Rare Letter from Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar Regarding his pledge for the Hadlaka on Lag BaOmer in Meron.
Karoly, 1933
Long, inspirational letter from Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum written while contemplating his potential acceptance of the position of Gaavad (Chief Rabbi) of Yerushalayim following the passing of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld.
In this heartfelt letter, the Admor Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum shares his aspiration to settle in Yerushalayim and refers to his pledge to donate oil and wine for the Lag BaOmer bonfire in Meron (see Divrei Yoel, Letters, vol. 1, Letter 128).
During his first visit to Eretz Yisrael at the end of 1932, Rabbi Teitelbaum spent Shabbos in Meron at the holy resting place of the Tanna, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, accompanied by a
chavurah kadishah of
bnei aliyah, Chassidim, and askanim (community activists) from the holy cities of Tzfas and Teveria. He remained there for several days, deeply immersed in spiritual elevation. For many years, the Jews of Eretz Yisrael recounted his visit to Meron with deep reverence.
While there, he pledged a donation of oil and wine for the great hilulah of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Lag BaOmer (see Divrei Yoel – Michtavim, vol. I, Letter 128, and accompanying notes). In the present letter, he writes to his relative, Rabbi Yoel Ashkenazy, asking for guidance on the appropriate amount to donate and how to properly fulfill his pledge.
The letter spans two and a half pages entirely in the holy handwriting and signature of the Admor Rabbi Teitelbaum of Satmar.
The Rabbinate in Jerusalem
In 1932, following the passing of the legendary Gaavad of Yerushalayim and leader of the Eidah Chareidis, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, the position was offered to the Admor Rabbi Yoel of Satmar, then renowned as the “Rav of Karoly.” Toward the end of that year, Rabbi Yoel traveled to Eretz Yisrael to explore the possibility of accepting the position.
In this letter, he describes the prestigious offer and shares his reflections with his relative, Rabbi Yoel Ashkenazy of Teveria:
“
Regarding [accepting] the Rabbinate in Yerushalayim and establishing my residence there, I write honestly: the position of Rabbi is distant from my personal aspirations. However, since I have long yearned to make my home in Eretz Hakodesh for various reasons, I did not outright decline the offer and am presently biding my time, as there are several obstacles and challenges in the way.”
Later in the letter, Rabbi Teitelbaum refers to the publication of a letter he had written to the “zealous avreichim in Yerushalayim, ” sharply protesting newspapers that promoted heretical ideas. He also wrote in high praise of Rabbi Moshe Klier, Av Beis Din of Teveria, and responded to a request to send a shipment of Yismach Moshe sefarim to Teveria. He notes that despite a second printing, no extra copies were available for purchase anywhere in Hungary.
The letter concludes with a heartfelt blessing:
“May Hashem assist you to merit dwelling in the tent of Torah and service of Hashem, blessed be He, with pleasure and peace of mind, with joy and gladness of heart; and may all the desires of your heart be fulfilled for goodness.”
Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1887–1979), author of Divrei Yoel and VaYoel Moshe, was a towering figure in the post-Holocaust Chassidic renaissance. A brilliant and devout scholar, he was fluent in all areas of Torah. Renowned for his staunch opposition to Zionism and modernity, he waged a vigorous battle against the Zionist movement and strongly protested those who journeyed to Eretz Yisrael to participate in establishing the Jewish state. He was appointed Rav of Karoly in 1925, remaining there until 1934 when he relocated to Satmar. After the Holocaust, he rebuilt the prestigious Chassidic court of Satmar in both the United States and Eretz Yisrael and served as Nasi of the Eidah Chareidis in Jerusalem.
The recipient of the letter,
Rabbi Yoel Ashkenazy of Teveria, was the great-grandson of Rabbi Yoel Ashkenazy of Zlotchov and a cousin of Rabbeinu Yoel of Satmar, who shared his namesake. The two cousins shared a close relationship from their youth, and the Satmar Rav accorded his cousin great honor and respect, visiting him in his home in Teveria during his visits to Eretz Yisrael.
This letter was not included in the letter section of Divrei Yoel published by the Admor’s gabbai, Rabbi Yosef Ashkenazy (Brooklyn, 1980).
Karoly, 1932/1933. Personal letterhead, two and a half pages,
entirely in his sacred handwriting and with his signature.
Size: 14.8 × 22.7 cm. Condition: Stains and fold marks; slight damage along the central fold line affecting a few individual words.
