Satmar Dynasty's Bitter Feud May Be Ending: Heirs Gather to Divide Estate
For the first time in decades, both sides of the Satmar Hasidic dynasty sit at the same table. The grandchildren of the Birkhas Moshe are dividing a multi-million dollar collection of ancient manuscripts and sacred artifacts by lottery, in a move many are calling the beginning of the end of one of Judaism's most famous feuds.
After decades of bitter division, the two factions of the Satmar Hasidic dynasty are taking an unprecedented step toward reconciliation today, as the grandchildren of the late Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, known by the title Birchas Moshe, gather to divide his sacred estate by lottery.
The grandchildren, representing both sides of the split dynasty, are meeting together to draw lots over a collection of rare religious artifacts, ancient manuscripts, and books passed down through generations, from the Yismach Moshe to the Vayoel Moshe, with an estimated value of millions of dollars.
The process was quietly set in motion roughly two years ago by Moshe Friedman, known as Reb Moshe Gabai, the late Rebbe's longtime personal aide, who was entrusted with full responsibility over the estate. Working with philanthropist Meir Hirsch, a leading figure in the court of the Satmar Rebbe Maharah, Friedman arranged for all items to be transferred to a secure facility, where experts spent the past year cataloguing and professionally appraising each piece.
The groundwork culminated ahead of the 20th yahrzeit of the Birchas Moshe this past Nissan, when all of his sons and sons-in-law, headed by the two Satmar Rebbes, brothers Maharah and Mahariy, signed a joint letter for the first time, establishing a framework for dividing the estate. The signing was completed when Lippa Friedman, son of Reb Moshe Gabai, brought the letter to the Maharah's residence in Kiryas Joel, where the Rebbe added his signature after his brother had already signed.
In their letter, the brothers issued a firm demandm with a deadline of Lag B'Omer, calling on any chasid who had taken items from the estate over the years to return them. "We have not waived or forgiven any item," they wrote, stipulating that items returned to only one of the Rebbes would not be accepted; all pieces must go back to the general estate. Three designated representatives were authorized to receive returned items anonymously. Several pieces have since been quietly returned.
Today's gathering, unthinkable just months ago, has drawn wide attention across the Charedi world, with many expressing hope that the two brothers may soon begin attending one another's celebrations in person.