TODAY: Yohrtzeit of the Satmar Ruv, zt”l, Who Revolutionized Yiddishkeit in America

By: Yehuda Alter 

Thousands of Yidden from throughout the Tri-State Area will make their way today to the Ohel on the Monroe Beis Hachaim, the resting place of Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum, zt”l, the Satmar Ruv, and one of the most important leaders in postwar America. 

The Rebbe’s influence on American Jewry is widely appreciated. No matter which stripe of Klal Yisroel one may belong to, most would agree that the Rebbe’s uncompromising attitude to Yiddishkeit seeped into the philosophy of postwar American Jewry. 

While some thought that America is different, that we must compromise on standards of chinuch, kashrus, and a host of other areas—the Rebbe taught that, to the contrary; we will do it bigger and better and more proper. And if we could not utilize the existing system for this purpose, we will create our own infrastructure from the bottom up, and build our own institutions. 

The Rebbe’s philosophy in chessed and tzedakah which he instilled in his chassidim has remained without rival—and has likewise shaped the attitude of the rest of Klal Yisroel. 

The Rebbe’s ahavas Yisroel—even toward his fiercest opponents—was legendary. He was the greatest role model for the values of tzedakah that he espoused. 

His brilliance in Torah, and his mesirus nefesh for rebuilding Yiddishkeit on American shores in the traditions of the old world continue to guide and inspire the lives of tens of thousands of chassidim to this day and until the coming of moshiach.