The Maskilim’s Goals and Their Central Organization
As we’ve seen in the last two articles of this series (here and here), the Austro-Hungarian Empire was very tolerant of its... Read More
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SHORT STORIES, SAYINGS, AND TEACHINGS (Be’haloschu)
· When the Rebbe Shlit”a was a boy, his uncle the previous Rebbe, Reb Aharon z”l, asked him what he... Read More
כ’ סיון – It’s Meaning and Significance
This upcoming Sunday is כ’ סיון. Rabbeinu Tam established a Ta’anis on this day after the blood libel in the... Read More
Franz Joseph and the Austro-Hungarian Empire
In last article we discussed some of the political changes that went on in Europe at the times when Chassidus... Read More
The Inside Dynamics of Our Daily Struggles
During the days of Sefirah, the Rebbes of Belz focused on the Middah of Anavah – humility, to prepare for... Read More
Lag Beomer!
Tonight is Lag Beomer, the Yartzeit of the holy Tannah Reb Shimon Bar Yochai. On Lag Beomer Reb Shimon revealed... Read More
Brief History of the Va’ad Arba Aratzos, Partition of Poland, and Napoleonic Wars
The Austro-Hungarian empire which included Galicia and Hungary, was in existence from 1867–1918 תרכ”ז – תרפ”ח. After the Cossack uprising of... Read More
התלהבות – Enthusiasm and Bren!
There is no greater enjoyment than to do Torah and Mitzvos with Cheshek (enthusiasm) and with a Bren (fire). One... Read More
Torah, Yoshvim, and Hungarian Chasidim by the Mitele Ruv
The Mitele Ruv z”l was quite young when he became Rebbe; he was 31. Many of the Chasidim of the... Read More
Sefiras Haomer
The Rishonim, the Rambam, Sefer Hachinuch, and more, explain the reason of Sefiras Haomer as yearning and preparing for Kabbalas... Read More
THE LIGHT OF BELZ
Everyday, Belz is dreaming up new ways to help the Jewish people and to be a beacon of light to all humanity
You won’t find the legendary Eastern European town of Belz, Poland on most maps anymore. Wiped out in the Holocaust, the town that was a spiritual center of Jewish life for hundreds of years is now an empty shell. But the spark that was lit there in the 16th century has caught fire in 21st. Today Belz is thriving with educational, social, and spiritual programs touching the hearts of thousands of men, woman and children on a daily basis, reaching out from hubs in Israel and America to all four corners of the globe.
ZMANIM
LIGHTING TIMES
THE HISTORY OF BELZ
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1804 5564 the Sar Shalom
Rabbi Sholom Rokeach, OBM, takes on the superhuman task of learning through the night for 1000 consecutive nights. On the very last night, in the midst of a raging storm, Rov Sholom is joined by the Prophet Eliyahu who reveals to him the innermost secrets of the Torah.
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1816 5576 The Rabbi of Belz
Rov Sholom is anointed as Rabbi in Belz. Joined by the holy Rebbetzin Malka, he begins his 15-year project to build a great synagogue, The Belzer Shul, a structure that will dominate the skyline and rise above all else in the Shtettle Belz, and that will in time become the symbolic center of Chassidic Judaism
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1831 5591 the Beis Haknesses
The synagogue is completed — an architectural masterpiece styled like a medieval fortress and complies with intrinsic Halachic and Kabalistic guidelines. The Sar Sholom has positioned his synagogue to face precisely towards the Temple Mount in Jerusalem with no church or shrine of pagan worship
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1855 5615 Levaya
Reb Sholom had reined in Belz for close to forty years, and passes away on the 27th day of Elul 5615. The start of a necessary three day induction period before Rosh Hashonah the day of Judgment, Rabbi Yehoshua explains his eulogy, as his saintly father had been appointed a member of the judicial panel in the Heavenly Court and must, by Jewish law, be given three days to prepare himself!
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1856 5616 the Mittler Rov
The Sar Sholom is succeeded by his youngest son — an uncommon passing of the mantel. Rabbi Yehoshua, now known as the Mittler Rov — who is blessed with formerly unrecognised tallents and charisma, rebrands the image of a Rabbinic Court and introduces a new kind of relationship between a Rebbe and his chassidim.
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1878 5638 THE MACHZEKEI HADASS
With the influence of the Mittler Rov, the organization Machzekei Hadass is ratified in 5638 (1878) by over 200 orthodox Jewish communities. The first ever religious Jewish political party, also publishes an influential newspaper another ‘first’. These were indications of a new and successful strategy and proactive approach to combat the assimilationist trends of the Haskala movement.
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1879 5639 Reb Shimon Sofer
Reb Shimon Sofer, the president of Machzekei Hadass (literally “upholders of the religion”), is elected to the Austrian parliament, the first religious leader and Rov of a Chareidi community elected by a Ultra Orthodox Religious political party to such a position. He commanded great respect with his autocratic and partrichal image combined with his wisdom and intellect.
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1894 5654 THE FRIERDIGER ROV
As charismatic a leader as his father before him, Rabbi Yissochor Dov is known for his passion for Torah study. Building and expanding on his father’s achievements Belz is in the forefront of the developing influence of the Chassidic / Chareidi population. He founds dozens of schools to teach Jewish values, battling constructively the trend toward the “enlightened” schools that were striving to supplant traditional Jewish values.
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1914 5574 WORLD WAR I
Russians occupiers billet their troops in the Rebbe’s home, set up a field hospital in the House of Study and stable horses in the holy synagogue. All of Galicia is a battlefield. The Belzer Rov is forced to flee to Hungary, but wherever he goes, he is an inspiration to war torn communities and a source of comfort and support to thousands of refugees. After the war he galvanises the reconstruction efforts to rebuild and restructure a world that all but destroyed by the brutal war.
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1927a 5687 AFTER THE GREAT WAR
After WW1, the Frierdiger Rov tries with all his considerable strength to rebuild the devastated Jewish communities, but forfeits his health in the process. Thousands flock to Belz to pay their last respects as the Leader of Galician Jewery is laid to rest. The very walls of the great Belz Synagogue dripped with water, as though shedding tears along with the mourners.
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1927b 5687 AHRON THE HOLY & G-DLY
1927-1950: The history of Chassidus is full of great spiritual giants, Tzadikim who reside amoungst us mere mortals but living the lives of celestial angels. However Reb Aharon, the first son and successor of the Frierdiger Rov, was a giant amongst giants. He lived a life of total detachment from the mundane, and banishment of anything coarse and vulgar. Virtually an angel in the visage of man!
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1939 5699 ERETZ YISROEL
The seed of Belz Chassidus is planted in the Holy Land with the first Belzer Shteible in Jerusalem — thereby instigating the first step towards the building of Belz outside of Eastern Europe. 5 years later, on 9 Shevat 5704 (1944), two illustrious refugees, the holy Belzer Rebbe and his brother the Bilgorajer Rov will set foot in Eretz Yisroel and the reconstruction of an empire will begin.
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1943 5703 THE WAR YEARS
Fleeing from Nazi persecution, the Rebbe slips into the Bochnia ghetto incognito. Avoiding Nazi ‘aktions’ he is spirited in turn from Bochnia to Krakow and back to Bochnia. His Chassidim attempt in vain to keep his identity secret, as the “Wunder Rabbiner” was on the Nazis ‘most wanted’ list. But even the most callous Nazi collaborators fall under his spell and helped keep the Rebbe safe, to survive and eventually escape the ghetto.
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1945 5705 THE DEVASTATION
Throughout the destruction of Belz and the other Eastern European communities, the Rebbe comforts his brethren even as he suffers alongside them. His first born son is burned alive with the central synagogue in Premishlan and over time he lost his wife and entire extended family. He continues to try day and night to intercede with the Almighty on behalf of his fellow Jews and never bemoans his own personal tragedies:
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1948 5708 ARRIVAL
Fleeing from Nazi persecution, the Rebbe slips into the Bochnia ghetto incognito. Avoiding Nazi ‘aktions’ he is spirited in turn from Bochnia to Krakow and back to Bochnia. His Chassidim attempt in vain to keep his identity secret, as the “Wunder Rabbiner” was on the Nazis ‘most wanted’ list. But even the most callous Nazi collaborators fall under his spell and helped keep the Rebbe safe, to survive and eventually escape the ghetto.
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1949 5709 BELZ TALMUD TORAH
The first Belz Talmud Torah open, in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Benei Berak. Followed by a Yeshiva in Jerusalem. The driving force behind the emerging Belz educational program is the Bilgorajer Rov, though his stewardship was not destined to last: after a short illness he passes away on the 25 Cheshvan 5711 (1950).
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1957 5717 LEVAYA
Belzer Chassidim are heartbroken when their beloved Rov passes away. Thousands jam the streets to pay tribute to the man who cared for so many in his lifetime. From all walks of life the thronged to Yerushalayim to mourn the passing of a great Torah personality and master of compassion for his fellow Jew. His gravesite has become a shrine visited by thousands every year.
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1964 5724 WEDDING OF THE CENTURY
The Crown Prince of the Belzer dynasty marries the granddaughter of the then Wiznitzer Rebbe ZT”L. Jubilant Chassidim from around the world throng to B’nei Brak to take part in the joyous occasion. Two years later, the present Rebbe Shlita is anointed in Jerusalem as the Fifth Belzer Rebbe.
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1966 5726 THE REBBE SHLITA
As his forefather and namesake before him, the Rebbe Shlita sets about the task of gathering the scattered survivors and rebuilding and restructuring the Belz empire to its former glory. This time, however, Belz in Eretz Yisroel and other communities replace the forsaken communities in Eastern Europe.
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1980 5740 THE HACHTORA
Till now, legal matters in the Belz community — marriage arrangements, judicial rulings, etc. — were taken up by outside rabbinical authorities. The Rebbe decides to create a new beis-din within Belz to administer Torah law. The Hactorah, or “crowning” event was the first in Chassidic circles, but has since been followed by most communities.
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1984 5744 BELZ WORLD CENTER
The cornerstone is laid in Kiryat Belz in Jerusalem for the new Belz World Center. Thousands of Chassidim attend the groundbreaking, as well as dignitaries from around the world. Today the Grand Synagogue is one of the greatest in the world, dominating the Jerusalem skyline as the Belz Shul did in Galicia.
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1990 5750 GIRLS’ EDUCATION
The network of Beis Malka schools for girls, named for the Rebbetzin of the First Belzer Rov, Z”L, is founded. With branches scattered throughout Israel and the world, these schools offer thousands of girls a unique learning experience based on Chassidic values.
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2000 5760 GROWTH OF AN EMPIRE
Belz Worldwide continues to grow worldwide with the building of Kiriyot — housing projects and neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Ashdod, Har Nof, Piskat Zeav and Beth Shemesh, each with synagogues and community buildings and several hundred families. Belz mosdos spring up throughout Eretz Yisroel and around the world.
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2015 5775 2015-5775
The network of Beis Malka schools for girls, named for the Rebbetzin of the First Belzer Rov, Z”L, is founded. With branches scattered throughout Israel and the world, these schools offer thousands of girls a unique learning experience based on Chassidic values.
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