(Click HERE for photos) On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, leaders of the Satmar population of Williamsburg met with New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly to discuss community matters.  The Satmar delegation was led by Grand Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum, son of and successor to the late Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum.  Also in attendance were President of the Congregation Jeno Kahan, Vice-President of the Congregation Sol Perlstein, Administrator of the United Talmudical Academy (UTA) Rabbi Isaac Wertheimer, and NYPD City-Wide Liaison & community leader Abe Friedman.

The 7,000 families of Williamsburg’s Satmar community have established 28 different congregations and a school system that serves more than 15,000 pupils.  The central synagogue, at 152 Rodney Street, is a particularly special site: inside its hallowed walls, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, the group’s founder, worshipped. 

Commissioner Kelly convened the meeting to review issues of significance to the Satmar sect, including security requirements for the Congregation and its school system, special safety and security measures for the High Holy Days, and methods of dealing with and preventing hate crimes in the area.

 The conference was extremely productive.  Commissioner Kelly promised his full support and committed his resources to addressing Satmar concerns, and he will instruct his staff and the members of his department to collaborate with community leaders on all significant affairs.

 At the conclusion of the consultation, the Satmar representatives presented Commissioner Kelly with an award in appreciation of his dedicated, steadfast, and indefatigable efforts during his seven years in office.