Thursday December 28 3:12 PM ET

Satmar Rebbe does not show up in Shul for Shabbas Chanukah

By GIMPEL the SHISTER, HasidicNews.com Writer

WILLIAMSBURG (HN) - In a bizarre, unexpected twist, the Satmar Rebbe did not appear publicly in the central Satmar Shul on Rodney street on Shabbas Chanukah.

The Rebbe's Gabbe (assistant) claimed that the Rebbe was not feeling well. The odd thing was that the Rebbe appeared publicly to light the candles every single night of Chanukah. Yet on the night that the Rebbe's son Aaron came to visit him from Monroe to Williamsburg, he was told that the Rebbe doesn't feel well.

Aaron's people claim that the Rebbe was lied to by his assistants and close circle and was told that they were painting the Shul and therefore he could not attend the central shul for services. Some even claim to have seen the Rebbe's personal Gabbe and staunch Zalmen-supporter Moshe Friedman in paint-tainted clothing so as to provide proof to the Rebbe that painting was being done in the Shul and he can therefore not go there for services.

Zalmen and Aaron were both praying in the central shul on Friday night, each with their own crowd of supporters. After davening, each of them accepted their supporters' Shabbas greetings as they passed through in a line. When the young pro-Aaron crowd attempted to block access to Zalmen by his followers Zalmen's Gabbe and supporters started yelling "Aaron, gei aroys" (Aaron, go outside). Aaron's people in return yelled "Zalmen, gei aroys" and a shouting match quickly ensued which soon spilled over into tossing of Siddurim, Shtreimlech, and other objects on each other, and even into physical skirmishes.

People who attended the events claim that it was most unusual and uncharacteristic of a typical Hasidic service. When Zalmen was finally about to leave he was re-routed by his followers several time and told to leave through different exits in an attempt to avoid the pro-Aaron crowd waiting to yell anti-Zalmen slogans and throw objects on him and his supporters.

Aaron, claiming that he came to see his father, the Satmar Rebbe, did not attend the morning services the other day in the central Shul. Yet, Aaron's people did not cooperate with the services when Zalmen was leading the services as Chazzan as appropriate for such an important Shabbas. Zalmen's people deliberately started singing a song other than what was initiated by the Chazzan, Zalmen.

Later when Zalmen got an Aliyah, they again chanted anti-Zalmen chants and "Achad Yachid Umyuchad", a song reserved for Chasanim (grooms) who get an Aliyah the Shabbas before their wedding.