In perhaps the most surprising news to come out of US President Donald Trump's meeting with US haredi leaders today, the two Satmar Rebbes shook hands and spoke face to face for what is likely the first time in several decades.
The two Rebbes, Reb Aharon Teitelbaum and Reb Zalman Leib Teitelbaum, are brothers. Their father, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, had appointed Zalman Leib to lead the Williamsburg community and, according to his will, designated him as his successor. Aaron's supporters disputed this, arguing that Aaron, as the elder son, should succeed their father. When Moshe died in 2006, both brothers were proclaimed Rebbe by their respective followers, creating the two factions.
Zalman Leon leads the Williamsburg, Brooklyn faction of Satmar, while Aaron leads the faction centered on Kiryas Joel, New York.
The news of the meeting of the two has sent shockwaves through the haredi community.
During the gathering, Reb Aharon reportedly congratulated his estranged brother on the recent engagement of his grandson.
First meeting of its king in over half a century
Aside from the fraternal reunion, the meeting was significant for others reasons; it marked the first meeting of its kind in the Oval Office in more than 50 years.
Among the participants were leaders from the Satmar, Skver, Bobov, and Vizhnitz Hasidic dynasties, as well as leaders of the Beth Medrash Govoha yeshiva in Lakewood, New Jersey, all of whom are anti-Zionist and oppose the existence of the State of Israel.
Both Satmar rebbes are explicitly anti-Zionist, as is the Skverer Rebbe. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe is best described as traditional haredi (ultra-Orthodox) non-Zionist, and the Bobov Rebbe can be best described as non-Zionist yet non-hostile in his stance.
On Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reported that some members of the delegation were expected to discuss various key issues affecting the ultra-Orthodox community with Trump, such as the haredi draft into the IDF.
Belaaz reported that Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were all also in attendance.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.