Father fought Satmar, son cooperates: the meeting that surprised the Hasidic world | Shlomo Shamir

The Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Alter, is holding meetings and cooperating with a senior Satmar activist, despite his father's historical opposition to Satmar. The author struggles to understand the need for help from a Satmar millionaire, and mentions Gur's principled opposition to Zionism alongside its practical ties with Israel.

The article deals with the Gur Hasidic dynasty and its relations with the Satmar Hasidic dynasty, focusing on a surprising meeting between the current Gerrer Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Alter, and a senior Satmar activist. The author, Shlomo Shamir, describes the historical opposition of Gur to Satmar, including a story about the previous rebbe, the 'Imrei Emet', who refused to speak with a Satmar leader after a visit. He notes that Gur was the most vehement opponent of Satmar, due to the incitement and hatred that Satmar spreads against the State of Israel. However, he finds it difficult to understand how the current rebbe cooperates with a senior Satmar figure, especially given his father's opposition. The article includes historical background on the 'Imrei Emet's' visits to the Land of Israel in the 1920s and 1930s, and his Zionist letter 'Letter from the Ship'. It also notes that Gur is the largest Hasidic dynasty in Israel, with 13 prayer houses in Tel Aviv. The author expresses puzzlement over the rebbe's need for help from a Satmar millionaire, particularly in light of his opposition to the draft law.