NEW YORK (VINnews) — Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, sharply criticized attacks against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and warned that labeling the mayor an antisemite could create unnecessary tensions between Jews and the broader society.
Teitelbaum made the remarks during a gathering in Kiryas Joel, Monroe, New York, marking the 47th yahrzeit of Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, the founder and spiritual leader of the Satmar community. Join our WhatsApp group
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Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, who died in 1979 and is buried in Kiryas Joel, rebuilt the Satmar Hasidic community in the United States after the Holocaust and became one of the most influential leaders of the postwar Orthodox Jewish world.
Addressing what he described as growing tensions in New York, Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum said some Orthodox Jews were engaging in what he called “provocation against the nations” by attacking the mayor.
He urged observant Jews living in the United States to conduct themselves according to Torah principles and recognize the responsibilities of living in exile.
Citing the biblical instruction of the prophet Jeremiah to Jews living in exile to seek the welfare of the cities where they reside, Teitelbaum said religious Jews should accept the circumstances of exile and act accordingly.
He then specifically addressed the campaign to portray Mamdani as an antisemite.
“By attacking the mayor and labeling him an antisemite, they are increasing the real provocation against the nations,” Teitelbaum said, according to a recording of his remarks.
He also warned against transferring tensions surrounding Israel into the United States, saying that disputes taking place in Israel should not lead to confrontation between American Jews and the government.
The remarks come as both major Satmar factions — the Williamsburg-based Zalunim and the Kiryas Joel-based Aronim — have developed notably close relationships with Mamdani, despite the mayor’s controversial positions on Israel and the concerns raised by many Jewish New Yorkers.
The two Satmar factions have emphasized engagement with Mamdani and maintaining a working relationship with the incoming mayor, a strategy that has drawn questions and criticism from some other members of New York’s Jewish community.
Mamdani, a Muslim progressive and outspoken critic of Israel, has faced scrutiny from Jewish organizations and political figures over his past statements and positions on Israel, the war in Gaza and antisemitism.
The Satmar leadership’s approach has instead focused heavily on the interests of the Orthodox Jewish community in New York, including maintaining access to government officials and protecting the community’s ability to operate its religious schools and institutions.
Teitelbaum’s remarks did not amount to an endorsement of Mamdani’s political positions. Rather, he focused on how religious Jews should conduct themselves toward the government and wider society while living in the United States.
The Satmar movement has a longstanding anti-Zionist religious position and teaches that Jews should live according to Torah while awaiting the redemption. Its leaders have also historically emphasized maintaining peaceful relations with the governments under which Jewish communities live.
The relationship between Satmar leaders and Mamdani has nevertheless become an increasingly visible political issue, particularly as other Jewish groups have taken a much more confrontational approach toward the mayor.
Rabbi Zalman Leib Teitelbaum leads the Williamsburg faction of Satmar, while Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum leads the Satmar community based in Kiryas Joel. Together, the two factions represent one of the largest Hasidic populations in New York.
The latest comments from the Williamsburg Rebbe underscore the Satmar leadership’s preference for engagement and cooperation with the city’s government, even as Mamdani’s views on Israel remain deeply controversial among many Jewish New Yorkers.
Surely both Satmer Rebbe’s know what the first Satmer Rebbe, Reb Yoelish said. Yes we appose Zionism vehemently but if a goy is anti Israel, he is in truth antisemetic.
he is still an ANTI-SEMITE and an ANTI-AMERICAN who s/b indicted for INCITEMENT against the United States of America – he belongs in Russia or in any Arab nation
Maybe he doesn’t know the feeling of getting stabbed because of Mamdani.
It’s a fascinating part of Jewish history where the group that pushes “Not upsetting the nations” more than any other group is the same group most well known for “Upsetting the Nations”
The Saint Mary “rebbe” doesn’t risk anything. He is not going to honorably die with his community when the nochrim he encouraged by his treasonous bowing will go on a jungle rampage. He will hop on a kastner train, while his community will perish. Chas vesholom of course.
The idea that protecting Jewish life is a “provocation” reflects a dangerous double standard. Our tradition teaches us to live in peace, but also to defend ourselves and our dignity. We don’t ask for permission to exist or to protect our children. True peace comes from strength and mutual respect, not from self-abnegation in the face of threats.
KJ itself is not a Yiddishe Medinha? Making Hafgonnos in Manhattan, Voting as a bloc and letting politicians know it not “Yaaleh k’choyma” ? Having Chasunas at Jaavitz Center and Nassau Collesium is not “Misgureh b’imos” ? The Heilegge Rebbes from FRIEDIK DOR obviously held we should build Chassidishe Macht. And that we should build up political and economic influence. Even in the Galus
Terrible
when satmar rishayim voted against Sue Kelly who voted against same sex “marriage” in order to support pro toevah john Hall, and they knocked her out of office, by alienating the entire Orange County with their expansion terrorisim that is not hisgarus biumos?
Some people just can’t see how Hashem has taken NY as the most populated place of Jews and transfered that to Israel. Som people can’t see how Hashem has taken the Torah center of the late 1900s in the USA and transfered that to Israel. For shame.
Wonder where reb indig got it from
Of course takes a swipe at the ZIONISTS. In 1930 the IMREI EMES was on a visit to Eretz Yisrael. He wrote back to his Hasidim that if more would come to settle there , they could have a positive influence on the secular Zionists. Perhaps the Rebbe should read it. OSEF MICHTAVIM
Hisgaris bh’emus which means live in harmony with the people / county you live in
Exactly how does 85% of Monroe and williamsburg taking Gov’t programs, taking unwed mothers with babies programs, pulling every shitck in the book fit in with that?
Oh – only if it is an anti Israel politician do we pull out the be nice and honest card.
The topic is “nation”? The “nation” is repreented by the President. This New York mayor is at odds with the “nation” as represented by the President. This New York mayor is also violating State Department (“state” as in “nation”) warnings not to travel to Syria. Yet he allows his wife to travel to Syria for (by his own admition) personal non-government reasons and using tax funded New York City police as security for that personal trip (endagenring those same police). So just how is this New York mayor in any way “nation”?
Santa Maria… Szatmárnémeti …Satu Mare …whatever you wanna call it, for us she was not holy nor her mamzer son.
While were still in galus we have no mitzvah either to patronage the current mamazer in chief of NYC who is Soine Yisrael lkol hadeot.
I have kavana in “vlamashinim al tehi tikva” for all MamZHORdummy’s Jewish supporters. If that now also includes the Zaloonies, so be it as well.
Anti-Semitism is a scary unfortunate reality. But being in denial and embracing it is not a strategy that should be promoted by anyone. The cat’s out of the bag you can’t deny who the man is that would be dishonest to everyone
“Its leaders have also historically emphasized maintaining peaceful relations with the governments under which Jewish communities live.” Unless the governments are Jewish.
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I agree with the rebbe wanting to leave the door open for working with the mayor. Nevertheless, the Rebbe should proclaim loud and clear that the Satmar community considers it libelous and dangerous that the mayor labels the state of Israel as “a white colonizing occupying entity that is committing genocide against the Palestinian”.
Whatever mistakes Israel has made since October 7th, or any mistakes resulting from decades of non-stop war against hateful neighbors who refuse co-existence, Israel does not deserve any of these malicious labels.
And we must not forget that the state of Israel probably would not have happened, if not for the guilt of the allies over their lack of action to disrupt the holocaust. Nor would the state of Israel have happened had the allies been willing to share in the absorption of the 250,000 Jews who had survived the holocaust. But instead of welcoming in these Jewish refugees, they voted for the partition plan, This in turn kept the 250,000 Jews out of their own lands, and conveniently “dumped” them into a place that will never know peace until the moshiach comes.