New York - Satmar Grand Rebbi's Will Names Son Zalmen as Successor

New York - Satmar Grand Rabbi who died this week arranged for an organized succession by naming one of his sons as the next grand rabbi of the Satmar Hasidim, religious authorities announced.

In his will, - that was read in the grand rabbi's house on Bedford Avenue - Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum, who died Monday at the age of 91, recognized Rabbi Zalmen Teitelbaum, the third of his four sons, as the next rebbe, or grand rabbi.
"He shall occupy my position and succeed me without any shortfall, for effective immediately I have granted him the position," the grand rabbi wrote in his will.

With tears soaking his long beard, Rabbi Zalmen Teitelbaum accepted the reins of power, and he said he would lead the Satmar Hasidim as his father and uncle, former Grand Rabbe Joel Teitelbaum, had done. "Who am I to take over this holy seat?" He said.

But the decision, announced by the Satmar's Rabbinical Court their, is unlikely to settle the divisive issue of succession that has pitted Zalmen Teitelbaum, 54, against the eldest brother, Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum of Kiryas Joel in upstate New York.
That is because Aron Teitelbaum has thousands of his own followers who believe he is the rightful successor.

In his will, Moses Teitelbaum also directed that "not one of my descendants or among the persons within the community shall challenge or commit any act to diminish the powers of the above-mentioned appointment."

Leaders of the Satmar community expressed the fervent hope that with the naming of Rabbi Zalmen Teitelbaum as Grand Rabbi, divisions which have afflicted this community in recent years will now heal,'' according to a Satmar statement released Tuesday.