Satmar is an abbreviated name of the Satmar Hasidim, or the Satmarer, referring to those Hasidic Jews who originated in the town of Satu Mare, or Szatmárnémeti in Hungarian, now in Romania, but originally in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Nevertheless, they are still strongly identified with Hungary.

It is perhaps the largest Hasidic dynasty in existence today, but exact numbers and scientific comparisons with other Hasidim have never been conducted and are therefore not available.

Its followers were murdered and dispersed during World War II and the Holocaust. Large numbers of Satmar Hasidim settled in the United States after World War II and now live mainly in Williamsburg, Borough Park, Brooklyn, and Kiryas Joel in up-state New York, as well as in London and in Jerusalem in Israel. The Satmar Hasidic movement is known for its social isolation from all forms of secular culture and for their opposition to all forms of political secular and religious Zionism. This opposition has at times led to comparisons and confusion with the Neturei Karta. Satmar's views were formulated and espoused by its past leader Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, and are maintained by his nephew and successor, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum who is the present Satmar Rebbe. Unlike the Neturei Karta, Satmar does not support the PLO.

Major Hasidic groups

Dominant Hasidic groups (arranged by size) include:

• Satmar
• Chabad Lubavitch
• Ger
• Vizhnitz
• Belz
• Bobov
• Skver
• Spinka
• Puppa
• Breslov
• Rachmastrivka
• Toldos Aharon

See also

• Neturei Karta

External link

The Roots of Satmar