Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., October 06, 2008 Tishrei 7, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:15 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 10:04 16/08/2007
Satmar rebbe late to community event due to women's presence
By Yair Sheleg, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Jerusalem, ultra-Orthodox 

The Satmar rebbe was supposed to attend the inauguration of his community' new compound in Jerusalem Wednesday evening and address his followers at 7:30 P.M. However, he arrived only at 9:30 P.M.

Had this been a secular politician, the delay would have been explained by a desire to coincide with television's prime time news broadcasts. In Satmar's case, the explanation was completely different - it's the women's fault.

Organizers kept asking the women not to stand on Yeshayahu Street, which was intended for men, but only on Pri Hadash Road, which was designated for them. The "sacred event" could not continue unless they followed instructions, they said.
Advertisement
Satmar is the largest Hasidic court in the world, totaling some 20,000 families, but most of its members live in New York. The Israeli community consists of about 1,200 families. So most of the thousands who came Wednesday were the ultra-Orthodox mainly from the adjacent neighborhoods and yeshivas. For them it was another opportunity to see a Torah sage, even if he wasn't their leader.

Indeed, when the rebbe finally arrived, the crowd surged forward so forcefully that organizers had to warn of the "mortal danger."

Among the young crowd, which included quite a few from the "Lithuanian" camp (ultra-Orthodox non-Hasidic - and sometimes anti-Hasidic - sects), many criticized the event. "It must be said that in our community we also have displays of idol worship," one man said, after admitting that he had arrived not to hear words of wisdom but "to see the rebbe."

Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum, who arrived on a flight from the U.S. via Germany to avoid flying on the Zionist El Al, came to lay the cornerstone for the new community. This symbolizes a triple victory. The first is staking the Teitlebaum court's claim in Jerusalem. The second is the Satmar community's triumph over the rest of the ultra-Orthodox. The third and perhaps sweetest is the triumph over the secular Jews, for the new community will be built on the site of the Edison Cinema, which had been a thorn in the side of the ultra-Orthodox community for years.

Demonstrations failed to remove the cinema. But over the years, as secular residents opted for the modern cinema complexes in the shopping centers, Edison closed down and its land was sold to the Satmar Hasidim to build a compound of some 100 subsidized apartments.

The symbolic victory was so important that inside sources say the rebbe told his people to insist on this compound, although it was half a million dollars more expensive than other plots at the Satmars' disposal
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Forgotten peace
French FM: I fear distracted world may forget Mideast peace process.
Settlers vs. Shin Bet
Daniela Weiss: Shin Bet behind attack on left-wing advocate prof. Sternhell.
  1.   Irony of the edison cinema 04:50  |  Donald 16/08/07
  2.   Going Via Germany 05:04  |  Shia 16/08/07
  3.   Satmar is amazing 05:33  |  helpful!! 16/08/07
  4.   jews 06:32  |  regina 16/08/07
  5.   So foolish! 06:58  |  Stephen 16/08/07
  6.   Satmar Jews 07:12  |  Arik 16/08/07
  7.   ARE the Satmar Hassidim going to get the usual building approvals 07:13  |  PETERSM 16/08/07
  8.   negative tone 07:27  |  JR 16/08/07
  9.   so foolish???? 07:39  |  regina 16/08/07
  10.   Ha`aretz 07:44  |  Miriam 16/08/07
  11.   News 08:11  |  David 16/08/07
  12.   Biased 08:16  |  Truth? 16/08/07
  13.   Unhelpful!! 08:29  |  Dani Reiss 16/08/07
  14.   Yair Sheleg writes extremist leftist anti Jewish garbage. 08:37  |  A.Burg Look-alike 16/08/07
  15.   satmar are like haredi left 08:51  |  yehudi tsioni 16/08/07
  16.   Anti-Zionists? So why are they here? 10:09  |  s2 16/08/07
  17.   Satmar 10:12  |  Dan 16/08/07
  18.   solution 10:19  |  realism 16/08/07
  19.   Divisive and unnecessary 10:29  |  Michoel 16/08/07
  20.   Yair Sheleg - Journalist 10:32  |  george 16/08/07
  21.   Typical of Haaretz 11:19  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 16/08/07
  22.   SHELEG FALLS ON SATMAR EVENT 11:27  |  SPTZ 16/08/07
  23.   I`m afraid for ISrael future 11:45  |  Benjamin 16/08/07
  24.   Biaised article but good news 12:02  |  Leo 16/08/07
  25.   `Idol worship`? 13:01  |  Joseph 16/08/07
  26.   #17Dan-It is 4 buildings up from "Kikar Shabbat"& is Meah Shearim 13:04  |  Friendly Neighbour 16/08/07
  27.   closing cinemas 13:05  |  Sherlock Holmes 16/08/07
  28.   Gedolei Yisrael 13:10  |  Joe 16/08/07
  29.   To Joe of Baltimore 13:31  |  Student 16/08/07
  30.   Satmar - sad joke 14:35  |  eddie karaite 16/08/07
  31.   To Student 14:44  |  Michael 16/08/07
  32.   Jerusalem a d v a n c e d into early middle ages. 14:49  |  H.H.M 16/08/07
  33.   Satramar are the most generous and caring people!!!! 15:00  |  AVI 16/08/07
  34.   Boker tov, Iran 15:03  |  Mirqa 16/08/07
  35.   When Shlomit Aloni visited Gemany...... 15:06  |  AVI 16/08/07
  36.   Journalism 101 15:07  |  Kate 16/08/07
  37.   like Iran????? Satmar are totaly harmless!! 15:24  |  AVI 16/08/07
  38.   Isn`t Zalman Leib Teitelbaum the rebbe of Satmar? 15:25  |  Barry 16/08/07
  39.   avi #35, you`re confused 15:46  |  ray 16/08/07
  40.   LOOKS LIKE SATMAR IS RIGHT ABOUT OUR CUROPT GOVERNMENT 15:59  |  Yochanan 16/08/07
  41.   anti-zionist Satmar & anti-zionist secular. 16:02  |  curious 16/08/07
  42.   Rabbi Teitelbaum 16:10  |  Salomon 16/08/07
  43.   The Edison 16:15  |  Lev 16/08/07
  44.   HAARETZ 16:24  |  GILL 16/08/07
  45.   More than one Satmar Rebbe 16:26  |  Dovy 16/08/07
  46.   about satmar 16:39  |  sandu 16/08/07
  47.   #39 Dearest Ray 16:43  |  Avi 16/08/07
  48.   Support Enlightened Margie 16:45  |  Bitter Truth 16/08/07
  49.   There`s something sinister about this article.. 16:48  |  Jo Jo 16/08/07
  50.   CAN`T HAARETZ SHOW HAREIDIM A FRACTION OF RESPECT THEY SHOW ARABS 16:51  |  Mitch Iginer 16/08/07
  51.   "due to women`s presence" 16:53  |  Max 16/08/07
  52.   Are they latent homosexuals? 16:55  |  Danny epicorus 16/08/07
  53.   I?m a celebrity get me out of here! 17:00  |  Kev 16/08/07
  54.   To Danny - the orthodox apikoires 17:06  |  Jo Jo 16/08/07
  55.   Kate #36 said it in a nutshell 17:12  |  I love Kate 16/08/07
  56.   jews hating jews 17:15  |  ross 16/08/07
  57.   Did he arrive past shekiyah? 17:23  |  Jo Jo 16/08/07
  58.   # 4 Mary, Queen of Israel and Queen of Heaven 17:29  |  John Isenhower 16/08/07
  59.   # 15 Most of the "Lost Tribes migrated to Europe" 17:39  |  John Isenhower 16/08/07
  60.   # 56 Best Way to Stop Jew Hatred, Stop Saying Jew 17:47  |  John Isenhower 16/08/07
  61.   Even in Saudi Arabia 18:00  |  Stephen Isherwood 16/08/07
  62.   To #23 Benjamin 18:08  |  Jimny 16/08/07
  63.   Is Hamas reading this? 18:15  |  W 16/08/07
  64.   Criticism of Ha`Aretz 18:38  |  Stephen 16/08/07
  65.   GReat FOR JEW BASHERS 18:40  |  TOBIA 16/08/07
  66.   52 Danny, such hostility? Perhaps you should try a little love? 18:49  |  common sense 16/08/07
  67.   Stephen Isherwood - #61 18:51  |  David israel 16/08/07
  68.   R*E*S*P*E*C*T 18:54  |  eddie karaite 16/08/07
  69.   #59 John Isenhower 18:57  |  eddie karaite 16/08/07
  70.   Be happy, ` love stupids... 19:15  |  The Dumbite kid 16/08/07
  71.   Satmar - cave dweller 19:15  |  Miransky 16/08/07
  72.   #67 David israel 19:18  |  Stephen Isherwoo 16/08/07
  73.   Squabblers 19:18  |  Avram Strauss 16/08/07
  74.   Here in New York City, the Satmar.... 19:25  |  Yaakov Sullivan 16/08/07
  75.   stephen isherwoo 19:47  |  Angelique 16/08/07
  76.   Lunatics 19:51  |  mike 16/08/07
  77.   Stephen Isherwoo 19:58  |  David Israel 16/08/07
  78.   Stay in Brooklyn!! 20:15  |  ordinary guy 16/08/07
  79.   SHOWING UP LATE IS DANGEROUS? 20:18  |  PalestiniansAreAMyth 16/08/07
  80.   The sub-human sex? 21:07  |  Mark Lincoln 16/08/07
  81.   Good Ole` racist yaakov 21:19  |  SHIMON 16/08/07
  82.   Truly Deranged 21:30  |  Jewish CANADIAN 16/08/07
  83.   IF ONLY PALS WERE 10X MORE FANATIC THAN SATMAR = PEACE 60YRS AGO 21:50  |  SHALOM BIMROMAV 16/08/07
  84.   Satmar is a disgrace 21:56  |  YoilyHater 16/08/07
  85.   This is pretty gross 21:59  |  "Oppressed" Woman 16/08/07
  86.   # 77 david israel 22:17  |  Axel 16/08/07
  87.   New york 22:20  |  charles 16/08/07
  88.   SATMAR REBBI 22:30  |  JOE 16/08/07
  89.   SULLIVAN lost the plot former"coahwomen" nothing to do withg it 22:57  |  PETER SM 16/08/07
  90.   #83IfHamas became Satmar they`d lose support of Haas Levy&Haaretz 23:04  |  Mitch Iginer 16/08/07
  91.   Axel 23:15  |  David Israel 16/08/07
  92.   Satmar Rebbe 23:17  |  Jay 16/08/07
  93.   To Avi #33 23:21  |  Jay 16/08/07
  94.   Avi #33 23:27  |  Jay 16/08/07
  95.   John Isenhower, is it the recent heat wave or the flood? 23:43  |  Man deVoshkes 16/08/07
  96.   Avi #37 23:44  |  Ellen 16/08/07
  97.   # 91 david israel 00:15  |  Axel 17/08/07
  98.   Yaakov Sullivan 00:21  |  rich 17/08/07
  99.   Satmars and Haredi in general 01:03  |  Fossil 17/08/07
  100.   an inside view 01:28  |  shmiel glassman 17/08/07
  101.   #95Fosil-Do you know how many in History,have said just like you? 01:33  |  Mark Twain 17/08/07
  102.   Dearest Jay 01:56  |  Avi 17/08/07
  103.   Axel #91 04:59  |  David Israel 17/08/07
  104.   Haaretz cares about women? What a joke! 05:11  |  Maya 17/08/07
  105.   20,000 Satmar families=220,000 people! 05:57  |  Murray of Montreal 17/08/07
  106.   Quirky...But Harmless 06:09  |  Some Random Guy 17/08/07
  107.   where in the Torah? 07:40  |  Akiva Patysh 17/08/07
  108.   IN SATMAR CUSTODY (2003) 08:06  |  hala 17/08/07
  109.   Miransky 11:11  |  sweis Melbourne 17/08/07
  110.   STOP THIS JEW-BASHING!!! 15:43  |  Maimon 17/08/07
  111.   Reciprocate- #52 00:37  |  Danny Epicorus 18/08/07
  112.   Give me a break 01:28  |  Salty 18/08/07
  113.   #3 Many thought Gotti 01:45  |  T A Sheppard 06/10/08
 Read & React
French FM to Haaretz: Israel will act before Iran gets bomb
Responses: 160
Editorial: IDF complicit in settler thugs' violence
Responses: 47
Akiva Eldar: The PA is a fig leaf covering the nakedness of occupation
Responses: 28
ANALYSIS / IDF plans to use disproportionate force in next war
Responses: 118
Gideon Levy: Olmert has euthanized the Israeli right
Responses: 49


More Headlines
01:50 Livni tells France's Kouchner: I oppose Olmert's peace plan
00:32 Economic woes put a strain on coalition negotiations
00:36 U.S. Jewish committee recruits former Israeli defense officials for pro-Obama ad
16:47 French FM to Haaretz: Israel will act before Iran gets bomb
12:10 ANALYSIS / IDF plans to use disproportionate force in next war
16:03 Iran: We won't halt enrichment even if nuclear fuel supply guaranteed
13:01 Lithuanian academic blasts war crimes probe of ex-Yad Vashem chief
02:03 As Kinneret recedes, drivers pull cars up to new water line
21:49 NGO appeals decision to hand over J'lem compound to Russia
14:00 Israeli hacker 'The Analyzer' accused of masterminding global fraud
19:26 Environment Ministry: 60% of Israeli factories exceed air pollution limits
20:41 Comptroller hears Dichter testimony over police wiretap case
01:37 NEW ON HAARETZ.COM / Play the news: Build your own Israeli government
Previous Editions
Special Offers
Advertisement
Fattal Hotel Chain
Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
and get all your money back
US CITIZENS
Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
Jewish Singles Personal Ads
Find the love of your life on JDate.com
Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
www. israel-property.com
Hebrew Summer courses
From $39.95
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved