The Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel and several other prominent Hasidic Jewish leaders from New York and New Jersey met with President Donald Trump at the White House Thursday in a rare gathering that brought together leaders from some of the largest Hasidic communities in the region.
The meeting, held in the Oval Office, was described as the first gathering of its kind in decades. Among those attending were leaders representing communities in Kiryas Joel, Lakewood and Williamsburg. The event was facilitated in part by Rep. Mike Lawler, whose New York district includes several large Hasidic communities.
Rebbe Aaron Teitelbaum of Kiryas Joel met privately with Trump and presented him with a leather-bound copy of a traditional Jewish prayer for the welfare of a foreign leader. The rabbi also recited the blessing itself during the visit, a rare ceremony that highlighted the significance of the gathering.
The meeting represented a rare moment of reconciliation between Trump's staunch backing of Israel and the opposition to Israel frequently heard in the Satmar community. The Satmar Headquarters social media page declared the meeting 'A vital conversation for the future of the Jewish faith.'
The meeting also produced an unusual reunion between two Satmar grand rabbis, brothers who have remained at odds since a succession dispute following their father's death in 2006 divided the Satmar community. Their appearance together at the White House marked a notable moment for the movement.