’s agreeing to address a joint session of congress without first obtaining the presidents consent and without even the courtesy of consulting the White House.
Netanyahu’s acceptance signaled his intent to challenge the presidents foreign policy on american soil. His unprecedented actions are direct insult to the office of the president.
The intent of this letter is three fold; first to defend the honor and prestige of the office of the the president; second to decry Netanyahu’s breach of diplomatic protocall and last but not least to repudiate his claim to be the spokesman of the Jewish people. Neither he nor his state represent world Jewry.
Therefore, on behalf of our joint constituents, I respectfully request that you not attend Netanyahu’s address. Your absence would send a clear message that your constituents’ want no part of Netanyahu’s callousness towards the office of the president.
Respectfully,
Abraham Wieder
Mayor.
END
NOTE: Neturei Karta has a long history of embracing the most vile Hitlers of our time. Yisroel Dovid Weiss of New York has hugged and kissed Hezbollah commanders, as well as with former Iranian President Ahmadinejad. Weiss infuriated Jews around the globe when he attended the Holocaust denial conference in Iran in 2006. Read his speech that he delivered in Iran in 2006.
(Chaim Shaprio – YWN)
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36 Responses
I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW SO CALLED YESHIVA WORLD CAN BASH THIS SO HARSH WITH INAACURATE STATMENTS WHOS YOUR DAAS TORAH I HAPPEN TO BE AN AGUDIST BUT RELAX ITS AN UNDERSTANDABLE POSITION READ THE LETTER ITS VERY CAREFULKLY WORDED WITH ONLY TRUE STATMENTS
this is very not nice
Mr. Shapiro,
Before bashing tens of thousands of frum Jews, please do the minimum research to find out that the website mentioned in the KJ mayor’s letter is not affiliated to Neturei Karta. Their website is: nkusa.org. It is known – to every honest person – that when the shameful Holocaust denial conference occurred, both Satmar communities have condemned the infamous act of the 10 losers who went to Iran.
The website mentioned in the letter is an independent site that is officially endorsed by both Satmers.
TrueTorahJews.com goes in line with what Rabainu Yoel zt”l has taught: to let the world know that the State of Israel is opposed to the Torah and does not represent World Jewry. Secondly, that we are always grateful to the official leaders of the countries we dwell until the coming of Moshiach!
That website belongs to Natruna which is completely different and unrelated to the NK. The Mayor of NYC also mixes into international politics, so there’s nothing new about that idea.
This NOTE is simply FALSE. the TrueTorahJews website is Not a Neturei Karta-affiliated website. and it’s not radical at all.
they represent both Satmar fractions. satmar actually condemned the nk guys who attended the Holocaust denial conference in Iran etc.
First, it would be worthwhile to write proper English when writing to the so holly ‘elected officials’…
Second, this is clearly about an opportunity to bash Israel, and not about honoring the government, or these people haven’t the slightest idea of the very system they’re trying to honor.
Congress are also elected officials, and by all accounts Obama is overreaching his authority on many fronts, If they’re so concerned about their country it would be worthwhile to learn a bit about it’s very basic foundations, which are being negated by their holly ‘elected official’…
YWN, you are 100% right on reporting on those self hated “true Jews”. who is he kidding when he writes “Torah ideals guide us to be loyal citizens in our country of residence, to respect our elected leaders and to pray for their well being and prosperity”. Are satmar hasisdim in israel daven for elected officials or it is only applies to goyim outside of Israel. Who is he to talk about ” The core theme in Judaism” when there is a huge hate among satmar brothers and their followers, and huge Hillul Hashem that Natarei Karta which he endorses, causes on daily bases. He should be silent, especially on the matters that has nothing to do with him, and get back running his ghetto village and fight with his neighbors. I hope that the congressman won’t waste his time even in responding to this clown.
Weider’s understanding of Israel politics is microscopic, and he is obsessed with the anti-Israel position of Satmar. One does not need to be a Zionist to believe that this approach is anti-Jewish, against the Torah, and simply low and immoral. He should bud out of world and international politics.
Let’s face facts. Kiryas Joel’s population, statistically, is mostly below the poverty line. They survive soley on government programs. Thus the “mayor’s” statement is very practical. He is representing constituents who will support the highest bidder.
Netanyahu is the one enacted the conscription law that threatens most hareidim with incarceration for refusing to serve in the army. One can hardly expect a hareidi politician to be sympathetic to him.
And allying with the Democrats (who are increasingly anti-Israel) makes sense (the “enemy of my enemy is my friend”) even if the Democrats’ policies were not especially friendly to the anti-zionist hareidim (the Democrats are pro-welfare state and many hareidim are pro-receiving benefits).
Alex from NY, you are correct! The chazon Ish Zt”l gave a psak (decree) that as for the State of Israel it does not apply the din of “Dino d’Malchusa Dino” because it has no din of any sort of government.
To #1. I respectfully disagree with you. It is clearly obvious that his main point is his third statement that Netanyahu does not represent world jewry. This is recurrent theme in Satmar and they seem to be pretty obsessed with this. The PM is coming to speak about a direct threat to the country that he leads. He is not coming as a spokesperson for world jewry! I also wanted to point out that if chas veshalom Iran gets the bomb and decide to use, the satmar people will be in the same boat as they’re zionist brothers! During WWII there were also well meaning jews demanding that we keep quiet and not badger then President Roosevelt and look how that ended up. To satmar I declare: Do not let your hatred of zionists blind you from seeing the true and inherent danger that Iran presents to all of us yiden.
akuperma,
1. Most democrats are pro-Israel, and vast majority of them are attending Netanyahu’s speech.
2. This has nothing to do with mercy for Netanyahu. When it come to the Iranian issue every Chareidi understands that Netanyahu is right and Obama is wrong and evil. Let’s not be babies about this.
To #1. I respectfully disagree with you. It is clearly obvious that his main point is his third statement that Netanyahu does not represent world jewry. This is a recurrent theme in Satmar and they seem to be pretty obsessed with this. The PM is coming to speak about a direct threat to the country that he leads. He is not coming as a spokesperson for world jewry! I also wanted to point out that if chas veshalom Iran gets the bomb and decides to use it, the satmar people will be in the same boat as their zionist brothers! During WWII there were also well meaning jews demanding that we keep quiet and not badger then President Roosevelt and look how that ended up. To satmar I declare: Do not let your hatred of zionists blind you from seeing the true and inherent danger that Iran poses to all of us yiden.
– See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/287254/mayor-of-kiryas-joel-calls-on-rep-sean-patrick-maloney-not-to-attend-netanyahu-speech.html#comment-837823
I am also not attending Netanyahu Speech, what’s the big deal? it makes no difference whatsoever to any of us, what will make a difference is, that the Yidden in Israel will stop digging Jewish graves, in Beit Shemesh and in Geula @ Merom Yerushalayim etc.
TrueTorahJews.com is full of terrible, un-traditional talk. To say Zionism doesn’t represent Judaism is totally great, but to say anyone who participates in the political system is less holly than them is a terrible Aveira.
Traditional Judaism was never a monopoly of one opinion, and if so many Gedolei Yisroel chose to get involved politically you can only state your opinion is different, but don’t dare make it like they’re all going off the Derech…
#12 I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF MY STRONG DISAGREEMENT WITH THIS SPEECH FROM A REKIOGOUS AND POLITICAL STANDPOINT THAT IM QUICK TO TAKE THE SIDE OF LETS SAY THE ANTIS BUT THERE ARE DEFINITLY GREAT PIONTS IN THAT LETTER WHEATHER ITS DIRECTLY NOGAI TO THIS SHMEUSS OR NOT
I hope they do not listen to the mayor and that they do attend the speech. He might just have something to say that they should hear.
Jews can respect the president and still oppose him. The U.S. does have a two-party system , don’t forget.
They seem to be disturbed by Netanyahu’s attitude toward Obama, but unconcerned about Obama’s attitude toward Iarael. I think some of these people might be motivated more by their anti-Israel feelings than about the issue at hand, which is, ” For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, slain and annihilated.”
I agree that the Satmar are obsessed with fighting Zionism and think that N is coming to represent the Jews. He is coming as a leader of a country in an endangered area. Lives are at stake and the Satmar are playing politics. the war against Zionism is over. Smell the cofee.
to me this is hisgarus beimos so called the way they say it to zianists
Satmar isn’t obsessed with zionism. You’re obsessed with Satmar. Everytime they say something about zionism it gets under your skin and you guys need news stories of each incident so you can have what to rant about.
It amazes me that at a time when there is real danger to acheinu from iran stupid people can vent their petty peeves. would you rather have a destroyed state with millions of dead jews from a nuclear device? Guys in Kiryas yoel think about it
#13 MDshweks
Your first point is not true. According to Gallup polling released this week, 70 percent of Americans continue to view the Jewish state “very” or “mostly favorably.” But Israel’s favorability is inflated by the fact that over eight in 10 Republicans, and nearly six in 10 independents, view Israel more positively than they do the Palestinian authorities. Fewer than half of Democrats say the same, and those Democrats who do support Israelis over the Palestinians are declining in number.
NO WONDER MOSHIACH HASN’T COME. THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES IF YOU DO NOT AGREE DON’T SAY ANYTHING BUT TO STAND WITH A GOY AGAINST YOUR FELLOW BROTHER IS REMINISCE OF ALL THE MACHLAOKES
I AM TOTALLY ASHAMED OF SATMAR TODAY
As someone once said, there are two peoples whos religion would end if Zionism ended. Dati Leumi and Satmar.
Wieder is a self hating Jew:- Period. He is going to require a lot of repentance, and reciting Hallel on Yom ha’Atzmaut shall be nowhere near enough repentance.
Israel is home to millions of Jews. To criticize Israel during these dangerous times is to endanger the lives of all of them. Both frum and non-frum need our support. By bashing Israel, Satmar and Neteuri Karta are aiding the Hamans of this generation.
Its cute how the mayor quotes the core of Judaism when it doesn’t look like he knows the first thing about it. We are supposed to respect the leaders of our country note: LEADERS. I know Obama thinks he is king and doesn’t have to answer to anyone but congress is included in our leaders so if they invited Netanyahu then we should go with them and not some Arab lame duck who would be so excited if his Iranian cousins bombed Israel. SHAME ON YOU SATMAR FOR DISTORTING WHAT JUDIASM IS ABOUT
Weider is looking for attention this is not his business he doesn’t have the faintest idea of the issues let him but out. .and Go Bibi Go.and i am Satmer
I think that the Mayor of KJ should stop saying ולירשלים עירך in his davining and just pray for KJ or Iran..
There is no difference between Satmar and the Reform,they both want Obama to make Iran capable of destroying Israel
In the 1940’s the reform leader Weiss and others wrote letter to the State Department demanding not to allow any jews to the USA,tHEY WANTED THEM TO BURNED IN AUSHWITZ.
TODAY SATMAR together with the reform leaders want Iran to kill 6 million Israeli jews.
The Avodah Zorah practitioner money worshiper disgusting low life hypocrite scumbag szatmerer pigs will burn together in gehenem with the reform leaders next to hitler.
What will this holy mayor say if Iran builds a nuclear bomb. Will he dance in the streets with the rest of the Jew Haters?
What do expect from the Eirev Rav?
This is rich, coming from the mayor of a village that regularly antagonizes residents of the surrounding town. Talk about “Hisgorus Ba’Umos”!
an Israeli Yid
what right does someone sitting in the lap of luxury in Kiryas Yoel to put my children and grandchildren and millions of jews in danger of Nuclear extermination? If you have a view why pressure political leaders to not at least hear the PM and then disagree with facts not a Satmar hidden agenda
Thank you Mayor Abraham Wieder for proudly taking a public and unapologetic stand in support of the government of our medina shel chesed, the United States of America, against the leaders of the current zionist regime. An American elected official such as yourself taking this brave stand despite the foreknowledge that it’ll bring the typical indignation of the pseudo-religious zionists is something for Torah-true Jews to be thankful to have you as an unabashed public representative.