Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)

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Hasidic dynasty founded in Satu Mare (Satmar), Romania, in 1928 and rebuilt in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, after 1947; split since 2006 between two rebbes

Hasidic dynasties
Overview

Hasidic dynasties | Haredi and Hasidic groups in the US | Chabad-Lubavitch movement

Dynasties

Belz | Biala | Bobov | Boyan | Breslov | Chabad-Lubavitch | Chernobyl | Dushinsky | Ger | Karlin-Stolin | Lelov | Munkacs | Nadvorna | Pupa | Rachmastrivka | Sadigura | Sanz-Klausenburg | Sassov | Satmar | Shomer Emunim | Skver | Slonim | Spinka | Toldos Aharon | Toldos Avraham Yitzchak | Tosh | Vizhnitz

Founders and early masters

Baal Shem Tov | Dov Ber of Mezeritch | Elimelech of Lizhensk | Shneur Zalman of Liadi | Nachman of Breslov | Moshe Leib of Sassov

Present-day rebbes

Aaron Teitelbaum | Zalman Teitelbaum | Yissachar Dov Rokeach | Yaakov Aryeh Alter | Yisroel Hager | Ben Zion Aryeh Leibish Halberstam | David Twersky | Boruch Meir Yaakov Shochet

20th-century rebbes

Joel Teitelbaum | Aharon Rokeach | Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Politics and communal bodies

Agudat Yisrael | United Torah Judaism | Degel HaTorah | Edah HaChareidis | Neturei Karta | Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations

Places

Uman | Stamford Hill | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | Kiryas Joel, New York | Bnei Brak | Beitar Illit | Modi'in Illit

United Kingdom

Satmar institutions in the UK | Belz Communities | Satmar Kolel

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Satmar
Founded 1928 Szatmárnémeti (Satu Mare), then in Romania
Founder Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979)
Leader Rebbes Aaron Teitelbaum (Kiryas Joel)
Zalman Teitelbaum (Williamsburg)
Headquarters Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, and Kiryas Joel (Town of Palm Tree), Orange County, New York
Type Hasidic dynasty
Languages Notes

Satmar is a Hasidic dynasty founded in 1928 by Joel Teitelbaum (1887–1979) in Szatmárnémeti (Satu Mare), then in Romania. Teitelbaum escaped from Bergen-Belsen on the Kasztner train in 1944, spent two and a half years in Palestine and arrived in the United States in 1947, where he rebuilt the court in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. YIVO describes it as the world's largest Hasidic sect, with about 100,000 followers and branches in Kiryas Joel, Los Angeles, Montreal, Antwerp, London, Buenos Aires and Jerusalem.[1] Since the death of Moshe Teitelbaum in 2006 the court has been divided between his sons Aaron Teitelbaum, based in Kiryas Joel, and Zalman Teitelbaum, based in Williamsburg.[1][2]

Satmar is known for its theological rejection of Zionism and of the State of Israel, set out by Joel Teitelbaum in Va-Yo'el Mosheh (1959–1961).[1][3]

History

Sighet and Satmar

The dynasty descends from Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhely (1759–1841), a disciple of the Seer of Lublin and author of Yismaḥ Mosheh. His great-grandson Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum (1808–1883) became rabbi of Sighet in 1858. Joel Teitelbaum was the youngest son of Hananiah Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum of Sighet (1836–1904). His elder brother Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum (1880–1926) and that brother's son Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum, who died in Auschwitz, were the last Sigheter rebbes in Europe.[1]

Joel Teitelbaum became rabbi of Orsova in 1911 and of Carei in 1926. He was invited to Satmar in 1928, but opposition meant that he could take up the post only in 1934.[1] At the 1922 congress of anti-Zionist rabbis at Csap, organised by Hayyim Elazar Shapira of Munkács, his signature appeared first on the declaration excommunicating the Zionists and Agudat Yisrael.[1]

Holocaust and the move to New York

In 1944 Joel Teitelbaum was among those taken from Bergen-Belsen on the Kasztner train. He spent two and a half years in Palestine and arrived in the United States in 1947. He settled in Williamsburg, where he gathered Hungarian survivors around a new court.[1] Some earlier accounts give 1946 for his arrival in Williamsburg; YIVO gives 1947.

According to YIVO, Teitelbaum became president of the Edah HaChareidis of Jerusalem in 1953 while living in Williamsburg.[1] Shaul Magid, writing in Tablet, dates his appointment as titular head (av beit din) of the Edah to a visit to Jerusalem in 1952, and says he remained its honorary president until his death.[3]

In 1973 Teitelbaum asked for the creation of Rav Tov International Jewish Rescue Organization (Rav Tov), a refugee organisation.[4]

Kiryas Joel

Kiryas Joel, in Orange County, New York, was settled by Satmar Hasidim in the mid-1970s. It became an incorporated village in 1977, with powers over housing permits and zoning. Its population grew from about 2,000 in 1980 to 13,000 in 2000 and 25,000 in 2019. In July 2018 Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the law creating the Town of Palm Tree, an English rendering of "Teitelbaum".[5] The American Community Survey 2023 five-year estimate gives a population of 36,572.[6]

Succession and split

Joel Teitelbaum was succeeded in 1979 by his nephew Moshe Teitelbaum. YIVO gives his dates as 1915–2006; some sources give his year of birth as 1914.[1] The court then split between Moshe's sons Aaron Teitelbaum in Kiryas Joel and Zalman Teitelbaum in Williamsburg. YIVO records that the dispute involved some violence and that the succession had not been resolved.[1] In 2006 the New York Times reported that Satmar was the largest Hasidic group in the United States and that its New York schools, if counted as a public school system, would be the fourth-largest in the state after those of New York City, Buffalo and Rochester.[7]

Rebbes of Sighet and Satmar
Rebbe Dates Seat Notes
Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhely 1759–1841 Ujhely Disciple of the Seer of Lublin; author of Yismaḥ Mosheh[1]
Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum 1808–1883 Sighet (from 1858) [1]
Hananiah Yom Tov Lipa Teitelbaum 1836–1904 Sighet Father of Joel Teitelbaum[1]
Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum 1880–1926 Sighet Elder brother of Joel[1]
Yekusiel Yehuda Teitelbaum 1912–1944 Sighet Died in Auschwitz[1]
Joel Teitelbaum 1887–1979 Satmar (from 1934), then Williamsburg (from 1947) Founder of Satmar[1]
Moshe Teitelbaum 1915–2006 (YIVO) Williamsburg Nephew of Joel[1]
Aaron Teitelbaum Kiryas Joel Son of Moshe; one of two rival successors[1]
Zalman Teitelbaum Williamsburg Son of Moshe; one of two rival successors[1]

Communities

United States

  • Williamsburg, Brooklyn: the historic centre. ShulMap lists Satmar alongside Pupa, Vien, Klausenburg and Nitra synagogues in the area, including halls on Rodney Street and at Kent Avenue.[8]
  • Kiryas Joel (Town of Palm Tree), Orange County: the seat of Aaron Teitelbaum. In December 2023 the community publication Shtetl reported claims of 24,000 pupils across the two flagship Satmar school systems (12,000 each) and, citing the publication Hayovel, about 8,000 families in Kiryas Joel.[9]

United Kingdom

Stamford Hill in Hackney, north London, is the main British centre. There are also Satmar institutions in Salford and Prestwich, Greater Manchester.[10][11][12]

From 2016 a Hasidic community grew on Canvey Island, Essex, around a former school building bought on 24 March 2016.[13] According to K., the community's founders included Joel Friedman of Interlink and the Pinter Trust. Satmar Hasidim affiliated with Aaron Teitelbaum are the largest group there, but it is a general Hasidic community rather than an exclusively Satmar one.[2]

Between the early 1990s and 2010 Satmar brought an estimated 20 Yemenite Jewish families to Stamford Hill. The Jewish Chronicle reported that problems with integration quickly became apparent.[14]

Schools

Independent schools identified with Satmar
School Address Pupils Proprietor / charity Notes
Beis Rochel d'Satmar Girls' School 51–57 Amhurst Park, London N16 5DL Girls, 2–19 The Bais Rochel Dsatmar Charitable Trust (charity 281371) Income £6,976,785 in the year to 31 December 2024[15]
Beis Rochel D'Satmar School 180 Bethune Road, London N16 5DS Boys, 2–11; 611 pupils Talmud Torah Torah Veyirah D'Satmar London Limited (charity 1136378) URN 147296; opened 28 January 2020; headteacher Rabbi Emmanuel Patcas[16][17]
Beis Ruchel D'Satmar London 117 Stamford Hill, London N16 5RS Girls, 2–11; 1,108 pupils Proprietor Abraham Klein; Beis Ruchel D'Satmar (London) Limited (charity 1125988) URN 137505; opened 14 September 2011; income £3,718,860 in the year to 30 August 2025[18][19]
Talmud Torah Yetev Lev Stamford Hill, London Boys, 7–11; 438 pupils The Department for Education lifted restrictions on admitting new pupils in 2025 after an inspection found the school met the standards checked[20]
Beis Rochel Mcr Salford Girls, primary Ofsted admitted an error in criticising the school for not teaching about LGBT identity and said it would amend its report[21]
Beis Ruchel Girls School Rico House, George Street, Prestwich, Manchester M25 9WS (charity address) Girls Beis Ruchel School Ltd (charity 1074439; company 03561612) Income £1,749,924 in the year to 31 May 2025[12]

Synagogues

Satmar synagogues in the United Kingdom
Name Address Notes
Beth Hamedrash Kehal Yetev Lev 86 Cazenove Road, London N16 6AB Founded about 1962; member of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations[10]
Beis Hamedrash Kehal Yetev Lev 42 Craven Walk, London N16 6BU From about 2003[10]
Beis Hamedrash D'Chasidei Satmar 57 Bethune Road, London N16 5EE From about 2010[10]
Beis Hamedrash Tehillois Yoel 148 Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9BA From about 2011[10]
Beth Hamedrash Kehal Yetev Lev (former) 26 Clapton Common, London E5 From about 1993; JCR-UK notes that it may no longer exist[10]
Beis Hamedrash V'Yoel Moshe (former) 67 Heathland Road, London N16 6PQ From about 2006[10]
Beth Hamedrash Satmar Veyoel Moshe 37 Northumberland Road, Salford Run by KH D'Satmar Ltd (charity 1160643), whose office is at 315–317 Great Clowes Street, Salford M7 2FZ[11]
Cong Yetev Lev D'Satmar M/C Ltd Salford, Greater Manchester Charity 1115899; income £238,120 in the year to 31 August 2024[22]
Canvey Island Jewish Centre Former Castle View School, Meppel Avenue, Canvey Island SS8 9RZ Bought 24 March 2016; synagogue, hall, grocery, boys' and girls' schools and a junior yeshiva[13]

Charities and trustees

Satmar-linked charities registered in England and Wales
Charity Number Trustees listed by the Charity Commission Other trusteeships shown
The Bais Rochel Dsatmar Charitable Trust 281371 Abraham Schreiber, Jacob Frankel, Victor Langberg Frankel: Vyoel Moshe Charitable Trust, Nextgrant Limited, Friends of Yeshiva Luzern[23]
Talmud Torah Torah Veyirah D'Satmar London Limited 1136378 Solomon Berkowitz, Maurice Freund, Aaron Langberg Berkowitz: Yeitev Lev Eretz Israel Ltd, Just Kidding; Freund: Keren Yetev Lev Ltd, Congregation Yetev Lev Dsatmar Antwerp Limited, Yeitev Lev Eretz Israel Ltd, Nextgrant Limited[24]
Beis Ruchel D'Satmar (London) Limited 1125988 Jacob Kernkraut, Jacob Herzka, Abraham Klein Kernkraut: Alte Feiga Trust, E and E Kernkraut Charities Limited, The Knightland Foundation[25]
Beis Ruchel School Ltd 1074439 Chaim Shimen Lebrecht, Paul Rothschild, Berusch Krausz Rothschild: Cong Yetev Lev D'Satmar M/C Ltd; Lebrecht: Friends of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok[26]
Just Kidding 1186598 Solomon Berkowitz (chair), David Schreiber, Feige Krausz Children's services in Hackney and Haringey; registered 26 November 2019; income £131,825[27]

Opposition to Zionism

Joel Teitelbaum set out his opposition to Zionism in Va-Yo'el Mosheh (1959–1961), which relies on the rabbinic "three oaths", and in ʻAl ha-ge'ulah ve-ʻal ha-temurah (1967), written after the Six-Day War. He also forbade the use of spoken modern Hebrew.[1] Shaul Magid writes that Teitelbaum almost never discusses Zionist thinkers by name, and that he regarded Agudat Yisrael's pragmatic acceptance of Zionism as like the righteous who were misled into serving the golden calf. Magid places him in a longer line of Haredi anti-Zionism that includes Hayyim Elazar Shapira of Munkács, Elchonon Wasserman and the Lubavitcher rebbes Sholom Dovber Schneersohn and Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. He argues that Abraham Isaac Kook and Teitelbaum "disagree less than we think".[3]

The Jewish Chronicle has stated that Joel Teitelbaum described the PLO and similar organisations as antisemitic murderers.[28]

In July 2014, after the killing of three Israeli teenagers who had been studying at a yeshiva in the occupied West Bank, Aaron Teitelbaum told a class in Kiryas Joel that their parents were to blame: "Who permitted them to go there [to live] among these known murderers?" He attributed it to "the lust called 'Shleimus Haaretz and Zionism'".[29] The International Court of Justice found in 2024 that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem "have been established and are being maintained in violation of international law".[30]

In October 2025 the Central Rabbinical Congress organised a "Cry of the Exile" rally outside the Israeli consulate in New York against the IDF draft of Haredi students. The Times of Israel reported that organisers claimed 100,000 protesters and that the rally answered a call from leading anti-Zionist rabbis, including the rival Satmar rebbes.[31]

Neturei Karta

In 2006 Satmar issued a public notice against seven Neturei Karta members who attended Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Holocaust-denial conference in Tehran, calling on the public to dissociate themselves from the seven, whom it accused of walking "hand in hand" with Arabs.[32]

In November 2023 Zalman Teitelbaum condemned Neturei Karta demonstrations in New York in support of Hamas as a "terrible desecration" of God's name. The Jewish Press noted that Satmar, unlike Neturei Karta, keeps ties with pro-Zionist Haredi communities.[33]

Relations with Chabad

Jewish Currents contrasts Menachem Mendel Schneerson of Chabad, who built an "army" of emissaries to bring non-Hasidic Jews into the fold, with Joel Teitelbaum, who encouraged his followers to separate themselves from other Jews, whom they largely saw as heretics.[34]

In 1977 the New York Times reported a feud between Satmar and Lubavitch Hasidim in Brooklyn. A candy store was burned, a caravan was stoned, Israeli flags were burned and a rabbi was hung in effigy. The paper said the main ideological dispute was Lubavitch support for the Entebbe raid, and that a fistfight in April had started when Lubavitchers marched into the Satmar neighbourhood for a religious holiday.[35]

Politics

Williamsburg Satmar's civic arm is the United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg (UJO). Rabbi David Niederman has been its executive director since 1989. Before that he was executive vice-president of Rav Tov from its founding in 1973. UJO reported 93,131 walk-in clients in 2024.[4][36] In November 2025 Mishpacha described Rabbi Moishe Indig, founder and leader of the Williamsburg Jewish Community Council, as a political "kingmaker" and questioned him about his endorsement of Zohran Mamdani.[37]

In 2022 the Kiryas Joel Satmar faction and the Skver community in New Square endorsed Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, against the Republican Lee Zeldin. Skver also backed Sean Patrick Maloney.[38][39] The Forward reported that the Williamsburg Satmar faction, called the Zalis, did not endorse anyone in the race for governor, and that the Skver community had about 3,000 votes.[40] Jewish Insider also put the New Square bloc at about 3,000 votes in 2024.[41]

In 2025 Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign announced the endorsement of the main Satmar community in Williamsburg, led politically by David Niederman, with a coalition of congregations including Pupa, Viznitz, Vien, Tzelim, Nitra, Krasna, Skver and Klausenburg. The campaign said Satmar Ahronim and the Bobov community had already endorsed Cuomo, and described the group as the largest Orthodox voting bloc in the city.[42]

On 3 September 2026 both Satmar rebbes, the Bobov rebbe, the Vizhnitz rebbe of Monsey and a son of the Skver rebbe David Twersky met President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance at the White House. Jewish Insider reported that housing, prison reform and family tax credits were discussed; The Yeshiva World also reported discussion of the Israeli draft.[43][44]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Allan Nadler, Satmar Hasidic Dynasty YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe, accessed 26 October 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 K., Postcard from Canvey Island K. la revue, accessed 27 October 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Shaul Magid, The Satmar Are Anti-Zionist. Should We Care? Tablet, 21 May 2020 (archived 5 November 2025), accessed 27 October 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, Executive Director unitedjewish.org, accessed 27 October 2026.
  5. ↑ Glenn C. Altschuler, Satmar's micro-society: Kiryas Joel is a mirror of the American people Jerusalem Post, 27 January 2022, accessed 27 October 2026.
  6. ↑ Census Reporter, Kiryas Joel, NY censusreporter.org (archived 7 December 2025), accessed 27 October 2026.
  7. ↑ The New York Times, Report on the death of Moshe Teitelbaum The New York Times, 25 April 2006 (archived 2 November 2015), accessed 27 October 2026.
  8. ↑ ShulMap, Williamsburg Shuls shulmap.com, accessed 27 October 2026.
  9. ↑ Shtetl, Satmar community touts 24,000 students in flagship school systems Shtetl, 12 December 2023 (archived 11 April 2026), accessed 27 October 2026.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 JCR-UK, Satmar synagogues, Stamford Hill JewishGen, accessed 27 October 2026.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Charity Commission, KH D'Satmar Ltd, charity 1160643 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Charity Commission, Beis Ruchel School Ltd, charity 1074439 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 JCR-UK, Canvey Island Jewish Community JewishGen, accessed 27 October 2026.
  14. ↑ Ben Weich, Satmar Chasidim: Was the project to settle Yemenite families in Stamford Hill a 'failed experiment'? The Jewish Chronicle, 3 October 2019, accessed 27 October 2026.
  15. ↑ Charity Commission, The Bais Rochel Dsatmar Charitable Trust, charity 281371 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  16. ↑ Department for Education, Beis Rochel D'Satmar School, URN 147296 Get Information about Schools, accessed 27 October 2026.
  17. ↑ Charity Commission, Talmud Torah Torah Veyirah D'Satmar London Limited, charity 1136378 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  18. ↑ Department for Education, Beis Ruchel D'Satmar London, URN 137505 Get Information about Schools, accessed 27 October 2026.
  19. ↑ Charity Commission, Beis Ruchel D'Satmar (London) Limited, charity 1125988 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  20. ↑ Simon Rocker, DfE lifts sanctions against Chasidic school in Stamford Hill The Jewish Chronicle, 2025, accessed 27 October 2026.
  21. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle, Ofsted admits error in criticising Charedi school for not teaching about same-sex parents The Jewish Chronicle, 17 May 2026, accessed 27 October 2026.
  22. ↑ Charity Commission, Cong Yetev Lev D'Satmar M/C Ltd, charity 1115899 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  23. ↑ Charity Commission, The Bais Rochel Dsatmar Charitable Trust: trustees Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  24. ↑ Charity Commission, Talmud Torah Torah Veyirah D'Satmar London Limited: trustees Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  25. ↑ Charity Commission, Beis Ruchel D'Satmar (London) Limited: trustees Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  26. ↑ Charity Commission, Beis Ruchel School Ltd: trustees Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  27. ↑ Charity Commission, Just Kidding, charity 1186598 Register of Charities, accessed 27 October 2026.
  28. ↑ The Jewish Chronicle, Time to stop the Shraga Stern farce The Jewish Chronicle, accessed 27 October 2026.
  29. ↑ The Yeshiva World, Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel: It's Their Fault for Living in the Territories! The Yeshiva World, 3 July 2014, accessed 27 October 2026.
  30. ↑ International Court of Justice, Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024 icj-cij.org, 19 July 2024, accessed 26 October 2026.
  31. ↑ Times of Israel, Central Rabbinical Congress (topic page; item dated 20 October 2025) Times of Israel (archived 23 October 2025), accessed 27 October 2026.
  32. ↑ Ynet, Satmar court slams Neturei Karta Ynetnews, 15 December 2006, accessed 27 October 2026.
  33. ↑ The Jewish Press, Satmar Rebbe condemns Neturei Karta for supporting Hamas murders The Jewish Press, 13 November 2023 (archived 15 November 2025), accessed 27 October 2026.
  34. ↑ Jewish Currents, The Making of Satmar Williamsburg Jewish Currents, 8 May 2026, accessed 27 October 2026.
  35. ↑ The New York Times, Hasidim in Brooklyn Feuding Over Israel and Neighborhood Sanctity The New York Times, 1 June 1977 (archived 3 January 2022), accessed 27 October 2026.
  36. ↑ United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg, Home page unitedjewish.org, accessed 27 October 2026.
  37. ↑ Yitzchok Landa, The Kingmaker from Williamsburg Mishpacha, 26 November 2025, accessed 27 October 2026.
  38. ↑ The Yeshiva World, Outliers: Skver Joins Satmar in Endorsing Hochul, Also Backs Maloney The Yeshiva World, accessed 27 October 2026.
  39. ↑ VIN News, After stunning victory, Republicans work to build relationship with New Square's leaders VIN News, 15 November 2022, accessed 27 October 2026.
  40. ↑ Jacob Kornbluh, In close race, Hochul walks a fine line on yeshiva education The Forward, 2 November 2022 (archived 16 May 2026), accessed 27 October 2026.
  41. ↑ Matthew Kassel, The high-stakes battle for the Skver vote Jewish Insider, 29 October 2024, accessed 27 October 2026.
  42. ↑ Andrew Cuomo for Mayor, Cuomo receives major endorsement from Satmar Williamsburg andrewcuomo.com, June 2025 (archived 8 December 2025), accessed 27 October 2026.
  43. ↑ Matthew Kassel, Trump and Hasidic rabbis discuss housing, prison reform and family tax credits Jewish Insider, 3 September 2026, accessed 27 October 2026.
  44. ↑ The Yeshiva World, Historic White House Visit: Inside Rebbes' Extraordinary Meetings With Trump And Vance The Yeshiva World, 4 September 2026, accessed 27 October 2026.
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