"Day of Salvation": Inside the controversial rescue of the Satmar Rebbe

The 21st of Kislev is commemorated by tens of thousands of Satmar Hasidim worldwide as their "Day of Salvation" - when Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum escaped Nazi-occupied Hungary on what became known as the Kasztner Train. Eighty years later, the story continues to spark intense historical debate.

The Stakes Were Enormous

Rabbi Teitelbaum's survival profoundly shaped post-war Orthodox Judaism. While most rescued Orthodox leaders adopted more moderate positions or even joined religious Zionist movements, Teitelbaum rebuilt the uncompromising anti-Zionist tradition of Hungarian Orthodoxy in America.

Competing Historical Narratives

The widely accepted historical account credits Zionist activist Rudolf Kasztner with negotiating the rebbe's escape as part of the famous "Kasztner Train" that saved 1,684 Jews. This version presents an ironic twist: the famously anti-Zionist leader was saved by the very Zionists he opposed.

However, Satmar Hasidim tell a different story. A recent investigation published in their newspaper "HaEida" claims Orthodox Jewish activists, not Zionists, orchestrated the rescue. They argue the original plan was to save a million Hungarian Jews before Kasztner allegedly reduced it to just 700 people. In addition, key figures included Rabbi Chaim Roth, Baron Pinchas Freudiger, and Rabbi Michael Dov Weissmandl, while a crucial letter to Switzerland prevented the train's diversion to Auschwitz.

According to newly revealed testimonies, the 11-day journey was harrowing as he train zigzagged between stations. Documents were discovered marking Auschwitz as the destination and emergency negotiations and additional payments were required to continue. At one point, The Rebbe reportedly ordered passengers not to reboard.

Dr. Yitzchak Herskovitz's research shows Orthodox rabbis were significantly overrepresented on the train, comprising 23 of the 36 rabbis aboard - largely due to Orthodox activist Baron Philip von Freudiger's influence.

Historian Esther Farbstein notes that while the "Zionists saved the anti-Zionist" narrative might be "interesting or even picturesque," it ignores the complex historical context where all Hungarian Jewish factions participated in determining who would be saved.

Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.