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| R' Aaron Teitelbaum, Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel (Jerusalem Post) |
“Trumpism became entangled in the Jewish camp,” Rabbi Aaron Teitlebaum, the grand rebbe of one the Satmar Hasidic sects, said in a speech Wednesday at his yeshiva in Kiryas Joel, north of New York City. “This Trumpism twisted the minds of so many yiden. It brainwashed people – and that’s so painful,” he said, using the Yiddish word for Jews.
Amusing because I actually agree with him. Despite my profound differences with him on so many other important issues affecting Orthodox Jewry.
Ironic because he accuses Orthodox Jewry of being brainwashed. If there is anyone guilty of brainwashing his people, it is the Satmar Rebbe himself.
Following in his forbearers footsteps, he has successfully continued ‘brainwashing’ his Chasidim to believe that being semi illiterate in the language of the land in which they live (and in many cases - in which they prosper) is a good thing.
He has brainwashed his people to believe that learning Limudei Chol (secular studies) is a waste of time.
He has brainwashed his people to believe that the so-called ‘outside world’ is evil to the core and to be avoided as much as possible. That nothing good ever happens there. And that at the core - ‘Goyim’ hate us!
That is the sad reality of one of the largest and fastest growing segments in all of Jewry.
And yet on the issue of being brainwashed by Trump, I heartily agree with him. The fact is that many Orthodox Jews have indeed been brainwashed by Trump to believe every word he says.
I understand why this happened. His strong support for conservative values - many of which are in concert with our own values; his strong support for the Jewish State which has produced tangible results (despite denials to the contrary by the liberal/left); his commutation of Sholom Rubashkin’s prison sentence to time served (Rubashkin is a hero to many Orthodox Jews who believe he was persecuted because he is a visibly observant Jew); the fact that Trump’s daughter and son in law are observant Jews; and his law and order attitude about criminals – has made him an icon to far too many of us.
I get all of that. But instead of simply appreciating polices that are based on a conservative political philosophy, they have crowned him as the next best thing to Moshiach Tzidkenu - our righteous Messiah! He is seen as a man that can say and do no wrong. If he says the election was rigged and stolen from him, his Orthodox Jewish ‘disciples’ believe it and repeat it.
With Florida governor, Ron DeSantis on the rise and Trump being blamed by Republicans for the poor showing of their candidates in the recent election - perhaps now is a good time for Trump’s Orthodox Jewish supporters to re-think how they see their hero. And instead see reality for what it is. To realize that Trump’s behavior post January 6, 2021 makes him no hero at all. It makes him the opposite of that. To realize that all of his good policies pale in the face of that. And to realize that there are more cards in the ‘conservative pro Israel’ deck than Trump
This idol worship has to stop. It’s not like we are talking about a bunch of Orthodox Jewish imbeciles. Most Orthodox Jew that support him are quite intelligent. (At least the ones I know). But they are so enamored of him that they overlook any flaw he has and believe every word he says. No mater how ridiculous. This is the very definition of being brainwashed.
Yes, these Jews need to be deprogrammed. I don’t see anyone or any organization that can do that. So they have to deprogram themselves. The time has come.
Now if we could also deprogram Satmar Chasidim to realize they are being sold up the river by the false value of rejecting Limudei Chol in their schools - that would be a win for everyone. Including NYSED.