A major Chasidic sect, the Satmars, rallied in front of the Israeli consulate in New York City on Tuesday evening to let everyone know that Netanyahu doesn't represent them:
“When Netanyahu professes to speak on our behalf, we have to speak out and say this is not the case,” Rabbi David Neiderman said in a statement to the assembled Satmar protesters. “Benjamin Netanyahu, stop speaking on our behalf and directing us what to do.”
This rally was on the day before Purim and speakers tied Netanyahu neatly to that most fun of Jewish holidays:
Other speakers referred to Netanyahu as a modern-day “Haman” or “Amalek.” Haman was the vizier to Xerxes in the Persian Empire who plotted to kill the Jews, but was foiled by Queen Esther, and the resulting story became the basis for the Jewish holiday of Purim.
The Satmars are the largest and one of the most ultra-Orthodox groups of Chasids. They opposed the establishment of the State of Israel and are still against its existence, so they are coming at this criticism of Netanyahu from an entirely different point of view than I have. But on one thing we are in total agreement -- contrary to his claim, Netanyahu was not acting as a
representative of the entire Jewish people.
I also have no trouble viewing Netanyahu as the modern version of the power-hungry and opportunistic Haman. Jews have a wonderful time blotting out the speaking of Haman's name with noisemakers during Purim festivals. Maybe we should have sent Nancy Pelosi a grogger (the annoyingly wonderful noisemakers we shake on Purim) to use during the worst parts of Netanyahu's speech.
Full disclosure: I thoroughly enjoyed seeing my family name in print in this article -- my grandfather told us we are descendants of Tamar, Moshe Teitelbaum, whose followers (and children) founded the Satmar sect. (note my screen name folks). They're not my cup of tea but they are distant relatives.
Hasids Protest Netanyahu Speech