The following is from the NY Politicker:
Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Satmar Grand Rabbi in Brooklyn, told a gathering of 30,000 of his followers on Saturday night that religious Jews should condemn those who “insult” President Barack Obama.
“Recently, certain 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 statements like these?” the Rabbi said in remarks at the New York State Armory in Crown Heights, according to a release from the Central Rabbinical Organization. “It’s forbidden by the Torah to do so, it provokes the nations to hate us, and it brings danger upon Jews not only here but all over the globe, who knows what the effects of this irresponsible behavior could be? Therefore it is our obligation to make known that religious Jewry is completely opposed to these self-appointed leaders, we pray every day for our country and we bless its leaders with success in all their efforts to bring peace to the world.”
The gathering is held annually to celebrate the founding of the Satmar Grand Rabbi.
In the release, Rabbi Shmiel Weider, a Satmar activist who attended the gathering, explained that part of the context of the rabbi’s remarks was due to the victory of Bob Turner over David Weprin in a heavily Jewish area of Brooklyn and Queens, a victory that was spurred on by Jewish leaders like Ed Koch.
“The rabbi was reacting to recent events such as the special election in New York’s 9th district – a heavily Orthodox Jewish and Democratic-voting area – in which Republican Bob Turner won, Pro-Israel politicians wish to claim that the vote showed Jewish displeasure with President Obama’s Mideast policies,” he said. “And when GOP presidential candidates make increasingly strong pro-Israel statements, and some Orthodox Jewish activists applaud them, saying this is the only way they can win Orthodox votes, it gives the world the wrong impression of Orthodox Jews.”
The remarks come as the battle over the Jewish vote has heated up in anticipation of 2012.
(Source: Politicker NY)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
14 Responses
And I condemn those who are in courts instead of bais din “what a real chillul Hashem”
So which is it?
Did he say not to CRITICIZE the President (your headline)?
Did he say not to INSULT the President (the text of the article)?
Are you aware that INSULT is not a synonym of CRITICIZE?
The former is a ringing political endorsement, the latter is merely a call for Derekh Eretz.
Words of wisdom, finally.
Considering the importance of Pidyon Shvuyim and the suffering of our fellow Jews, can the Satmar Rav SHLIT”A please use his good offices with the President to obtain pardons for Jonathan Pollard and Sholom Rubashkin.
I think that the Rebbe’s statement is very appropriate due to “competition” that every Shmoiy who thinks he is a Jewish Leader is bashing Obama, they are all trying to outdo the other with vile statements on Obama, it’s out of control,
Personal attacks, no.
Barry Obama’s policies, yes.
We are fulfilling our duty as US citizens to speak out for what is important to Orthodox Jews.
This article is lacking and vague.
The point isn’t America or Israel, the point is the truth. It so happened to be that those who are with the truth in the middle east are also with the truth for the best of the US too.
Being pro-Israel or Pro-palastenian is not just about that issue. It represents a deep foundation of morals and character.
and critisizing your president is not at all in odds with the fact it’s a “Medinah shel Chesed” – that itself is part of that Chesed…
The Drashah should have ended, “… and lets hope that this should be a prosperous and healthy winter for all of Mankind, young and old”.
Why should we say, “… and let this be a winter of health for all Jewish people”?
On order to stop anti-semitism, we must show HKB”H, that we are sincerely a good and caring people, yes, a light onto the Nations.
He’s right, of course…many of you are abusing the free speech this country grants you in vile, polemic and insulting ways, all the while bemoaning about how antisemitic and anti-Torah this country. As a friend of mine from the former Soviet Union says…about YOU guys on this site…you should go live in a real Socialist country for a month…you’d shut up pretty darn quick when you got back here.
#6 I agree with your comments. We Americans enjoy freedoms, one of which is to speak up when their are questions to be answered or wrongs that may need to be corrected.
it’s also a matter of competition which satmer can make better headlines about being a kanoi, if u know the inside of how satmer works u understand what i mean.
please Daven for Yaakov Meir ben Binah
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/Headlines+&+Breaking+Stories/112351/Satmar+Teen+Critically+Injured+After+Forklift+Accident+Inside+Williamsburg+Armory.html
join the cofee room shmooz
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/can-a-yid-criticize-the-president
The Rebbeh is more than one hundred percent right and not that he needs out haskomah! It’s coming to a point where it is so outrageous what some people do that politicians feel the pressure that when they come to our communities that they must say something about Israel at the begining of their speech. it’s just so ridiculous. At a ceremony that wasn’t even political but where politicians were in attendance a politician started his speech by saying how he supports Israel!
One could be discussing a Yankee game with a politician but the politicians always feel they must start off by saying how he supports Israel before ripping John Sterling.