Cuomo Won Satmar Rebbe’s Endorsement After Promising Hands Off Yeshivas
Gov. Andrew Cuomo Image by Getty Images
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly promised not to interfere with the state’s yeshivas before receiving an endorsement from the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, Gothamist reported.
Cuomo visited Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum at his home Thursday, where they came to the agreement, according to multiple reports. Yeshiva World translated the initial reporting by Israeli blog BeChadrei Chareidim, tweeting, “The Governor reassured the Rebbe that he would not interfere in Yeshiva education.”
For my non Hebrew reading friends: Last week Gov. Cuomo met with the Satmar Rebbe, one of the most influential rabbis in the world, in Williamsburg, and promised him “not to interfere with yeshivas” and received the Rabbi’s support. @CynthiaNixon https://t.co/Y75dCtw2Pb
— Daniel Atwood (@AtwoodDaniel) September 2, 2018
Teitelbaum controls the central Satmar congregation in Williamsburg and the Satmar Yeshiva in Queens, according to Gothamist. Much of Brooklyn’s Hasidic community votes as a bloc, giving it significant pull in state and local politics.
The agreement comes as New York City officials move forward with the investigation into allegations that ultra-Orthodox schools do not provided enough secular education.
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
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