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Chassidic Approaches: Satmar Chassidism

[Eis96]
Eisenberg, Robert. Boychiks in the Hood: Travels in the Hasidic Underground. Harper San Francisco; 1996. Paperback. ISBN 0-062512-23-4. [Chapter 1 of this book is about a visit to Satmar in Williamsburg, giving brief but vivid pictures of various individuals, including rebels, interspersed with information which tends to emphasize the controversial but also shows admiration. Satmarers appear here and there throughout this entertaining book, which overall gives some context for their way of life. (Rabbi Justin Jaron Lewis)]
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062512234/socculturejewish/]

[Fin94]
Finkel, Avraham Yaakov. Contemporary Sages: The Great Chasidic Masters of the Twentieth Century. Jason Aronson; 1994. Hardcover. ISBN 1-568211-55-4. [This book presents brief biographical notes, selections of teachings, and photographs of 37 Hasidic Rebbes of the twentieth century. The brief chapter on "Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar -- Reb Yoilish, the Satmarer Rebbe" includes a photograph of the late Rebbe's soulful face, information on his lineage and early years, and a summary of the growth of Satmar Hasidism in New York with its many educational and charitable institutions. Most importantly, it includes the only selection of Satmar teachings available in English, giving some sense of the forcefulness of the Rebbe's words and of the religious underpinnings of Satmar's controversial opposition to Zionism. (Rabbi Justin Jaron Lewis)]
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568211554/socculturejewish/]

[Kra95]
Kranzler, George. Hasidic Williamsburg: A Contemporary American Hasidic Community. Jason Aronson; 1995. Hardcover. ISBN 1-568212-42-9. [This book is a sequel to Williamsburg: A Jewish Community in Transition (1961), which traced developments in Jewish Williamsburg from before the postwar Hasidic immigration. In this book the emphasis is on the leading role of Satmar and its Rebbes. It is based on written surveys and interviews, and includes many quotations from, and descriptions of, ordinary Hasidim as well as leaders of the community. This study includes much information on the Satmar community, from the family (Chapter 4) to the broader social structure (Chapter 5) to interactions with the outside world through political and economic activity (Chapters 2 and 8). A hagiographic biography of the late Rebbe is also included (Appendix B). Kranzler writes with unrestricted admiration for Satmar; he dismisses as unimportant the tensions around the succession of the new Rebbe as well as other potentially controversial issues. (Rabbi Justin Jaron Lewis)]
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1568212429/socculturejewish/]

[Kre88]
Kremer, Ya'a'kov Mosheh. Sefer Yam shel Shemu'el : Khidushim Et' u-ve'urim 'al pesu'ke ha-Torah, Nevi'im u-Khetuvim u-ma'amre Hazal ha-kedoshim Chubar. Kefar Gid'yon: Y.M. Kremer. 1988.

[Lew93]
Lewy, Josef, of Brooklyn. Sefer Minhag Yi'sra'el Torah: Ma'tarato le-har'ot ma'kor 'tahor le-minhage Yi'sra'el ... 'al pi seder ha-simanim be-Shulchan arukh Ora'h 'hayim Brooklyn: Le-ha'sig ha-sefer etsel Y. Lewy. 1993.

[Min95]
Mintz, Jerome R. The Challenge of Piety: Satmar Hasidim in New York. Gina Keyahoff Pub; 1995. Hardcover. Reissue edition. ISBN 3-929078-22-8.
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3929078228/socculturejewish/]

[Min95]
Mintz, Jerome R. The Challenge of Piety: Satmar Hasidim in New York. Gina Keyahoff Pub; 1995. Hardcover. Reissue edition. ISBN 3-929078-22-8.
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/3929078228/socculturejewish/]

[Rot89]
Roth, Aaron. Sefer Avodat ha-Bore. Jerusalem: M. Blum. 1989.

[Pol62]
Poll, Solomon. The Hasidic Community of Williamsburg, New York. Free Press of Glencoe (division of Crowell-Collier); 1962. ISBN 0-805202-09-9. Out of Print. [This book gives a highly readable account of Hasidic life in Williamsburg that is still largely applicable today. It mentions Satmar by name only in passing, but most of what is said here in general can be applied to Satmar specifically. The book focuses on the facets of Hasidic life most likely to strike an outsider as strange, providing useful context in terms of underlying values and historical background. It gives little sense of individuals, but paints striking pictures of social types, especially in Chapter 7, "The Social Stratification of the Hasidic Community". It also conveys a sense of Hasidic voices through translations of newspaper advertisements, circular letters from impoverished rabbis, and the like. The mingling of religious concerns with daily life is described engagingly, especially the multiple effects of strictness about kashrut (175-212). Only the historical background (in Chapters 1-5) is a little narrowly focused, and could give the impression that all Hasidim are from Hungary and live in Williamsburg. (Rabbi Justin Jaron Lewis)]
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805202099/socculturejewish/]

[Rub97]
Rubin, Israel. Satmar: Two Generations of an Urban Island. Peter Lang Publishing; 1997. Hardcover. 2nd edition. ISBN 0-820407-59-3.[This book is an updated version of Satmar: An Island in the City (1972); each of the original chapters is followed by a supplement taking stock of changes in the intervening years. It is based on interviews and impressions from time spent in the community. It presents pictures in broad strokes more than detailed analysis. This book gives fuller treatment to historical background and religion than Kranzler. The book evinces admiration for Satmar but has a more critical eye than Kranzler; in particular, this book gives greater weight to internal struggles in the community following the succession of the new Rebbe, and to changes which may result from this (such as greater independence from the Rebbe in individual decision-making). It also identifies indications of slow and subtle Americanization. (Rabbi Justin Jaron Lewis)]
[Buy at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0820407593/socculturejewish/]

[Sch92]
Schwartz, Lemel. Sidur Tefilah le-Mosheh: Nusach Sefard: Kolel kol ha-tefilot li-yeme ha-'hol 'im perush me-Asher shemenah be-Idish Brooklyn, N.Y. : L. Schwartz. 1992.

[Sch93]
Scher, Anshel. Sefer Bene betkha: 'al hilkhot nidah Sa' u-tevilah ... 've-gam pata'hti vo sha'ar ha-bayit ... uve-sofo hosafnu kun'tres halakhot u-minhagim li-yeme 'ibur, ledah, va-hana'kah. Brooklyn NY: A. Shehr. 1993.

[Tei74]
Teitelbaum, Joel. Sefer Tehilim. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Bet mis'har Yerushalayim, 1974 [Psalms - Commentaries]

[Tei90a]
Teitelbaum, Joel. Zemirot Divre Yo-el: Hidushe Torah U-minhage Darkhe Yesharah, Be-shabatot Li-menu Hah Ule-orah, Ve-hagim U-zemanim Le-sason Ule-tiferet. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Domsu Lesomor. 1990. [Zemirot - Commentaries]

[Tei90b]
Teitelbaum, Joel. Sefer Va-Yo-el Mosheh: Le-ba-er Dine Ha-shalosh Shevu-ot She-ne-emru Bi-nevu-ot, Be-inyene Kets Ha-yeshu-ot ... Dine Mits-vat Yeshivat E. Ha-k. Jerusalem: ?. 1990.

[Tei86]
Teitelbaum, Joel. Hagadah shel Pesach: Otsar peninim. Brooklyn, NY: Y.M. Grinfeld. 5746 [1986]. [Text of the Haggadah in Hebrew and Yiddish; commentary in Yiddish.]

[Tei93]
Teitelbaum, Joel. Sefer Agadot Mahari-t 'al Agadot ha-Shas Ta. Monsey, N.Y.: S.B. Klagsbald. 1993.

Credit: Some of the information in this section was provided by Justin Jaron Lewis, Rabbi of Congregation Iyr HaMelech of Kingston, Ontario, from his Readers Guide to Judaism [ed. Michael Terry], published in Chicago by Fitzroy Dearborn in the year 2000.


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