Litigation over the last several years in New York courts between supporters of two rival sons of the leader of the Satmar sect of Hasidic Jews has been part of the larger question of who will succeed Satmar Grand Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum. (See prior posting.) WABC-TV New York reports that yesterday the 91-year old Grand Rabbi died without explicitly announcing which son he wished to succeed him. Queens College Professor Samuel Heilman suggested that Teitelbaum may have left either a traditional will or a "moral will" indicating who should take over his position. Ultimately there may be more than one leader.
UPDATE: According to a report by the Associated Press on Tuesday evening, the Satmar's Rabinnical court has announced that Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum left a will naming Zalmen Teitelbaum, the third of his four sons, as the next Grand Rabbi. However, Richard Schwartz, an adviser to the followers of rival son, Aron Teitelbaum, said "The will is not the vehicle for establishing succession if history is to be our guide." He argued that Moses Teitelbaum was not in a lucid state of mind when he wrote the will and that Satmar tradition provides for the oldest son to be the successor.
UPDATE 2: The New York Times reports that less than 2 hours after the Moses Teitelbaum's death, New York Judge Stewart A. Rosenwasser issued several orders at the request of Aaron Teitelbaum's supporters. They included requirements to maintain order and decorum during the funeral and the mourning period, and to assure that neither Aaron's nor Zalmen's supporters were shut out. But Zalmen Teitelbaum's supporters say the orders also solidify Aaron's claim to power, and the filed an appeal. Tuesday afternoon, an appellate judge struck parts of Rosenwasser's ruling.
