Crown Heights, NY - Speaking Motzei Shabbos at the annual Satmar dinner commemorating the escape of Grand Rebbe R’ Yoel Teitelbaum Zt’l from the Nazis in 1944, Satmar Rebbe R’ Aron Teitelbaum, from Kiryas Joel, NY, spoke passionately about how the Rebbe taught his followers to be proud of their Satmar heritage, to continue in their customs in America, the dangers of Zionism and strongly condemned those who speak out against President Obama.
R’ Teitelbaum told a crowd of thousands at the New York State Armory in Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, NY that we are obligated to make a public statement that religious Jews pray daily for the welfare of the United States, which includes a special blessing for its leaders wishing them continued success in their efforts to bring peace to the world and said that it is those leaders who support the state of Israel who are guilty of insulting President Obama in a public forum.
“We live in a malchus shel chesed,” said R’ Teitelbaum. “We enjoy freedom of speech and freedom of religion. But recently self-appointed Jewish leaders have gotten up and insulted the President in the worse way. Their words have been broadcast on the radio and television and all the media. Why should Jews come out in public with these sort of statements? It is provoking the nations to hate us and it brings danger upon Jews not only here but all over the globe. We mustn’t forget that this is exile. Who knows what the effects of this irresponsible behavior could be?”
The 21st day of Kislev is celebrated annual by Satmar chasidim worldwide as the day R’ Yoel Teitelbaum escaped from Hungary and this year marks the 67th anniversary of the Grand Rebbe’s escape from the Nazis. R’ Teitelbaum was among over 1600 people who were transported out of Hungary by train due to the efforts of Rudolf Kastner, one of the leaders of Budapest’s Vaadat Ezra V’Hatzalah, who brokered a deal with Adolph Eichmann to let the passengers leave in exchange for a large sum of money, diamonds and gold. While Eichmann reneged on the deal and had the train sent to Bergen Belsen, the train was finally released after four months of negotiations and the passengers finally obtained their freedom when they arrived in Switzerland.
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