Satmar grande rebbe's condition deteriorating The Satmar grand rebbe is said to be in deteriorating condition at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan, setting off calls for prayers and renewing preparations for thousands of visitors to descend on Kiryas Joel for a funeral and burial. Sources within the Hasidic movement say Moses Teitelbaum's health worsened in recent weeks when doctors found a tumor in his spine. Since then, according to sources, the 91-year-old spiritual leader has lost and regained consciousness and been placed on a ventilator to assist his breathing. Today, sources said, the grand rebbe's kidneys failed. Teitelbaum's family has rushed to the Upper East Side Hospital, sources said. The Israeli National News service has reported that the rebbe's aides have asked Jews worldwide to recite psalms from the bible on behalf of Teitelbaum. Kiryas Joel leaders, anticipating a crush of mourners that will likely jam all roads approaching the village, met today with the state police and spoke with Monroe-Woodbury school officials, Orange & Rockland Utilities Inc. and other entities that might be affected.
When Teitelbaum's uncle and predecessor, Satmar founder Joel Teitelbaum, died in 1979, an estimated 100,000 followers poured into Kiryas Joel for his funeral and burial, the Times Herald-Record reported at the time.
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