By MARK BULLIET, JANA WINTER and PATRICK GALLAHUE

April 30, 2006 -- Sect-based sibling rivalry subsided into a quiet Saturday night as seething Satmars parted ways.

Although there was no resolution to the conflict over which of two brothers vying for control of the Hasidic sect would lead it in to the future, the threat of violence diminished as more than 1,000 members, who had come to the city for a fight, returned home.

The out-of-towners are followers of Orange County-based Aaron Teitelbaum, the eldest son of Grand Rebbe Moses Teitelbaum, who died Monday.

Backers of younger brother Zalman Teitelbaum, whose synagogue is in Williamsburg, declared a victory of sorts yesterday, as Aaron's people left in buses. *--OAS Middle*

"The other people from the outside that were acting violent to make a statement, tonight they're busing back - it'll be over," said Abe Deutsch, a leader in the Zalman group. "We don't expect anything to happen, hopefully it's going to be quiet."

Isac Weinberger, a Williamsburg community activist, insisted however that Aaron was destined to be the leader because "it's according to the Torah, and it's the according to the will of us worldwide."

Despite predictions of violent conflict on an epic scale, Brooklyn has enjoyed a surprising peace in the days since Rabbe Teitelbaum died - but it's been expensive.

One side in the battle claims it spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of the congregation's assets for the massive Sabbath ceremonies and the Friday night "crowning" of Teitelbaum's eldest son, Aaron, as his successor as leader of the Satmar sect.

"[This] Sabbath is a kind of showdown," said Sam Wieder, editor of the pro-Aaron newspaper Der Blatt.

"Each side did their part to gather their people."

Zalman, who was chosen by his father to lead the Williamsburg congregation in a will disputed by the Aaron faction, held services and its own "crowning" ceremony at their Rodney Street synagogue. Members of the Zalman group said they didn't have any extra costs.

The split hasn't always been so peaceful, with occasional fights breaking out in synagogue - most recently at the grand rebbe's funeral Tuesday morning.

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