Tens of thousands of Chasidic Jews are expected to gather on Sunday outside the Israeli Consulate on Second Avenue in Manhattan to protest the Israeli government’s plan to draft yeshiva students into the army. The event will mark a rare show of unity between the rival Satmar factions led by brothers Reb Aharon Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel and the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, Reb Zalman Leib Teitelbaum.
The rally comes just weeks after a anti-draft gathering in Lakewood, New Jersey, led by prominent roshei yeshiva, and attended by a few thousand people.
It will be the first time since 2013 that both Satmar factions appear together at a joint demonstration against the Israeli government. The last such rally, held that year in Foley Square, drew tens of thousands in opposition to similar draft proposals.
Organizers said the timing of the Manhattan rally reflects a longstanding Satmar policy not to hold public protests against Israel while the country is at war. With fighting in Gaza now paused following the ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump, they said the time has come to voice their opposition to the gezeiras hagiyus — the decree of conscription.
The planned demonstration follows months of debate in Israel’s Knesset over how to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling that the decades-long exemption for Charedi men from military service must end. Many Charedi leaders view the draft decree as an existential threat to their religious way of life. The Knesset is expected to resume debate on the matter in the coming weeks.
Busses leaving from Lakewood to protest Manhattan
3pm from 20 Marble Wy, Lakewood, NJ 08701
If the two brothers want to help Klall Yisroel?
They should end their machlokes which was / is a huge Chillul Hashem.
Machlokes is worse than Zionism!
It’s true – but the issue of gius is a greater threat
It is such a kiddush Hashem when two brothers whose sinas chinam is such that they refuse to attend each others family and communal simchas, can come together to declare their sinas chinom for all of Klal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.
Last night 4 young Jewish men from Lakewood and Fallsburg were murdered by a drunk driver and an incompetent truck driver and these clowns choose to show their sinat achim beliefs today?
Every man in Israel should protect the country except satmars and neuteri karta, what Torah do they read from?
The giyus threat can not be overcome by ba’lei machlokes.
There are numerous chazals that even idol worshipers may be spared if they show achdus. But even tzadikim may be defeated in war if there is machlokes.