We
love Satmar Chasidim because their philosophy is not based on hatred of Eretz
Yisrael but, just the opposite, they love Eretz Yisrael so much that they do
not want its holiness to be damaged. It
is therefore forbidden to return to it before the proper time. This is similar to Rav Yehuda in the
Gemara. On the one hand, he said that
anyone who ascends from Bavel to Eretz Yisrael violates a positive Mitzvah
(Berachot 24b). On the other hand, he
loved Eretz Yisrael so much that he held, unlike others, that a special
blessing was made on balsam oil: we bless Hashem "who creates oil of OUR
LAND" (ibid. 43a). Rav Yehuda both
loved Eretz Yisrael greatly and held that it was not yet time to return there
(Kerem Chemed on Berachot 24b. Torat Ha-Temarim
Al Ha-Torah U-Moadim p. 141). We
obviously do not agree with this position of Satmar, since we received from our
Rabbis that the beginning of the Redemption has already arrived.
We
love Satmar Chasidim because their philosophy is not based on hatred of Jews
but, just the opposite, because they love Jews and it pains them so much when
any Jew is killed (see introduction to Va-Yoel Moshe).
We
love Satmar Chasidim because, in contrast to some people who do NOT see that
something is happening to Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael, they DO see that
something happened and is happening, and they respond to it. After the establishment of the State of
Israel, the Satmar Rebbe wrote the book Va-Yoel Moshe. After the Six-Day War, he wrote the book Al
Ha-Geula Ve-Al Ha-Temura (Ha-Rav Yosef Soloveitchik said: If after all of the
miracles, wonders and salvations which we have seen, he [the Satmar Rebbe]
still holds his same position, it is proof that he has courage). With the US declaration that Yerushalayim is
the capital of the State of Israel, the Admor R' Aharon of Satmar, discussed it
in a speech. On the 70th
anniversary of the State of Israel, Satmar organized a conference to explain
their position. Although we do not agree
with their position and explanations, we understand that they see that major
events are occurring here.
We
love Satmar Chasidim because the Admor R' Zalman of Satmar said about members of Neturei Karta who visited Iran:
"These people take the pure name of Satmar in vain! Our Holy Rabbi,
the 'Vayoel Moshe' [the first Satmar Rebbe, and R' Zalman's uncle],
exaggeratedly said that they cause more damage than the Zionists
themselves. We are working to cast off all these extreme
sects. When these individuals went to Iran, the Satmar Beit Din
issued a harsh letter against them" (Mishpachah
Magazine. 29 Kislev 5773, p. 24).
We
love Satmar Chasidim because they succeeded in reestablishing a community which
was almost wiped out in the Holocaust.
They are now the largest Chasidic group in the world.
We
love Satmar Chasidim because they have immense Yirat Shayamim (Fear of Heaven),
great self-sacrifice for Torah learning and amazing Midot Tovot (proper
character traits). One of the great
things they do in America is visit the sick in hospitals and concern themselves
with the needs of each and every Jew there.
The Satmar Rebbe also helped any Jew regardless of his philosophy.
We
love Satmar Chasidim because they provide their children with a pure, holy
Torah education.
We
love Satmar Chasidim because our disagreement with them is about the means, not the goal. There is no essential difference between our
goal and theirs. In the end, everyone
wants the entire Jewish People to settle in Eretz Yisrael. Everyone wants there
to be a Jewish State and a Jewish army. Everyone wants that State to be holy,
and everyone wants the Nation that dwells in Zion to be holy. The difference is only over the proper pathway,
the proper means to achieve this end and the proper time to do so.
We
love Satmar Chasidim because we understand that
their harsh rebuke is out of love, and at times has the value of protecting the
Nation and State of Israel. Their strong words are in the category of
"revealed rebuke is preferable to hidden love" (Mishlei
27:5). And this is what Maran Ha-Rav Kook said to his student Ha-Rav
Dr. Moshe Zeidel, who was upset with the Charedi criticism. Maran Ha-Rav Kook
responded that the Charedim, who are opposed to Zionism from the depths of the
purity of their spirit, aid in removing much of its negative tendency and will
thus allow it to reach its royal potential (Igrot Re'eiyah 3:156).
We
love Satmar Chasidim because one must love every Jew (Mesilat Yesharim, end of
Chapter 19. Tanya, Chapter 32). The Mitzvah of "Love your fellow Jew as
yourself" is so simple and obvious that the Shulchan Aruch does not even
bring it.