The Satmar Rebbe and the Destruction of Hungarian Jewry: Part 1
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Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum (1887–1979) began his rabbinic career in Carei (Nagykaroly), a small town in Hungary. In 1929, the Rav of the Orthodox community in Satmar, a larger and more prestigious community, passed away, and Rabbi Teitelbaum was invited for a Shabbos “tryout.” The Rav displayed exceptional knowledge of Talmud, far above the prevailing image of a Chassidic rabbi, who was expected to be more of an expert in Kabbalah and prayer. He was retained by the community, which prospered under his leadership, and began attracting students to its yeshiva from all over Hungary.
As the War approached, the Satmarer Rav was smuggled out of harm’s way, first into Switzerland, where he remained throughout the War, and afterwards in 1946, into Israel. On a fund-raising mission to the United States, he met many people from his former community who urged him to stay in America and help them recover from the trauma of the War.
Rabbi Teitelbaum’s decision to stay in America was historic, in that it set in place the foundation for the growth of the Satmar community. After only a short time, the transplanted “Yetiv Lev” Congregation emerged upon American soil, with Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum at the helm.
In the 1950’s, the Satmar community continued to blossom. Williamsburg became the scene of many inspiring Chassidic gatherings and public tefilos, such as would occur annually on Hoshanah Rabbah, when the Satmar synagogue was a sea of lulavim and esrogim.
By the 1960’s, the Satmar community in Brooklyn had grown rapidly and the rebbe had gained many new adherents from immigration to the United States, and his opinions and blessings were sought by thousands.
In the 1970’s, the rebbe bought land in Monroe, NY, and founded Kiryas Yoel, where a large branch of the Satmar community now lives.
Tens of thousands of his Chassidim attended his funeral in Kiryat Yoel. None of his children survived him, as all three of his daughters passed away during his lifetime. The Satmar community grieved at the tremendous loss of their rebbe, who had led his followers according to uncompromising principles, in which he deeply believed.
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On the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC Kasztner Memorabilia page the very first item, a photo of the Satmarer Rebbe's arrival in Switzerland.
ie.
PHOTO #1:
According to attached blurb also appearing in photo greeting the Satmarer Rebbe is George mandel-Mantello plus a Rabbi Aaron Rothschild.
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סאטמאר
דברי יואל, ויואל משה
1887 |
January 13, 1887
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Sighetu Marmației, Sighetu Marmatiei, Maramureș County, Romania
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1909 |
September 14, 1909
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1979 |
August 19, 1979
Age 92
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Manhattan Borough, Mount Sinai, 🏥Hospital/Medical Center, New York City, New York County, New York State, United States of America
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