The Satmar Rebbe sharply criticized recent demonstrations by members of New York’s Jewish community against New York City’s Muslim and anti-Semitic mayor, socialist Zohran Mamdani, saying such protests contradict the Torah’s approach during golus and amount to dangerous “hisgarus b’umos – provocation against the nations.”

The Rebbe made the remarks during the central tish marking the yahrtzeit of his uncle, the author of Vayoel Moshe, the Satmar Rebbe zt”l, who rebuilt the Satmar Chassidus after the Holocaust and established its well-known philosophy of separation from Zionism. The annual gathering, attended by thousands of chassidim, is one of the movement’s most significant events of the year.

Addressing the recent public backlash against Mayor Mamdani, who has faced boos and demonstrations from Jewish organizations over his anti-Israel positions, the Rebbe declared: “Recently we have witnessed terrible provocation against the nations by chareidi Jews—the provocation directed against the Mayor of New York. We know that we are living in golus, and the novi Yirmiyahu instructed the Jewish people, ‘Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you.’ Torah-observant Jews must conduct themselves according to the ways of the Torah and accept the decrees of exile. By shouting against him and labeling him an antisemite, people are engaging in genuine provocation. It is not enough that there is provocation against the nations in Eretz Yisroel, but now they are bringing that same provocation here to America as well.”

The Rebbe’s comments come as tensions between Mayor Mamdani and large segments of New York’s mainstream Jewish and pro-Israel communities have reached unprecedented levels. Relations have deteriorated sharply following a series of controversial actions and statements by the mayor, prompting large demonstrations outside his official residence and public calls for his removal from office.

Among the incidents that fueled the backlash was the release of an official city video in which Mamdani referred to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu as a “war criminal,” urged the federal government to arrest him, and described IDF operations as “genocide.” Jewish community leaders have also accused him of contributing to rising antisemitism through what they viewed as a weak response to antisemitic violence and criticized his decision to establish a judicial advisory committee without including any Jewish representatives.

Those developments have led numerous Jewish organizations and public figures to launch an aggressive campaign against the mayor, with some demanding that he resign or be removed from office.

The Satmar Chassidus, however, has taken a markedly different approach. The relationship between the chassidus and Mayor Mamdani has remained cordial. During the annual Yom Hatzalah celebration on 21 Kislev, the mayor was received with great honor at Satmar’s central gathering, warmly blessed by the Rebbe, who also publicly supported him during his election campaign.

Now, amid the political storm, the Satmar Rebbe has reaffirmed that, in his view, the obligation of Torah-observant Jews during golus is to avoid public confrontation and political provocation, even under highly contentious circumstances.

{Matzav.com}