There was much anger among Satmar Chassidim as Rav Zalman Leib Teitlebaum Shlita, the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, was compelled to partially disrobe at a US airport.
Security officials explained they do not make exceptions for rabbis or anyone, and the rebbe found himself having to comply with a request to remove some of his garments to permit a security inspection.
The inspection occurred in a Miami Florida airport as the rebbe was resting in the southern US city. The rebbe passed through the metal detector, triggering the alarm, leading to the uncomfortable situation. The rebbe’s gabbaim attempted to persuade the security staff that this was not respectable, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. They explained the status of the rebbe, that he leads thousands of followers, but this too did nothing to change their minds. Efforts to explain the meaning of a “Grand Rabbi” were equally fruitless.
The rebbe was instructed to empty his pockets but this did not do the trick as the metal detector was still sounding. This led to the instructions to disrobe, to remove some of his garments. Finally the rebbe received the all clear to board the flight.
Some members of the rebbe’s entourage stated “this is the price of flying a commercial airline”, stating in the future they may have to look into a private charter flight despite the costs involved as to ensure the rebbe is not subjected to such an embarrassing ordeal in the future.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
33 Responses
So he had to take off his bekesheh. What’s the big deal? I assure you R’Moshe ZT”L would not have made an issue about removing his kapoteh.
Oh the poor thing. Having to go through inspection like the rest of the world. My goodness, Do you think the fact that he triggered the alarm had anything to do with it. The Islamic terrorist can dress as a rebbe and walk through inspection, if allowed. Kol hakavod to the Security team that forced him to submit to inspection as the rest of us. A few months ago a US Congressman was forced to submit to inspection. No big deal. Its lucky he(the rebbe) wasn’t passing through an Israeli security system, they might have just thrown him the heck out of th airport.
Embarrassing? Is he not a human being? We are all subject to the rules and laws to protect our safety. Now you know that all the checks from parlor meetings and fundraisers will go to paying for his private jet.
“They explained the status of the rebbe, that he leads thousands of followers, but this too did nothing to change their minds. Efforts to explain the meaning of a “Grand Rabbi””
In your average TSA officer’s mind, Osama Bin Laden also was grand and had thousands of followers.
Kudos to those in “the rebbes entourage” who understood “the price” of flying commercial.
What exactly is embarrassing? And what was he asked to do that his entourage didn’t have to do as well? And by the way, what was he asked to do that he wasn’t asked to do when leaving NY or did he drive down to Miami? And isn’t it the position of the Satmar Rebbe that his constituency NOT go down to Miami the city of pritzus to begin with???? What exactly did he feel was he entitled to that others who go through this security check on a regular basis do NOT make a fuss about? The security check is standard operating procedure set up for the security of ALL citizens. This is well known before one even purchases a ticket. Why come to the airport thinking that one does NOT have to comply? This is outrageous!
He was forced to take off his beketsche. That would not be called disrobed in the way it is used.
this is really big news
thanks for reporting it
I think the TSA agent is from KY. Its a plot to embarrass the Rebbe
Whats the purpose of this article to begin with?
is there nothing what to write about?
We would not have liked it at all had the security personnel allowed a high ranking Moslem to go through security without being checked just like everyone else.
If there were onlookers who saw the Rebbe’s followers trying to use influence of any kind and go against airport policy, it unfortunately caused Chilul Hashem.
If they make an exception for him they would have to do the same for an Arab sheik who may also have thousdands of terrorist followers. This is not newsworthy.
WHY ARENT YOU POSTING MY COMMENT, ARE YOU BECOMING LIKE OTHER WEBSITES? POSTING ALL SHTUSIM ANS LITZONES?
Moderators Note: Why is this “litzones”? It wasn’t “litzones” when the TSA conducted a full pat-down on former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, it wasn’t “litzones” when a similar incident involved US Senator Rand Paul, was it? So why is it “litzones” now?
Also, it wasn’t “litzones” when YWN reported that the Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe was detained by US Customs Agents in JFK Airport, was it?
Or…is it because you are a Satmar Chosid?
Just a part of a previous comment submitted by yourself (almost 2 years ago):
YOU ALL SHOULD TAKE YOUR TIME OUT TO MAKE A LITTLE SHIUR IN THE HOLY SEFER *VEYOEL MOISHE* FROM THE OLD SATMER REBBE ZATZAL AND YOUR MINDS WILL OPEN UP A LITTLE TO SEE WHTS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD.
This is one of the funniest stories we’ve had on YWN in a long time. First of all, for those who haven’t figured this out, the whole thing was a setup by the Aronites who tipped of the TSA security officer that the Rav had contraband hidden inside his beketsche. As to why the rav was in Miami, the epicenter of pritzus in the first place, he was there to collect funds for Satmar mosdos and his entourage of 37 gabboim were along for the ride. On a serious note, several very senior members of congress have been subjected to similiar searches (including 84 year old John Dingell, the longest-serving member of the House and newly elected Senator Rand Paul) so the Rav acted entirely appropriately by submitting to dina d’malchusa. There is no “exemption” for Grand Rabbis or Grand Mullahs in the TSA security rules.
for the record, i am not a satmar or a chasid. i would just like to point out one thing. the article does not say that the Rebbe himself was upset or embarrased. it states his entourage felt the Rebbe was embarased.The Gabbaim tried to persuade ….not teh Rebbe.
So , to be fair, lets not pick on the Rebbe himself.
The buttons to the old bekitches had metal hooks. Now you can get buttons with only fabric. It seem some Rebbes can’t afford a first class ticket, which would allow him to “disrobe in private”
@6- Obviously, the idea was to make it sound inflammatory.
PRIVATE CHARTER FLIGHT – and how much will that cost the chassidim? Do you know where their monies come from & is permission to use klal money for this?
OH BOY, can u imagine when the Satmar Rebbe travels to Israel and in Ben Gurion they do some inspection, the talk, shmutz, lashon harah we will hear about the TREIF MEDINAH assaulting the Rebbe!!!!!
I understand that before Moshiach kovod haTorah would decrease. But it’s still hard to watch it.
Would they do the same to obama’s friend
Embarrassing? He could have used the opportunity to show us simple Jews how to act, by simply taking off the garments as per request. They did not expect him to stand nude!
Attention Satmar chasidim. By protesting the actions of the TSA you are openly rebelling against the nations of the world and causing Hisagarus B’umos, which as you know is forbidden by the Issur of ” Shalosh Shavous” as noted jn Sanhedrin. Merida B’umois is a terrible sin which causes the nations of the world to view us in a negative way, which as you know, is the cause for all anti semitism.
The real mess up here was by the askanim who should have prepared before hand. Everyone knows that you have to go through a metal detector. Why didn’t they prepare for that or make arrangements before hand?
BTW, I wonder how they got down there in the first place.
YOu know what? everytime i read a story like this i come to the same conclusion…. CHAREDI JEWS SHOULD NOT LEAVE BROOKLYN!! PERIOD>
Wow, the sinah displayed against Satmar in these comments is astounding. The article merely states that his gabboim tried to dissuade the TSA from the inspection. It mentions nothing about any rude or violent behavior. So what’s there to get angry about? Only that they’re the “despicable” Satmar chassidim!
People, please reevaluate your prejudices.
#24- No sinah here against Satmar. People are simply pointing out that there is nothing wrong with asking a rebbe to remove a beckesheh. And wondering why YWN must use inflammatory headlines such as “disrobe”. Makes it sound much worse than it is…
You know what? Every time i read a story like this i come to the same conclusion…. CHAREDI JEWS SHOULD ONLY BE IN E”Y!! PERIOD>
Embarrassing? i don’t know which Gabbe of r zalman gave such a statement.
whoever knows r zalman and his kehila know they would never make a issue from it. Just interesting to see how ppl anger themselves on such shtisim Some people even feel a ‘nitzuchen’ in r zalman… Nebech
You have to admit, chareidim don’t look like your average American and the holier they are, the weirder they look to the agents who are trained to “profile”. And remember the underwear bomber, the agents do and will not hesitate to get the “all clear”. I’ve gotten the “pat down”; it’s their job. Let the agents be as nutty as can be; I’ll feel better. MBP yaw, un dus nisht?
wow.the story as posted was ok to read.i was a little put off that rebbes followers were so angry but e.o entitled to stick up for their rabbi(even in an extreme way).they did no action that caused chillul hashm.all they did was feel upset.who said feelings are wrong?and allowed to b looked down upon?e.o is entitled to feel whatever they want.the followers are obviously good peope bec we see they didnt act out their anger in any way.impressive.regardless if we think the anger was in place or not
BTW when the Rebbe and various other supporters go to the Brooklyn Supreme court next week to attend Weberman’s sentencing, they are also going to have to pass through metal detectors, so now is the time to plan what they wear, so as not have have some metal clasps trigger off an alarm.
I really do not think that it is a big deal to ask him to take his jacket off so that he can get checked. On the contrary, if they wouldn’t that would be an issue beacause as mentioned in other posts, terrorists can also dress up as rebbes. I think sometimes certain individuals in these communities have tunnel vision and do not fully comprehend the world around them. Maybe in kiryas yoel he is very famous, but out in the world, he is really not that well-known. Sorry folks but that is just the truth. The sooner his followers realize this, the happier and more at peace they will be.
Look on the bright side – it’s great that this happened in the heiligeh US first and not in the teif Zionist medinah. This way we can all spare ourselves the usual loshon hara that people would spread about the horrible Zionists – and how they purposely were insulting the Rebbe & the Torah & Hashem Himself. On second thought, I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone starts to bad mouth the Israeli airport security anyway. Those darn mamzerim just insist on protecting people’s lives.
Guys. This is a load of baloney, and is unfair to the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Zalman Leib, or whatever you want to call him.
Whilst i don’t hang out in Satmar, i happen to know the following.
1. He didnt travel to Miami with an entourage of gabo’im. He travelled alone with one son, and no fanfare.
2. In the shul he davended in, he asked for them not to wait for him, and again made no waves.
3. he happens to be a man full of class, and wouldnt hesitate to remove his bekeshe for a pat down. His gabo’im if they were with him would be wiser than to kick up a fuss.
4. The comment about him having to fly private next time, is stupidity once again, and he wouldn’t contemplate it.
5. The comment about Miami being a Makom Pritzus. Many a Rebbe/Gadol/Rosh Yeshiva were known to travel to Miami, and continue to do so. I am sure he didnt reside anywhere near the beach, and spent most of his day learning. he probably only went for walks at night.
6. The whole is story is a similar mud-sling to the one about him offering to pay $100 to anyone who doesn’t vote in the upcomning Israeli elections. Once again totally false.
Guys. be very careful what you say and how you talk aboutand ehrlicher yis and a talmid chochom.