Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Hasidic feud swirls
Police are called in to disperse followers of Aaron Teitelbaum from Williamsburg synagogue after dispute yesterday.
Hundreds of feuding Satmar Hasidim swarmed Williamsburg streets yesterday during a bitter High Holy Day struggle that drew scores of cops.
At least 200 followers of Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum's oldest son, Aaron, stormed the Satmars' Rodney St. synagogue around 9 a.m., but they were removed by police and private security guards. No injuries were reported but seven summonses were issued, police said.
"There was just a lot of pushing and shoving, but no real trouble," said Abraham Rose, 27. "It was not a boxing match."
A feud has been simmering among the Satmars since the late 1990s, when Teitelbaum anointed his youngest son, Zalmen, as leader of the main congregation of his followers, who number about 40,000, mainly in Williamsburg and Kiryas Joel in Orange County.
The decision infuriated supporters of Aaron because the oldest son is traditionally next in line to lead.
Aaron's supporters say they were shoved away by anywhere from 30 to 60 guards and police - and thrown out when they refused to go. They also charged private guards brought guard dogs into the synagogue.
"To bring a dog in a synagogue is unbelievable," said Abe Klein, 29, a follower of Aaron. "That's like a real, real, real bad thing - like you're bringing a dog on God."
Moshe Cohen, 35, said that after entering the synagogue just after 9 a.m., a police officer removed the talas he was wearing and ordered him to leave.
"I was in the middle of praying," Cohen said. "I was afraid for my life."
Inspector Michael Coan said some people were removed from the synagogue after becoming "unruly." Seven summonses were issued to unlicensed security guards.
"We have no official complaints of [police] misconduct," Coan said. "There were over 1,000 people in the synagogue, and it was peacefully dispersed."
Attorney Scott Mollen, who represents Zalmen's followers, said Aaron's faction understood the Oct. 21 court ruling but pretended to believe it gave them the right to enter the synagogue and claim leadership.
"Their history is such that they've been claiming that they are the leadership for years," Mollen said. "They tell people this all the time."
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/359120p-305983c.html
Police are called in to disperse followers of Aaron Teitelbaum from Williamsburg synagogue after dispute yesterday.
Hundreds of feuding Satmar Hasidim swarmed Williamsburg streets yesterday during a bitter High Holy Day struggle that drew scores of cops.
At least 200 followers of Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum's oldest son, Aaron, stormed the Satmars' Rodney St. synagogue around 9 a.m., but they were removed by police and private security guards. No injuries were reported but seven summonses were issued, police said.
"There was just a lot of pushing and shoving, but no real trouble," said Abraham Rose, 27. "It was not a boxing match."
A feud has been simmering among the Satmars since the late 1990s, when Teitelbaum anointed his youngest son, Zalmen, as leader of the main congregation of his followers, who number about 40,000, mainly in Williamsburg and Kiryas Joel in Orange County.
The decision infuriated supporters of Aaron because the oldest son is traditionally next in line to lead.
Aaron's supporters say they were shoved away by anywhere from 30 to 60 guards and police - and thrown out when they refused to go. They also charged private guards brought guard dogs into the synagogue.
"To bring a dog in a synagogue is unbelievable," said Abe Klein, 29, a follower of Aaron. "That's like a real, real, real bad thing - like you're bringing a dog on God."
Moshe Cohen, 35, said that after entering the synagogue just after 9 a.m., a police officer removed the talas he was wearing and ordered him to leave.
"I was in the middle of praying," Cohen said. "I was afraid for my life."
Inspector Michael Coan said some people were removed from the synagogue after becoming "unruly." Seven summonses were issued to unlicensed security guards.
"We have no official complaints of [police] misconduct," Coan said. "There were over 1,000 people in the synagogue, and it was peacefully dispersed."
Attorney Scott Mollen, who represents Zalmen's followers, said Aaron's faction understood the Oct. 21 court ruling but pretended to believe it gave them the right to enter the synagogue and claim leadership.
"Their history is such that they've been claiming that they are the leadership for years," Mollen said. "They tell people this all the time."
http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/359120p-305983c.html
Comments:
For a second, I thought it was Purim.
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Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: October 27, 2005 6:05 PM
: October 27, 2005 6:05 PM
