Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Satmar Rebbe senile
Worshippers warring for control of New York's largest Hasidic
congregation say a scheming cabal has cloistered the senile rabbi and
is using his signature to loot the place — and they say they have
medical records to prove it.
Prescription records filed in a lawsuit show that Grand Rebbe Moses
Teitelbaum of Brooklyn's Satmar congregation has been taking
Alzheimer's medication since 1998, a year before he decided the
succession question that has embroiled his flock in bitter fistfights
and legal battles.
Followers of Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum — the older brother passed over
for control of the 40,000-member congregation — say the records prove
that followers of younger brother Zalman have been manipulating
mentally incapacitated Moses like a puppet.
"Anything they're proclaiming in the name of the rebbe, either he
didn't do it or, if he did it, he wasn't able to do it," said Joel
Weiss, editor of a Hasidic newspaper and follower of Aron.
Weiss said Zalman's allies manipulated the rabbi into choosing Zalman
as head of the congregation, embroiling the congregation in shady
financial deals.
Weiss pointed to an ongoing federal court case in which a school-
supply company accuses Zalman allies of looting the company to enrich
synagogue officials to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Weiss said that nearly a decade ago, the rebbe began repeating
himself in public and forgetting key portions of rituals. "The
embarrassment was bigger and bigger," Weiss said.
Nonsense, said Zalman allies.
Until he had a stroke in August, the rebbe was "fully functional,
attending meetings, leading services, performing circumcisions and
weddings," said Mark Friedman.
A judge in a recent family court dispute over care of the rebbe
visited the Bedford Avenue home where he is cared for by a personal
secretary, paramedic, 24-hour butler, chauffeur, cook and attendant.
The judge "observed the rabbi studying and walking," according to
court papers. The judge also asked the rebbe if he was satisfied with
his care. "The rabbi responded in the affirmative."
Not all judges, however, get an audience. In another court dispute,
an upstate judge demanded that the rebbe come out from his house and
testify.
So far, he has refused.
"It's an embarrassment and disrespectful" for a rabbi to appear in
court, explained Friedman. "So the rebbe would only talk to the judge
if the judge came down to him."
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/59509.htm
Worshippers warring for control of New York's largest Hasidic
congregation say a scheming cabal has cloistered the senile rabbi and
is using his signature to loot the place — and they say they have
medical records to prove it.
Prescription records filed in a lawsuit show that Grand Rebbe Moses
Teitelbaum of Brooklyn's Satmar congregation has been taking
Alzheimer's medication since 1998, a year before he decided the
succession question that has embroiled his flock in bitter fistfights
and legal battles.
Followers of Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum — the older brother passed over
for control of the 40,000-member congregation — say the records prove
that followers of younger brother Zalman have been manipulating
mentally incapacitated Moses like a puppet.
"Anything they're proclaiming in the name of the rebbe, either he
didn't do it or, if he did it, he wasn't able to do it," said Joel
Weiss, editor of a Hasidic newspaper and follower of Aron.
Weiss said Zalman's allies manipulated the rabbi into choosing Zalman
as head of the congregation, embroiling the congregation in shady
financial deals.
Weiss pointed to an ongoing federal court case in which a school-
supply company accuses Zalman allies of looting the company to enrich
synagogue officials to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Weiss said that nearly a decade ago, the rebbe began repeating
himself in public and forgetting key portions of rituals. "The
embarrassment was bigger and bigger," Weiss said.
Nonsense, said Zalman allies.
Until he had a stroke in August, the rebbe was "fully functional,
attending meetings, leading services, performing circumcisions and
weddings," said Mark Friedman.
A judge in a recent family court dispute over care of the rebbe
visited the Bedford Avenue home where he is cared for by a personal
secretary, paramedic, 24-hour butler, chauffeur, cook and attendant.
The judge "observed the rabbi studying and walking," according to
court papers. The judge also asked the rebbe if he was satisfied with
his care. "The rabbi responded in the affirmative."
Not all judges, however, get an audience. In another court dispute,
an upstate judge demanded that the rebbe come out from his house and
testify.
So far, he has refused.
"It's an embarrassment and disrespectful" for a rabbi to appear in
court, explained Friedman. "So the rebbe would only talk to the judge
if the judge came down to him."
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/59509.htm
Comments:
what is the story with the civil case discussed in the article? Does anyone know the facts of it? Who are the parties involved? What is the allegations against Zalie's people?
Comment Credit ---This article posted by 
: December 27, 2005 7:08 PM
: December 27, 2005 7:08 PM
It's an embarrassment and disrespectful" for a rabbi to appear in
court, explained Friedman. "So the rebbe would only talk to the judge
if the judge came down to him."
NOT SO. WHEN THE OLD SATMAR REBBE
WANTED TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES HE HAD TO GO TO COURT AND STAND BEFORE THE JUDGE AND ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS. THE JUDGE ASKED 1. WHO SHOT ABRAHAM LINCOLN? THE REBBE RESPONDED I DIDNT EVEN KNOW HE WAS DEAD. 2. WHERE WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SHOT? THE REBBE DIDNT KNOW EITHER THE JUDGE SAID IN THE TEMPLE THE REBBE RESPONDED AGAIN HE WAS A YID? AND THE THIRD QUESTION WAS WHO IS ON THE FIVE DOLLAR BILL? THE REBBE RESPONDED IN MY SHUL WE ONLY HAVE HUNDREDS.
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court, explained Friedman. "So the rebbe would only talk to the judge
if the judge came down to him."
NOT SO. WHEN THE OLD SATMAR REBBE
WANTED TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES HE HAD TO GO TO COURT AND STAND BEFORE THE JUDGE AND ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS. THE JUDGE ASKED 1. WHO SHOT ABRAHAM LINCOLN? THE REBBE RESPONDED I DIDNT EVEN KNOW HE WAS DEAD. 2. WHERE WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN SHOT? THE REBBE DIDNT KNOW EITHER THE JUDGE SAID IN THE TEMPLE THE REBBE RESPONDED AGAIN HE WAS A YID? AND THE THIRD QUESTION WAS WHO IS ON THE FIVE DOLLAR BILL? THE REBBE RESPONDED IN MY SHUL WE ONLY HAVE HUNDREDS.
