DIN: Someone, please pinch me and tell me that this is all a dream! A Satmar shvantz with money came up with a scheme to bribe the Gerrer Rebbe to abandon government funds and to rely on schnoorerei! This Yoeli character even goes into an entire polemic about the Meraglim and saying that all "Yeshiva Boys really want to be like the Meraglim"! He says quoting the Chidushei Harim, the first Gerer Rebbe, that the Meraglim really wanted to remain in Yeshiva learning because they knew that if they would go up to Israel, they would have to work"
Now this is not the place to discuss this, but what is relevant is that a Satmar Shnook with money thinks he can convince a rebbe of an entire different sect that have an entirely different mentality to his crazed position!
Who can forget when just a couple of years ago one of the feuding Satmar Brothers schnnored from his poor naive shmendriks $5 million to bring to those Yeshivos in Israel that refuse to take money from the medina!
That $5 million didn't last a month! The Israeli Government funds Yeshivas to the tune of 850 million shekel a year!
Yoeli Landau, the affluent and influential Satmar businessman named after the legendary Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, recently delivered a private letter to the Ger Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter, during the latter’s fundraising visit to the United States. The letter, which has now become public, has sparked significant discussion and controversy within Haredi circles.
Landau, whose fortune—largely built through senior living enterprises in New York—is estimated at nearly half a billion dollars, personally met with the Ger Rebbe at his home in Israel prior to the Rebbe’s trip to the U.S. Upon returning to Israel, the Ger Rebbe flew Landau’s private jet, arranged because the Rebbe’s own plane was unavailable due to insurance restrictions related to the ongoing conflict.
Just before takeoff on the return flight, Landau presented the Rebbe with the letter, which thanks him for the opportunity to support the community’s fundraising efforts and delivers a pointed message urging a shift in communal financial strategy.
In his letter, Landau advocates for the Ger Rebbe and the broader Haredi leadership to adopt the “Satmar method”—a call to cease reliance on Israeli government funding and instead rely on wealthy patrons (“gabbayim”) within the community. He praises the Ger Rebbe for his steadfast refusal to compromise on army conscription of yeshiva students, positioning him as a rare leader willing to resist government pressure.
Landau warns that dependence on state funds undermines the community’s economic and spiritual health. He argues this dependence weakens incentives for rabbis and institutions to cultivate financial independence, creating a cycle of reliance that leads to compromising deeply held values, including on the sensitive issue of army recruitment.
The letter draws a sharp contrast between the Ger Rebbe’s firm stance and other Haredi leaders who, according to Landau, make “compromises with the impure” by acquiescing to conscription laws in exchange for funding. He frames the Satmar approach as a model of self-reliance and communal responsibility, emphasizing hard work and fundraising efforts spearheaded by influential community members rather than government grants.
The delivery of this letter aboard Landau’s private jet—an event accompanied by a special “L’chaim” toast—symbolizes the merging of his roles as a bold businessman and committed communal activist. It also highlights the growing unease within parts of the Haredi community over the increasing involvement and influence of state mechanisms in religious education and lifestyle.
Since the letter became public, it has fueled a vigorous debate. Supporters view Landau’s message as a critical wake-up call, urging the community to reclaim autonomy and preserve its values. Critics, however, perceive it as a disrespectful critique that challenges established leadership and traditions.
Community insiders note that longstanding tensions between the Satmar and Ger factions regarding state funding and political strategy have been brought into sharper focus by this episode. The letter offers a rare glimpse into internal struggles about how the Haredi world should navigate its relationship with the modern state and manage its future sustainability.
As discussions unfold across social media platforms and community forums, Landau’s letter stands as a provocative call to action—one that challenges Haredim to rethink economic independence, spiritual integrity, and political engagement in the face of evolving realities.
below the letter Landau gave to the rebbe.
Mission Complete.
Return to a life that no longer feels like yours.
Honor the invisible heroes.
For the ones who protect without glory.
