Appellate Arguments In Satmar Dispute Heard

On Tuesday, a New York state appellate court in Brooklyn heard arguments in litigation that will determine which of the sons of the recently deceased Satmar Rebbe, Moses Teitelbaum, will control the group's $500 million of property. Yesterday's New York Sun says that the issue before the court was whether Rabbi Moses Teitelbaum had the power in 2001 to expel the president of the Satmar congregation from the community, and whether a civil court can decide this question. A decision will help determine whether Rabbi Zalman or Rabbi Aaron will have control over assets ranging from cemetery plots to one of the world's largest synagogues which is under construction. (See prior posting.)