Faige Teitelbaum (April 19, 1912 - June 2, 2001) (Template:Lang-yi), born Alta Faige Shapiro and known as the Satmar Rebbetzin, was the second wife of the first Rebbe of Satmar, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum (1887-1979). After her husband's death, the Satmar Rebbetzin gained a following of supporters who stood in opposition to the second Rebbe of Satmar, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum (1914-2006).[1]
Faige Teitelbaum was born in Częstochowa, Poland to Rabbi Avigdor Shapiro of the Kosnitz Hasidic dynasty. In 1936, she married Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum after the death of Joel's first wife.[1]
Following the death of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum in 1979 and his succession by Moshe Teitelbaum, a nephew of Joel, a segment of the Satmar community rejected the new leadership and remained committed to the deceased Rebbe. This group became known as Bnei Yoel ("The Children of Yoel")[2] and many of these Hasidim would regularly petitioned Faige for blessings and advice as they would normally would of a Hasidic Rebbe. This was a unique position for a Hasidic Rebbetzin in the post–World War II period. And Faige Teitelbaum is viewed as the only such woman in the late 20th Century to function as a de facto rebbe and leader.[1]
Teitelbaum's charitable activities included establishing the Satmar Bikur Cholim kosher food distribution network for Orthodox hospital patients.[3]
