Gov. Andrew Cuomo Image by Getty Images

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reportedly promised not to interfere with the state’s yeshivas before receiving an endorsement from the Satmar Rebbe of Williamsburg, Gothamist reported.

Cuomo visited Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum at his home Thursday, where they came to the agreement, according to multiple reports. Yeshiva World translated the initial reporting by Israeli blog BeChadrei Chareidim, tweeting, “The Governor reassured the Rebbe that he would not interfere in Yeshiva education.”

For my non Hebrew reading friends: Last week Gov. Cuomo met with the Satmar Rebbe, one of the most influential rabbis in the world, in Williamsburg, and promised him “not to interfere with yeshivas” and received the Rabbi’s support. @CynthiaNixon https://t.co/Y75dCtw2Pb

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

— Daniel Atwood (@AtwoodDaniel) September 2, 2018

Teitelbaum controls the central Satmar congregation in Williamsburg and the Satmar Yeshiva in Queens, according to Gothamist. Much of Brooklyn’s Hasidic community votes as a bloc, giving it significant pull in state and local politics.

The agreement comes as New York City officials move forward with the investigation into allegations that ultra-Orthodox schools do not provided enough secular education.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount