Monday Dec 3 9:36 PM EST

Satmar Rebbe quiets orator in error

By YANKEL SHNEIDER, HasidicNews.com Writer

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN (HN) - The Satmar Rebbe this week made a an embarrassing mistake this week Shabbas before "leinen" (recitation of the weekly "parsha") . Mosdos Dushinsky had sent an agent. Mr. Davidovitz to The Satmar congregation in Williamsburg to urge for donation to its educational institutions in Israel. This is a routine event in Satmar, as Satmar is a wealthy American community and is expected to help support institutions in Israel who faithfully reject financial aid from the Zionist government as per the old Rebbe's renown verdict.

He was speaking at the "Bima" (platform) about the urgency of the situation when the Rebbe apparently thought that some conflict was flaring up related to the Zalmen-Aharon conflict. He reportedly urged his men to "silence him already, enough!". His people were not immediately sure of the Rebbe's motive. The Rebbe insisted, though, and his wish was granted.

The Satmar Rebbe is approaching the 90's and has a touch of Alzheimer's disease. This is not the first time such things happen. In the past, he had spoken apolitically and discussed personal things or "secret" subjects in public, numerous times. His people sometime had to literally force him to stop talking and carry him out of the conference abruptly.