Several streets were blocked off in Williamsburg Sunday as the community walked with a prominent rabbi ahead of his trip to Israel.
Hundreds lined up for the occasion in the Satmar Jewish community as a section of Bedford Avenue was closed for about five hours. The event is part of a tradition called bagleiten.
Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum is going to Israel to bring large amounts of funding to support religious schools that don't take funding from the government. A majority of the community opposes the Zionist movement and the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.
Members of the community tell News 12 that the rabbi's visit aims to support schools in Israel, without supporting Israel as a country.
Zalman Teitelbaum is a relative of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, who founded the Satmar community in Williamsburg in the 20th century.
