Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum—the Satmar Rebbe—and the Rise of Anti-Zionism in American Orthodoxy

Abstract

Since the late 19th century American Orthodox Jews presented an almost united front in support of the Zionist cause. This state of affairs lasted until the late 1930s. Since then, and especially after the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, a growing number of rabbis and lay Orthodox openly expressed anti-Zionist opinions. Although there are several possible sociological, demographic and religious explanations of this historical paradox, this article focuses on what many, I included, consider the most significant factor, namely Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum (1887–1979) - the Satmar Rebbe. Rabbi Yoel arrived in the USA in 1946, and two years later decided to settle there and to establish his own congregation. In order to mark his unique Extreme Orthodox philosophy, and to set it apart from America’s mainstream Orthodoxy, he promoted a distinctive anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli ideology that was based on religious arguments. Although he initially encountered overwhelming opposition, over time the number of his supporters grew to unimaginable proportions. As the Israeli government began legislating laws that reflected the will of its secular majority, the conflicts that arose between it and the Haredi society escalated. This drove other American religious leaders to become more critical of what they considered Israel’s anti-religious policy. In time, American Orthodoxy began to view anti-Zionism as a legitimate, halacha-based religious position.