Trump meets with prominent NY, NJ Hasidic Jewish leaders in rare White House gathering
Kiryas Joel’s Satmar Grand Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum and other local leaders were among those in the delegation.
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The Satmar Grand Rebbe of Kiryas Joel met privately with President Donald Trump at the White House Thursday as part of a rare gathering of prominent Hasidic Jewish leaders from New York and New Jersey.
Photos and information provided to News 12 by Satmar Headquarters show Grand Rebbe Aharon Teitelbaum traveling to Washington with his son, Chief Rabbi Menachem Mendel Teitelbaum, before participating in meetings at the White House.
Teitelbaum was among a broader delegation of religious leaders representing some of the largest and most influential Hasidic and Orthodox Jewish communities in the region, including Kiryas Joel, Williamsburg, Monsey, New Square and Lakewood, New Jersey.
The White House says the gathering was the first of its kind there since 1979.
The delegation met with Vice President JD Vance before meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. Rep. Mike Lawler was also present during the visit.
“Congressman Lawler was proud to join the historic meeting arranged by the White House just before Rosh Hashanah, engaging with the President and his administration on numerous issues of importance to the Jewish community in New York,” Lawler Communications Director Scott Waters told News 12.
Teitelbaum also met privately with Trump in the Oval Office. Satmar Headquarters says Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin accompanied him. Trump’s son-in-law and key outside adviser Jared Kushner was also present. During the visit, Teitelbaum offered Trump a traditional Hebrew blessing for the president and government, which was translated into English for Trump.
Published reports say discussions during the broader White House visit included housing, prison reform and issues affecting large families, including expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for families with more than three children.
A White House official told Jewish Insider that the religious leaders also thanked Trump for his administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism, promote school choice and address issues affecting people of faith.
The leaders invited to the White House represent rapidly growing religious communities concentrated heavily in New York and New Jersey that have also become important constituencies in local, state and national politics.
Hasidic Judaism is part of the broader Orthodox Jewish community. According to UJA-Federation of New York’s most recent major population study, Hasidic Jews account for about 9% of Jewish adults in the eight-county New York area studied, which includes New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.
The broader Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, population — which the study defines as including Hasidic, Yeshivish and Chabad Jews — represents about 14% of Jewish adults in that area but 43% of children living in Jewish households, reflecting the community’s younger population and larger families.
The population extends well beyond the area included in that study. Large Hasidic and Orthodox communities are also found in Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties and in New Jersey, including Lakewood. Their political influence can extend beyond their overall share of the population. Hasidic communities have historically demonstrated high levels of political participation, and endorsements from prominent religious and community leaders are frequently sought by candidates because they can influence large numbers of voters.
That political significance was reflected in Thursday’s meeting. Lawler represents large Orthodox and Hasidic communities in Rockland County, including Monsey and New Square, and published reports note that endorsements from New Square’s Skver leadership have been important in his previous congressional races.
The meeting carries particular significance in the Hudson Valley because Teitelbaum leads the Satmar community in Kiryas Joel, one of the fastest-growing communities in Orange County.
It also comes during a consequential period of growth for the village. News 12 reported this week that property owners have petitioned to annex nearly 500 acres from the neighboring Town of Woodbury into Kiryas Joel and the Town of Palm Tree. The proposal is now beginning a lengthy public review process.
There is no indication at this time that the annexation proposal was discussed during the White House visit.
News 12 has reached out to the White House for additional information about the meeting.
