Beis Din Rules: No Flaw In Conduct Of Satmar Community Regarding Shabbos In Meron

By Yehuda Dov

 A dramatic ruling was issued Wednesday night by the Beis Din Tzedek of Bnei Brak regarding the Satmar–Meron guesthouse dispute, in which local guesthouse owners sued the Satmar community and the producer R’ Yaakov Chaim Miller for not informing them in advance that Satmar planned to spend Shabbos in Meron.

The dispute began after Miller began secretly booking all of the available local guesthouses but not disclosing that the goal was for Satmar chasidim arriving from abroad to accompany the Rebbe for a Shabbos. The guesthouse owners claimed that this constituted a deception and that the prices would have been different for an organized group arriving from abroad.

The issue, which was first reported on the B’Chadrei Chareidim website, was widely discussed in batei midrash and kollelim across Israel and around the world.

At the end of the hearing, the Beis Din stated orally that the deal could not and would not be canceled, and that the plaintiffs’ claims had no halachic basis.

 In the dramatic written ruling, the Beis Din rejected the plaintiffs’ arguments one by one, ultimately stating the following:

“There is no flaw in the conduct of the community and the defendants. There is no reason to expect the public or its administrators to publicize their plans and thereby cause an increase in market prices, especially when such disclosure usually leads to unfair price hikes. They are entitled to act wisely to obtain lodging at reasonable prices.”

Rabbinic advocate Rabbi Chaim Gerlitz, who represented the Satmar community and the production company, summarized the matter from his perspective in a conversation with B’Chadrei Chareidim:

“From the outset, the plaintiffs attempted to create an uproar over nothing, to the point that the matter was already publicized in the media as if my client had carried out some sort of ‘sting operation,’ Heaven forbid.”

“My client and its director, R’ Yaakov Chaim Miller, well-known from the major events they have produced in the Charedi community over the past two decades, are recognized as a symbol of integrity and fairness. Unfortunately, some attempted through various publications to cast aspersions on their work.”

“However, the honorable Beis Din stated its position clearly and decisively, determining that there was no flaw whatsoever in their conduct and even found it appropriate to praise their prudent management.”