In Satmar, when confronted with the question of how it was that the Belzer Ruv was of a different opinion than the Satmar Rov when it came to geopolitical (?) issues regarding Zionism and the SOI, they like to respond that the Belzer Ruv was like, for example, Reb Chezkele Mertz. A Tzaddik, but no leadership qualities. Had no idea of the REAL goings on in the world. Which is why he was easy to manipulate when it came to issues like Zionism and the SOI. Not Like the Satmar Rov who understood everything about the real world and how to deal with the issues. With others they don't bother to make that excuse, they just dismiss him outright. Reb Shulem Fogel, trusted gabbai to the Ruv, says here - in the new issue of אור הצפון - that the Ruv was discussing vos iz neias with the brother every evening after maariv. It was probably 4 in the morning...drelnaks like Shulem definitely saw these discussions as "the tzadik is maneuvering the universe." But at the same token he needed to be updated on the matzav.... Who updated him for the last 7 years after his brother the Bilgorajer Ruv passed away? Do we know?
