Inside the White House Meeting: Reb Gedalia Segedin of Kiryas Yoel shares new Details of the Historic Gathering
White House photo
A delegation of leading Chassidishe Rebbes, Roshei Yeshiva and community representatives met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, September 3, ahead of Rosh Hashanah. The gathering brought together senior rabbinic leaders representing major Chareidi communities in New York and New Jersey.
Among those present were the two Satmar Rebbes, the Bobover Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, and Rav Aharon Mendel Twersky, who represented his father, the Skverer Rebbe. Community representatives included Reb Gedalia Segedin and others.
Kosher Food for Jewish Prisoners
One of the issues raised with administration officials was the difficulty Jewish inmates in federal prisons face in obtaining edible kosher food. The delegation explained that the kosher meals currently being provided can be problematic for frum inmates, while kosher meat and other kosher food products are more expensive than the standard daily food allowance allocated per prisoner.
A proposal was therefore presented to prepare ready-made kosher meals in Kiryas Joel kitchens. The community has facilities capable of producing large quantities of prepared food, and the delegation suggested that meals could be produced at a cost that would remain within, or close to, the government's existing per-inmate food allowance.
The proposal would potentially address two issues at once: providing Jewish inmates with genuinely edible kosher meals while avoiding a substantial increase in government expenditures.
Appreciation for the COVID-Era Reopening of Yeshivos and Batei Medrash
During the Oval Office meeting, the Kiryas Yoel Satmar Rebbe expressed appreciation to President Trump for his actions during the COVID-19 period that allowed batei medrash and Jewish institutions to reopen. The delegation emphasized the importance of being able to resume Torah learning and communal religious life at a time when many institutions were facing restrictions.
Vaccine Requirements and the Schools
Another subject discussed was New York State's vaccine requirements for children and their impact on yeshivos and Jewish schools. The delegation explained that the community should not be characterized as "anti-vax." Rather, the concern being raised was specifically about vaccination schedule and the practical consequences for schools and families
They thanked the president for the newly introduced child vaccine protocol lowering the amount of shots per well visit. Some Satmar schools had received fines from New York State for failing to comply with the state's vaccine protocols. The delegation explained that the new approach to the vaccination schedule would work substantially better for the schools and the communities they serve.
A Discussion About New York Politics
President Trump also asked the rabbinic leaders about voting patterns in New York, particularly why Democratic candidates continue to receive significant support in parts of the state. The response was that the community has to be pragmatic about politics.
The Chareidi communities do not have enough votes by themselves to flip or control every state legislative or congressional seat, and therefore their political approach must take into account who actually holds power in Albany and Washington. The explanation was essentially that political engagement is based on the practical interests of the community rather than simply on party identification.
The Question of Netanyahu
According to Segedin's account, President Trump also asked the Satmar Rebbes about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Jared Kushner was present during the discussion and reportedly waved off the subject, indicating to Trump that the Satmar leadership does not involve itself with Israeli politicians.
The publicly reported accounts confirm that Kushner joined the Oval Office meeting at Trump's request, but the specific Netanyahu exchange has not been independently reported in the sources reviewed here.
The IDF Draft and Religious Freedom
A major issue raised with the president was the situation facing Chareidi yeshiva students in Israel amid the IDF draft crisis. The rabbinic delegation signed a letter asking President Trump to protect religious freedom for those who are being compelled to serve in the Israeli military despite their religious commitments. The appeal also raised the situation of American citizens who hold dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship and who have faced arrest or other restrictions connected to draft evasion.
The Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Malkiel Kotler, personally delivered the letter to President Trump.
Trump Came Prepared
One of the more striking details from inside the meeting was the preparation President Trump had made beforehand. Trump reportedly had a card prepared for each Rebbe and Rosh Yeshiva who was attending. Each card included a photograph of the rabbinic leader as well as information about him and facts about the community he represents. The preparation appeared to impress the delegation and demonstrated that the president and his staff had made an effort to familiarize themselves with the individual leaders and the communities they represent.
Trump also appeared familiar with the communities' voting patterns. According to the reported account, he was told that he received approximately 98% of the vote in Kiryas Yoel and 100% in New Square.
The Meeting With Trump
Rav Aharon Teitelbaum first had a private meeting with President Trump, accompanied by Gedalia Segedin. The discussion lasted approximately 10–15 minutes and focused primarily on pidyon shvuyim and other urgent communal concerns, including the Chareidi draft crisis.
The remaining delegation subsequently entered the Oval Office. At one point, Rav Aharon recited the traditional Hanosein Teshuah prayer for the welfare of the government. Segedin translated the prayer into English for President Trump. Trump then asked that Jared Kushner be brought into the room, reportedly saying that Kushner "must be here" for such distinguished guests. The meeting continued with discussions of the various communal issues and requests.
Additional Details from the White House Meeting
Preserving Jewish Cemeteries and Kevarim in Europe
Another issue brought before the president was the condition of Jewish cemeteries and kevarim throughout Europe. The delegation explained that many historic Jewish burial sites have been vandalized, neglected and allowed to fall into serious disrepair. These cemeteries are the resting places of generations of European Jewry and, for many communities, contain the kevarim of prominent Rabbonim and ancestors.
The delegation noted that previous U.S. administrations had recognized the importance of preserving Jewish cemeteries and had established efforts and committees to address the problem. They specifically referenced the administrations of Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and asked President Trump to continue and strengthen those efforts.
The request was presented not simply as a historical or preservation matter, but as an issue of kavod ha'meis and the responsibility to protect Jewish burial places that remain vulnerable across Europe.
The Atmosphere Inside the White House
There had also been considerable discussion on social media beforehand about how the meeting might be received by various political groups, including elements of the right wing. According to those who were present, however, none of that was felt inside the meeting itself. The atmosphere was described as extremely friendly, cordial and respectful. The discussions were conducted in a calm and constructive manner, with the president listening to the concerns brought by the rabbinic delegation and engaging directly with the Rebbes and representatives.
Those present said there was no sense inside the room of the political controversy or social-media reaction that had surrounded the meeting from the outside. Instead, the focus remained on the issues affecting Jewish communities and on the opportunity to bring those concerns directly to the president.
The hope expressed afterward was that the meeting would ultimately have a positive practical effect and lead to concrete assistance on some of the issues raised particularly matters affecting frum Jews and Jewish communities in America.
For the delegation, the purpose of the meeting was not simply the symbolism of having Rebbes in the Oval Office. It was an opportunity to bring specific communal concerns to the highest level of government and to advocate for the needs of Jewish families, schools, prisoners, religious institutions and communities.
A Broad Representation of the Chareidi Community
The participants emphasized that the Rebbes and Roshei Yeshiva represented communities numbering well over 250,000 Jewish residents. The delegation's message was that these communities constitute a significant voting population, while at the same time their political strategy in New York is shaped by practical considerations and the realities of the state's political landscape. The meeting therefore served not only as an opportunity to express hakaras hatov to President Trump, but also to place a broad range of communal concerns directly before the president and senior administration officials.
