Historic White House Visit: Leading Chasidishe Rebbes and Roshei Yeshiva Set to Meet President Trump Ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Five prominent American Torah leaders including the Rebbes of Satmar, Bobov and Vizhnitz, Rav Malkiel Kotler, and Rabbi Aharon Mendel Twersky representing the Skverer Rebbe are scheduled to meet privately with President Trump at the White House today ahead of Rosh Hashanah. The meeting will be an opportunity to express appreciation for the President’s support of the charedi community and to advocate for key issues facing the community. Reports say there's a possibility to raise Israel's yeshiva draft crisis directly with the president.

They have departed  this morning from area airports  including  Belmar near Lakewood, Teterboro, NJ and  Stuart  airport near Monroe and scheduled to arrive at the White house by 12pm. The White House listed the meeting for 12:30 p.m. as a “policy meeting.”

The Jewish people are accompanying the Rabbonim with heartfelt prayers to “Hanosen Teshuah LaMelachim” the prayer for the welfare and success of kings that their words should find favor in the eyes of both God and man, and that the visit should be crowned with success for the benefit of the Torah-observant Jewish community.

Updates:

Headlines on social media: Trump Hosts Anti-Zionist Hasidic Rabbis at White House.

- The White House has yet to publish the official photos of the visit.

-Reporter Aryeh Erlich Satmar rebbe Reb Zalman Leib asked the president to keep our brothers in Israel regarding the military draft.

- New report from Yossi Geatetner

Some new details from today's historic Oval Office meeting:

In the Oval Office seating arrangement, Rav Malkiel Kotler was seated first, followed by Satmar Rebbe Reb Zalmen Leib and then Satmar Rebbe Reb Ahron.

Vice President JD Vance joined the meeting midway and personally greeted those seated around the table. 

Vance praised the Jewish community’s strong emphasis on family and education, saying both are issues close to him. 

At one point, he asked about the different colors of the Rebbes’ bekitches. 

Yossi Gestetner jokingly replied that “it depends on their bank account balance,” drawing laughter from the room. 

Congressman Mike Lawler and Jared Kushner were also present.

Martin Marks, the White House Jewish liaison, opened the meeting, followed by remarks from White House staff secretary will scharf

Yoeli Rosenfeld of Bobov, Rabbi Segedin of Satmar, Skver Mayor Yisroel Moshe Spitzer and others raised community concerns, with significant attention given to conditions facing Jewish prisoners in federal and state prisons across the country.

Upon arriving at the meeting, the two Satmar Rebbes warmly greeted each other and exchanged brachos. Reb Ahron also wished his brother Reb Reb Zalmen Leib  Mazel Tov on the engagement of a grandchild that was finalized the previous night.

Discussion points included protecting Chareidi educational independence from New York state requirements.

The Viznitz Rebbe of Monsey arrived slightly late and therefore missed the official White House group photo. 

Later, Satmar Rebbe Reb Ahron held a private roughly 10-minute meeting with President Trump together with Jared Kushner, after which the other Rabbonim were brought into the Oval Office. 

Reb Ahron made the bracha on President Trump, which Rabbi Segedin translated for the president.

White House Jewish liaison Martin Marks organized the gathering over several months as a chance for New Year greetings and appreciation of administration support for Orthodox institutions.

-Trump presented  the rabbonim with a token presidential coin after the meeting. 

- Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva was asked to say a few words in English by the Satmar rebbe ,the RY declined  and took out a letter in a envelope and gave it directly to  president Trump. 

The president was in a good mood and cracked some jokes throughout the conversation with  the rabbonin per reporter Jake Turx on Kol Mevaser. He listened to the issue of Giyus but didn’t respond.

Recap: The delegation met with senior U.S. officials and President Trump, where they discussed major concerns facing the Jewish community, including education, antisemitism, security, Jewish cemeteries in Europe, prisons, and the issue of military conscription in Israel. Vice President J.D. Vance also joined the meeting. In the Oval Office, the rabbis were introduced to President Trump, and the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Joel delivered a prayer before raising the issue of giyus. President Trump also spoke about his support for Israel.

The satmar rebbe of Monroe was the only one to have a private meeting for 10 minutes.

The IDF draft gezeiras Giyus was brought up at the meeting with president Trump.

3:50 Meeting concludes Rabbonim leave the West wing of the WH and head back home to the airports. Reports say the Satmar rebbe brothers shook hands and wished mazel tov on a family simcha and a ksiva vachasima Tova.

Trump asked the Stamer rebbes if they are twins, they responded we are brothers.

- Satmar rebbe Rav Aaron recited the Tefillah of Hanosen Teshuah Lemelochim  followed by a Bracha in English by Monroe Askan Gedalya Segedin. Both met privately with Trump in the Oval office for 10 minutes. 

Jared Kushner was in attendance at the meeting. 

Vice president JD Vance met with the delegation and inquired about the different types of Bekitches the rebbes wear someone quipped it depends on what's in the bank account. 

- 3:30 pm Meeting  underway per kol Mevaser interview with Yossi Gestetner. The rabbonim are seating opposite each other on 2 sides of the table. Both Satmar rebbes are sitting on the same side with the Vizhnitz and Skver among others. Opposite them is Rav Malkiel Kotler  sitting closer to the door of the oval office and The Bobover rebbe.

Reporter Jake Turx on kol mevaser said the meeting van go longer based on the questions and conversation set by the president. There's no phones or reporters allowed inside so no information will come out until after the meeting.

- Meeting  with Trump was scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm

- Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva was asked by reporter Jake Turx if he will make the Bracha recited for kings the RY responded that he's not planning to say with Shem Umalchus after he consulted with poskim.

- Reporter Aryeh Ehrlich says the White house staff told the Delegation of Rabbonim not to bring up the IDF military draft and gezeiras giyus with the president following pressure from Jewish and Israeli organizations 

Photos  Admorim visit to Washington (credit to the photographers) 

                   Satmar rebbes with Trump

Credit  JDN

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