Williamsburg, Brooklyn - Dueling Sons Of Late Satmar Rebbe Hold Peaceful Services

Brooklyn, NY - The dueling sons of the late Satmar Hasidic leader managed to keep their battle at bay for this Shabbas, due to a heavy police presence to try to keep the peace. They were holding separate services in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, NY.

Younger brother Zalman Teitelbaum held his service at the main Satmar synagogue on Rodney Street in Williamsburg. And his older brother, Aaron, lead services in a tent at the playing field of P.S. 16 just blocks away. Thousands of followers attended both services.

Both sides say their leader is the true heir, though a rabbinical court named Zalman the successor to his father. "Rabbi Aaron is not accepting it,” said Zalman Teitelbaum’s spokesperson Martin Kaham. “By coming down, busing people from Upstate, you don't become a grand rabbi. You can call yourself a grand rabbi, we wish you very well with whatever you do, but this doesn't make you, and it doesn't do anything," "If he's sitting in a tent and acting as grand rebbe, that doesn't make him grand rebbe."
"It's like someone claiming he's President, putting up a tent and claiming it's the White House," Joel Braver, 26, said.

"It's just short-term. Everybody knows our rabbi, you'll see, he's actually going to be here a lot and he's going to lead the congregation here," said a support of Aaron Teitelbaum. "Since the Hasidic movement was founded, it was always the oldest son who took over without any questions,” said Abe Rubin, an Aron supporter.

Senator Hillary Clinton paid a Shiva call to the homes of both brothers Friday, visiting with Satmar followers and remembering Moses Teitelbaum.