A historic celebration took place this week in Williamsburg at the home of Reb Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, as the Satmar Rebbe met with Rav Malkiel Kotler of Lakewood’s Beis Medrash Govoha and Rav Yakov Eliezer Schwartzman, grandson of Rav Aaron Kotler and rosh yeshiva of the Israeli branch of the Lakewood yeshiva. During the meeting, Rav Schwartzman announced that his yeshiva will no longer be accepting funds from the Israeli government.
Rav Schwartzman’s statement was followed with the drinking of a celebratory l’chaim. Ten of the Satmar Rebbe’s supporters were invited to the meeting and were requested to pledge their financial support to Bais Medrash Govoha of America in Eretz Yisroel, located in the Ramot section of Jerusalem. A group of askanim was also brought in to create a base of support in America to help the yeshiva make up for the funding it will no longer be receiving from the Israeli government. Additionally, the Satmar Rebbe reached out to several other wealthy individuals to arrange a personal visit with both himself and Rav Kotler to collect money for the yeshiva.
The news was well received within the Satmar community and a spokesman said, “We are seeing today concrete proof of the words of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel zt’l who said that the yeshivos in the holy land cannot take funds from the unholy government without also acceding to its demands, including the draft.”
The Satmar Rebbe renewed the pledge he made last summer to other Chasidic sects, offering financial assistance to any yeshiva that stops taking funds from the Israeli government.
“The Chasidic community will be happy to distribute as much money as it takes to bring satisfaction to the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoe zt’l in the heavenly realm, by doing whatever possible to bring pure chinuch to mosdos in the holy land,” said one Chasidic leader.
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13 Responses
1) Satmar has always exhibited a tremendous amount of generosity and tzedakah to a broad range within Klal Yisroel including those within Torah Jewry having much different hashkafos.
2) The Roshei Yeshivos of Lakewood and the Satmar Rebbes have historically always been very close and dear friends with each other.
Bottom line, from a strictly political perspective: the zionists are alienating those hareidim who had supported the state, and strengthening those who oppose the state. Those who favor an autonomous hareidi community gain at the expense of those who favor working with the state. Instead of a hareidi community led by rabbanim who fly the zionist flag on Israeli “independence” day, they could easily end up with those who advocate hareidi neutrality in the Arab-Israeli conflict (and, from a zionist perspective, perhaps worse).
wow,
Akuperma is right again!
it would be better if satmar and lakewood stop taking money from the US govt.
Mazel Tov! kein yirbu kemoschem b’yisroel and in Israel.
Now THAT’S called “Putting your money where your mouth is”!
But I wonder why they don’t mention any Litvish Gevirim chipping in?
After the government has cut funding for foreigners, and those who are not submitting to the draft, the Lakewood branch has lost it’s funding already. Now that they are no longer eligible for funds they can turn around and say we are not taking money. It’s good that they now have a sugar daddy reb zalman leib to take care of them.
I am confused. Is BMG now becoming a Satmar yeshivas and will be following their shita?
I sincerely hope this was done after consultation with Hgoan hgodol Maran Reb Ahron Leib Shlit”a!
Can lakewood double dip & collect from the Ahronies too?
So, accepting food stamps and welfare from a christian (A”Z)govt is allowed? Obama, will be cutting these programs very soon. I hope the Charedi-“800 persons at a wedding” rich will support there brothers who refuse to work or serve.
Charedi behavior in Israel has no historical precedent.
wow! Kol HaKovod to Satmar!
“We are seeing today concrete proof of the words of the Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoel zt’l who said that the yeshivos in the holy land cannot take funds from the unholy government without also acceding to its demands, including the draft.”
What he’s saying is this is proof that R Yoilish was right and R. Aharon Kotler zt’l was wrong. Don’t think that R. Malkiel wanted to hear that. Too bad that R. Aharon’s grandchildren are abandoning his shita and joining Satmar. Leave me out of that.