Joel Teitelbaum (, ; 13 January 1887 – 19 August 1979) was the founder and first
Grand Rebbe of the
Satmar dynasty. The Satmar Rebbe is also known as the
Krula Rav.
A major figure in the post-war renaissance of
Hasidism
Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a Spirituality, spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most ...
, he espoused a strictly conservative and isolationist line, rejecting modernity. Teitelbaum was a fierce opponent of
Zionism
Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...
, which he decried as inherently
heretical.
Biography
Early life
Teitelbaum was born on January 13, 1887.
He was the second son of the
Grand Rabbi
Chief Rabbi () is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jews, Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a capitulation by Ben-Zion M ...
of
Sighet Chananyah Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum and his second wife, Chana Ashkenazi. The couple married in 1878, after receiving a
special dispensation for him to take a second wife, as his first wife Reitze—daughter of
Rebbe
A Rebbe () or Admor () is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spirituality (Audio)''. UCTV, 20 Oct 2011. web. ...
Menashe Rubin of
Ropshitz—was unable to bear children. Joel was the youngest child; he had four older siblings.
The rabbis of the Teitelbaum family were known for their highly conservative stances and their opposition to the
Enlightenment,
Neolog Judaism, and
Zionism
Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...
. Chananyah was the great-grandson of
Moshe Teitelbaum, a disciple of the
Seer of Lublin
Yaakov Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz (), known as "the Seer of Lublin" (), ''ha-Chozeh MiLublin''; (c. 1745 - August 15, 1815) was a Chasidic Judaism, Hasidic rebbe from Poland.
"Rabbi Yaacov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin, is one of the truly beloved ...
, who was, in turn, one of the main promulgators of Hasidism in Hungary. He served as a rabbi in
Técső. In 1883, after
his father's death, Chananyah arrived in
Máramarossziget (shortened to Siget in Yiddish; today
Sighet,
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
), where he began to serve as a rabbi. He became dean of the local
rabbinical seminary and the leader of the eponymous Hasidic movement based in the city.
Joel was renowned for his intellectual capacities from a young age. At his
bar mitzvah
A ''bar mitzvah'' () or ''bat mitzvah'' () is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Halakha, Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age ...
, he delivered a sermon of several hours concerning an issue from tractate ''
Shabbat
Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...
'' in the Talmud. He was stringent in matters regarding
ritual purity and would lengthily prepare for prayer by meticulously cleaning himself.
Even before marrying, he received ''
semikhah
''Semikhah'' () is the traditional term for rabbiinic ordination in Judaism.
The original ''semikhah'' was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of ''semikhah'' ceased between 360 and 425 CE. Si ...
'' from eight prominent rabbis, including
Moshe Greenwald. In 1904, just several days before his father's February 15 death, the 17-year-old married Chavah Horowitz, the daughter of
Abraham Chaim Horowitz of
Połaniec. They had three daughters, none of whom survived their father or had any children. The first, Esther, died in her youth on September 14, 1921; Rachel died on March 19, 1931, shortly after her wedding. The youngest, Chaya Roisa (or Reysel), died on October 23, 1953.
Teitelbaum's older brother,
Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, succeeded their father in all three of his posts. Their mother and a small faction of the Hasidim regarded the younger brother (i.e. Joel) as the appropriate heir. The newly-wedded Joel and Chava then moved to her father's residence in
Radomyśl Wielki and remained there for over a year.
On 8 September 1905, the Teitelbaums settled in
Szatmárnémeti
Satu Mare (; ; ; or ) is a city with a population of 102,400 (2011). It is the capital of Satu Mare County, Romania, as well as the centre of the Satu Mare metropolitan area. It lies in the region of Maramureș, broadly part of Transylvan ...
, or Satmar in
Yiddish
Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...
. Despite his youth, supporters opened a
study hall
Study hall, known as private study, SAS, structured study or free periods in the United Kingdom, is a term for a place to have a study time during the school day where students are assigned to study when they are not scheduled for an academic cl ...
for him. He gradually began to attract a local following. Journalist Dezső David Schön, who researched the Teitelbaum dynasty, wrote that Teitelbaum started to refer to himself as the "
Rebbe
A Rebbe () or Admor () is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spirituality (Audio)''. UCTV, 20 Oct 2011. web. ...
of Satmar" around this point. Subsequently, he had tense relations with the first to claim the title: Yisaschar Dov Leifer, the son of
Mordechai of Nadvorna. Leifer died on 12 September 1906.
Rabbinical career
In 1911, Teitelbaum was invited by the Jewish community in
Ilosva (or Iršiva) to serve as their town's rabbi. Although then part of
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...
, the town is now
Irshava,
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the List of European countries by area, second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which Russia–Ukraine border, borders it to the east and northeast. Ukraine also borders Belarus to the nor ...
. During Teitelbaum's residency, he established a local seminary and spread the ideas of Hasidism among the populace. Upon the outbreak of
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, he returned to
Satu Mare
Satu Mare (; ; ; or ) is a city with a population of 102,400 (2011). It is the capital of Satu Mare County, Romania, as well as the centre of the Satu Mare metropolitan area. It lies in the region of Maramureș, broadly part of Transylvania ...
, where his former study hall gradually developed into a full-fledged seminary.
As a young rabbi, he clung to the positions of his father and grandfather. He forbade any contact with
Zionists, including the
Mizrachi (Religious Zionists), and supported
Chaim Elazar Spira, the
Rebbe
A Rebbe () or Admor () is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spirituality (Audio)''. UCTV, 20 Oct 2011. web. ...
of
Munkacs, in his opposition to
World Agudath Israel
World Agudath Israel (), usually known as the Aguda, was established in the early twentieth century as the political arm of Ashkenazi Torah Judaism. It succeeded ''Agudath Shlomei Emunei Yisroel'' (Union of Faithful Jewry) in 1912. Its base of s ...
. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dissolved under the terms of the
Treaty of Trianon
The Treaty of Trianon (; ; ; ), often referred to in Hungary as the Peace Dictate of Trianon or Dictate of Trianon, was prepared at the Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920), Paris Peace Conference. It was signed on the one side by Hungary ...
(1920) following the war,
Satu Mare
Satu Mare (; ; ; or ) is a city with a population of 102,400 (2011). It is the capital of Satu Mare County, Romania, as well as the centre of the Satu Mare metropolitan area. It lies in the region of Maramureș, broadly part of Transylvania ...
,
Partium, and
Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
became part of the
Kingdom of Romania
The Kingdom of Romania () was a constitutional monarchy that existed from with the crowning of prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen as King of Romania, King Carol I of Romania, Carol I (thus beginning the Romanian royal family), until 1947 wit ...
.
The then-chief
Orthodox rabbi of Satmar, Yehudah Greenwald, died on 9 March 1920. Several of Teitelbaum's supporters advanced his name as a possible candidate for the vacant office, but he was opposed by the
non-Hasidic Ashkenazi majority, modernists, and Zionists in the community (not to mention by many other Hasidim). Eventually,
Eliezer David Greenwald (no relation to the former) was chosen. In 1922, after eight years outside the town, Teitelbaum returned to his community, Iršiva, then in
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...
.
On 29 March 1925, he was appointed chief rabbi of
Krula. He moved to the city about a year afterward. On 21 January 1926, his older brother, Chaim Tzvi, died unexpectedly of an
intracranial hemorrhage
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) refers to any form of Hemorrhage, bleeding Internal bleeding, within the Human skull, skull. It can result from trauma, vascular abnormalities, hypertension, or other medical conditions. ICH is broadly categorized ...
. Tzvi's oldest son,
Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (II), was just fourteen years old. Although many of his followers suggested Joel succeed his brother, the custom prevailed, and the boy was given his father's three posts. Yekusiel Judah Gross of
Berbești was brought to serve as his tutor and ''de facto'' chief rabbi of
Sighet.
Regardless, most of the Hasidim turned to Joel, who became the dynasty's rebbe in all but title. When he grew older, Yekusiel established a following of his own from among his father's loyal supporters, but his influence as rebbe never exceeded the city's limits.
On 20 May 1928, Eliezer David Greenwald of Satmar died, and Teitelbaum ran for the municipal rabbi's office again. An election committee established by the Orthodox community's board chose him for the post on June 11, with nineteen members in favor, five against, and two abstentions. After a prolonged dispute with his opponents, the parties decided to hold an election among all members of the congregation. It occurred on August 9, and Teitelbaum received 437 votes in favor and 331 against.
The opposition did not accept the results. On 27 September, 779 approved Teitelbaum in a second vote, and only one member rejected him. Chaim Freund, the community's president, and several other members of the board were close supporters of the rabbi, and his opponents accused them of rigging the vote throughout the election process by various means, including granting and withdrawing the right to participate according to criteria which benefited their candidate. Both sides sued their opponents in rabbinical courts and complained to the civilian authorities. The parties presented their claims in lengthy pamphlets printed in 1929: Freund's faction issued a book under the name ''Milkhemes Mitzve haKhudosh'' ("The New Commanded War"), and the other one published ''Sfas Emes'' ("Words of Truth").
Finally, following the continued refusal of many to accept Teitelbaum, his supporters established their own independent community on 10 December 1929, where he could serve as a rabbi. The fear of losing members' fees motivated the other party to negotiate. An agreement was reached on 11 June 1930, and Joel was invited to serve as Satmar's chief rabbi. He chose not to accept the nomination until he was certain of support from the community council, which took three and a half years. Only then did he move, arriving on 27 February 1934. With 334 students, his rabbinical seminary became Satmar's largest, having more pupils than the other three combined.
In August 1932, Teitelbaum visited
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...
. A small party there sought to appoint him as the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the city in the wake of
Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld's death, but
Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky eventually received the post. On 29 January 1936, Teitelbaum's first wife, Chava, died. On 20 August 1937, he remarried with Alte Faige Shapiro, the orphaned 25-year-old daughter of Avigdor Shapiro from
Częstochowa
Częstochowa ( , ) is a city in southern Poland on the Warta with 214,342 inhabitants, making it the thirteenth-largest city in Poland. It is situated in the Silesian Voivodeship. However, Częstochowa is historically part of Lesser Poland, not Si ...
, who was half his age.
Incident with King Carol II of Romania
In the winter of 1936, the Romanian king
Carol II
Carol II (4 April 1953) was King of Romania from 8 June 1930, until his forced abdication on 6 September 1940. As the eldest son of Ferdinand I of Romania, King Ferdinand I, he became crown prince upon the death of his grand-uncle, King Carol I, ...
visited the city of Satmar. A large parade consisting of thousands of soldiers and courtiers accompanied his arrival. The municipality prepared a large stage upon which all its religious and municipal leaders stood. Teitelbaum was accompanied by his son-in-law, Chananya Yom-Tov Lipa Teitelbaum, rabbi of
Szemihály, and community leader Shmuel Rosenberg, and standing beside them were rabbis of the status quo and
neolog communities, as well as other religious leaders.
When the king approached the stage, he surveyed all the people who stood on it and started walking toward Teitelbaum, who was holding his rabbinical stick in one hand and his hat in the other. Two priests began walking towards the king, but he ignored them. Teitelbaum, suddenly noticing what was happening, saluted and said the
blessing
In religion, a blessing (also used to refer to bestowing of such) is the impartation of something with doctrines of grace, grace, Sacred, holiness, spiritual Redemption (theology), redemption, or Will of God, divine will.
Etymology and Germani ...
"Shenatan MiChvodo LiVnei Adam" (lit. who gave from His (God's) honor to human beings) - the Jewish blessing said when one meets a king. The king gave Teitelbaum his hand. The moment was documented by a Jewish photographer and was published in the Romanian press. Several days later, the king was asked why he approached the Orthodox rabbi first, and he responded: "Immediately when I walked toward the stage, I surveyed all those who were standing on it. My heart was attracted to this rabbi due to his appearance that radiated spirituality (lit., Yiddishen geistlichen rabbiner)." The king's response was published in the country's Jewish press.
World War II
In 1940, following the
Second Vienna Award
The Second Vienna Award was the second of two territorial disputes that were arbitrated by Nazi Germany and the Kingdom of Italy. On 30 August 1940, they assigned the territory of Northern Transylvania, including all of Maramureș and part of Cri ...
, Satmar again became part of
Hungary
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
.
Prior to the Holocaust, Teitelbaum ignored the threats to the Jews of Transylvania and failed to engage in the preparation of rescue and aid plans. As the situation of Hungarian Jews became dangerous, Teitelbaum equipped himself and his closest circle with certificates or visas that would facilitate their escape to
Mandatory Palestine
Mandatory Palestine was a British Empire, British geopolitical entity that existed between 1920 and 1948 in the Palestine (region), region of Palestine, and after 1922, under the terms of the League of Nations's Mandate for Palestine.
After ...
or the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. At the same time, he thwarted all attempts at cooperation between the heads of the ultra-Orthodox communities and the Zionist organizations, which could have helped the rest of the Jewish community to escape. His daughter settled in Jerusalem, while he called on his followers not to emigrate.
Teitelbaum's attempts to leave Hungary were part of a broader general phenomenon, which attracted criticism, even then, of rabbis and other public figures fleeing the country. When the Germans invaded Hungary, Teitelbaum's closest associates sought a safer way to smuggle him out by bribing two junior officers, drivers of a Red Cross ambulance, who agreed to drive a group of Jews to Kolozsvár (today
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca ( ; ), or simply Cluj ( , ), is a city in northwestern Romania. It is the second-most populous city in the country and the seat of Cluj County. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest (), Budapest () and Belgrade ( ...
) in return for money. The travelers included his family and several wealthy families who paid most of the costs. The attempt failed, and Teitelbaum was arrested and sent to
Kolozsvár Ghetto. Faced with harsh living conditions, he asked his followers to try to transfer him to Budapest or back to the ghetto of Satmar, where Jews were housed in residential buildings, but they were unable to fulfill his requests. Baron
Fülöp von Freudiger, director of the Orthodox congregation in Budapest, selected eighty rabbis and other prominent figures and paid for their inclusion in the passengers' list of the
Kastner train, which was to depart the state for a neutral country. Teitelbaum put himself on the list even though a Zionist group organized the evacuation.
On 30 June 1944, once negotiations with the Germans had been concluded, the passengers boarded a freight train that was planned to proceed to Switzerland but was eventually diverted to
Bergen Belsen. The group was held in a special section, in better conditions than those of other groups. Although the group included several notable figures, Teitelbaum was given special consideration. The group's physician exempted him from roll calls, and volunteers performed the tasks imposed on him.
With the help of Kasztner and SS officer Herman Krumey, the final arrangements were made, and Teitelbaum was transferred to Switzerland with some Jews from the group. Upon his arrival in Switzerland, he was accorded preferential treatment by the authorities.
Eventually, he decided to immigrate to Mandatory Palestine. In August 1945, several hundreds of the Kastner train's passengers, Teitelbaum among them, left Switzerland for the port of
Taranto
Taranto (; ; previously called Tarent in English) is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Taranto, serving as an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base.
Founded by Spartans ...
in Italy. On the 30th, they boarded the ship ''Ville d'Oran'', which arrived in
Haifa
Haifa ( ; , ; ) is the List of cities in Israel, third-largest city in Israel—after Jerusalem and Tel Aviv—with a population of in . The city of Haifa forms part of the Haifa metropolitan area, the third-most populous metropolitan area i ...
on the morning of 2 September. Teitelbaum resided in Jerusalem at the house of his nephew and son-in-law, Lipa Meir Teitelbaum.
When Joel Teitelbaum's institutions became bankrupt after a year, he emigrated to the United States.
United States
The Satmar Rebbe arrived in New York on the second day of
Rosh HaShana (27 September) 1946, aboard the motor vessel
''Vulcania''. He settled in
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordered by Greenpoint to the north; Bedford–Stuyvesant to the south; Bushwick and East Williamsburg to the east; and the East River to the west. It was an independe ...
, with a small group of supporters.
In late April 1948, the Satmar Hasidim established "Congregation Yetev Lev", named after
his grandfather, which was registered as a
religious corporation
A religious corporation is a type of religious non-profit organization, which has been incorporated under the law. Often these types of corporations are recognized under the law on a subnational level, for instance by a state or province governm ...
. The community's regulations, accepted in April 1952, decreed that Teitelbaum was not a salaried officeholder but the supreme spiritual authority over the members.
In 1951, although not a resident of
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
, Teitelbaum was appointed to the ceremonial office of President of the anti-Zionist
Edah HaChareidis (Congregation of God-Fearers) in Jerusalem. After the death of
Zelig Reuven Bengis on 21 May 1953, he also succeeded him as the Chief Rabbi and Grand Patriarch of Edah HaChareidis Rabbinical Court. He visited Israel every few years.
In 1955, Teitelbaum founded the
Central Rabbinical Congress, which he headed for the remainder of his life. From the early 1960s, Teitelbaum's envoys sought to establish a rural settlement where the congregants could be secluded from the outside world. They eventually managed to purchase territory in
Monroe, New York
Monroe is a Administrative divisions of New York#Town, town in Orange County, New York, Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 21,387 at the 2020 census, compared to 39,912 at the 2010 census; the significant fall in census ...
, where they built
Kiryas Joel (Town of Joel). The first families settled there in 1974.
On 23 February 1968, Teitelbaum suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed and barely functioning. His wife, backed by several
sextons and other functionaries, became the behind-the-scenes power in Satmar.
In the early hours of 19 August 1979, he complained of aches and was transported to
Mount Sinai Hospital, where he suffered a
myocardial infarction
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
and died at approximately 8am. Over 100,000 people attended his funeral in Kiryas Joel. He was succeeded by his nephew,
Moshe Teitelbaum, the second son of his older brother.
Opinions
Opposition to Zionism
Teitelbaum was well-known for his spoken and written
opposition to Zionism. He encouraged his followers living in Israel to form self-sufficient communities without assistance from the State of Israel and forbade any official engagement with it.
Before World War II, most Hasidic rabbis—as well as many other prominent
Orthodox rabbis and leaders—believed that God had promised to return the Jewish people to the
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine. The definition ...
under the leadership of the
Messiah
In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; ,
; ,
; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of '' mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach ...
, who would arrive when the Jewish people had merited redemption. While awaiting the Messiah, the Jewish people were to perform the ''
mitzvot
In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word (; , ''mīṣvā'' , plural ''mīṣvōt'' ; "commandment") refers to a commandment from God to be performed as a religious duty. Jewish law () in large part consists of discussion of these commandments ...
'' and were not to antagonize or rebel against the
Gentile
''Gentile'' () is a word that today usually means someone who is not Jewish. Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, have historically used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is used as a synony ...
nations of the world. In the years following the
Holocaust
The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...
, Teitelbaum strengthened this position.
In Teitelbaum's view, the
founding of the State of Israel by
secular
Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin , or or ), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. The origins of secularity can be traced to the Bible itself. The concept was fleshed out through Christian hi ...
and religious Jews, rather than the Messiah, violated a Jewish commandment that Jews should wait for the Messiah. Moreover, Teitelbaum taught that the existence of the State of Israel was actually preventing the Messiah from coming.
Three oaths
The core citations from
classical Judaic sources cited by Teitelbaum in his arguments against Zionism are based on a passage in the
Talmud
The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of Haskalah#Effects, modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the cen ...
. Rabbi
Jose bar Hanina explains in
''Ketubot'' 111a that God imposed "
three oaths" on the
nation of Israel: a) Israel should not return to the
Land
Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land sur ...
together by using force; b) Israel should not rebel against
the nations (i.e.,
non-Jewish peoples); and c) the nations (i.e., non-Jews) should not subjugate Israel "too harshly."
Teitelbaum argues that the second oath relates to the
wars between Israel and neighboring Arab countries. He views the establishment of the State of Israel as an act of "impatience," echoing the Talmud's warning about the dangers of seeking Gods love with impatience. The Satmar Hasidim posit that the frequent wars the State of Israel is in are a result of ignoring this oath.
Teitelbaum saw his opposition to Zionism as a way of protecting Jews and preventing bloodshed. Apart from his opposition to the founding and existence of Israel as being violations of the ''Three Oaths'' and his opposition to Zionism as an idolatrous replacement of or addition to rabbinic Judaism, Teitelbaum held that participating in the Israeli government - especially voting in the elections - was prohibited. To do so, in his opinion, would make one a "partner" in all of the state's "anti-Torah" policies and contribute to the spiritual and physical destruction of innocent people. Although many Haredi rabbis agree with the first two ideas, the general view of
Agudat Yisrael
Agudat Yisrael (; Ashkenazi Hebrew: ''Agudas Yisroel'') is a Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jewish political party in Israel. It began as a political party representing Haredi Judaism, Haredi Jews in Poland, originating in the Agudath Israel movement ...
and other Haredi rabbis is that the third idea - participating in the Israeli government - is permitted in order to rescue whatever is possible (in his words, "saving from the mouth of the lion.")
[Elyashiv, R. Yosef Shalom (2010-01-22). "Nevalah Ne'esta B'Yisroel". ''Yated Neeman''] Teitelbaum, however, was openly opposed to the views of Agudath Israel, and, until the present time, Satmar Hasidim refused to become members of the organization. The Satmar view is that only the Moshiach can bring about a Jewish government in the
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel () is the traditional Jewish name for an area of the Southern Levant. Related biblical, religious and historical English terms include the Land of Canaan, the Promised Land, the Holy Land, and Palestine. The definition ...
. Even if a government declaring itself religious would be formed before the arrival of the Moshiach, it would be illegitimate due to its "improper arrogation of power."
Although the Satmar Hasidim are opposed to the present government of Israel, many of them live in and visit Israel. Teitelbaum resided in Jerusalem for roughly one year after escaping from Europe and before the establishment of the State of Israel. He also visited Israel after moving to the United States.
Other opinions
Teitelbaum was very stringent in many particulars of
Jewish law
''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is based on biblical commandments ('' mit ...
. He argued with
Moshe Feinstein over the proper height of a ''
mechitza'' (the partition between the sexes in the synagogue). Feinstein held that the ''mechitza'' needed to go only up to the shoulders of the average woman; Teitelbaum opined that the ''mechitza'' should not allow women to be seen at all.
Teitelbaum was strongly opposed to the use of a tube for ''
metzitzah'' during
circumcision of a baby boy and felt that this change in the procedure would spiritually lead to more promiscuity.
Teitelbaum encouraged all married Hasidic men to wear
ceremonial fur hats. Although most Hasidic men in Hungary did not wear these before the war, Teitelbaum felt that in America, it was more important for people to look very different from the rest of the population to prevent assimilation, which was more rampant in America than in Hungary. He held that young men and women should not meet more than two or three times before getting engaged.
Teitelbaum stressed the importance of ''
tznius''. He was a strong proponent of the Hungarian Hasidic custom for married women to
shave their heads every month before immersion in the ''
mikveh
A mikveh or mikvah (, ''mikva'ot'', ''mikvot'', or (Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazic) ''mikves'', lit., "a collection") is a bath used for ritual washing in Judaism#Full-body immersion, ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve Tumah and taharah, ...
'' (ritual bath). He recommended against
wearing wigs by married women as he felt that the halakha prohibited this. Instead, Teitelbaum wanted women to cover their hair with something else, such as a turban. He insisted that all Satmar women and girls wear thick brown stockings with seams. The stockings had to be at least 90 deniers long. Due to the lack of such stockings, Teitelbaum encouraged one of his followers to manufacture the stockings. The stockings are called ''palm'' –the English translation of Teitelbaum's last name.
Teitelbaum prohibited the ownership of a television. This was in the 1950s when TV was still heavily censored for promiscuous content. He bought and oversaw his own Yiddish-language newspaper, ''
Der Yid'', for two reasons: First, he felt that the other Yiddish newspapers at the time contained articles that were prohibited from reading because of their promiscuous content and lack of respect for Haredi leaders. Additionally, Teitelbaum wanted a platform from which to spread his ideas.
Works
Some of the works Teitelbaum authored himself, or otherwise compiled by students:
* ''
Vayoel Moshe'' (1958), explaining his belief that Zionism is prohibited by ''
halakha
''Halakha'' ( ; , ), also Romanization of Hebrew, transliterated as ''halacha'', ''halakhah'', and ''halocho'' ( ), is the collective body of Judaism, Jewish religious laws that are derived from the Torah, Written and Oral Torah. ''Halakha'' is ...
'' (Jewish law)
* ''Al HaGeulah VeAl HaTemurah'' (1967, with N. Y. Meisels), further explaining his belief that Zionism is prohibited, in light of the
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War, also known as the June War, 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states, primarily United Arab Republic, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan from 5 to 10June ...
* ''Divrei Yoel'', on the
Chumash, Talmud, and Jewish festivals
* ''Kuntres Chidushai Torah'', on the Chumash
* ''Kuntres Chidushai Torah'', on the festivals
* ''Shu"t Divrei Yoel'',
responsa
''Responsa'' (plural of Latin , 'answer') comprise a body of written decisions and rulings given by legal scholars in response to questions addressed to them. In the modern era, the term is used to describe decisions and rulings made by scholars i ...
on ''halakha''
* ''Dibros Kodesh'', sermons given at
shalosh Seudos
* ''Agados Maharit'', on the Talmud
* ''Tiv Levav'', on the Chumash
* ''Rav Tuv'', on the Chumash
Teitelbaum authored a brief introduction to the Talmudic tractate
Shabbat
Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...
for a Holocaust-era printing in Romania. There are collections of his speeches entitled ''Hidushei Torah MHR"I Teitelbaum''.
See also
*
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidism () or Hasidic Judaism is a religious movement within Judaism that arose in the 18th century as a Spirituality, spiritual revival movement in contemporary Western Ukraine before spreading rapidly throughout Eastern Europe. Today, most ...
References
Further reading
*
Farbstein, EstherSermons Speak History: Rabbinic Dilemmas in Internment between Metz and Auschwitz Modern Judaism, May 2007
External links
Teitelbaum, Rav Yoel (The Satmarer Rebbe)at OU.org
* Nadler, Allan
The Riddle of the Satmar Jewish Ideas Daily, February 17, 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teitelbaum, Joel
1887 births
1979 deaths
Anti-Zionist Hasidic rabbis
People from Sighetu Marmației
Blood for goods
Rebbes of Satmar
Rabbis of the Edah HaChareidis
Kolozsvár Ghetto inmates
Hungarian Orthodox rabbis
Hasidic rabbis in Europe
American Hasidic rabbis
20th-century Romanian rabbis
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp survivors
People from Monroe, New York
Rabbis from New York (state)
Kiryas Joel, New York
People from Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Religious leaders from Brooklyn
Kastner train
Teitelbaum family
Romanian Orthodox rabbis
Jewish anti-Zionism in Romania
20th-century American rabbis
Hasidic poskim