BELZ

BELZ , one of the most important ḥasidic dynasties of Galicia, so called after the township where it took up residence (see previous entry). The founder of the dynasty, shalom roke'aḤ (1779–1855), came from a distinguished family descended from R. Eleazer *Roke'aḥ of Amsterdam. Orphaned as a child, Shalom studied under his uncle, Issachar Baer of Sokal whose daughter he married. At Sokal he was introduced to ḥasidic teachings by Solomon of *Lutsk, a devoted follower of *Dov Baer, the Maggid of Mezhirech. Later Shalom became a disciple of *Jacob Isaac Horowitz, ha-Ḥozeh ("the Seer") of Lublin, Uri of *Strelisk, the maggid Israel of *Kozienice, and *Abraham Joshua Heschel of Apta. On the recommendation of Horowitz, Shalom was appointed rabbi in Belz. After Horowitz' death in 1815, Shalom was recognized as a ẓaddik as his following increased. He built a splendid bet midrash in Belz. Thousands of Ḥasidim flocked to him, including rabbis and well-known ẓaddikim, and Belz became the center of Galician Ḥasidism. Many legends tell of the miracles he performed. Shalom was also considered an authoritative talmudist; he stressed the importance of talmudic study and strengthened the principle of learning in Ḥasidism. Active in public affairs, he served as a spokesman for Galician Jewry, taking part in the struggle to improve the severe economic conditions, and opposing Haskalah. Excerpts from his teachings have been frequently quoted. They are collected, with legends and tales of his activities, in Dover Shalom (1910). Many of Shalom's descendants served as ẓaddikim, including his son-in-law Ḥenikh of olesko and his son joshua (1825–1894) who succeeded him. The latter provided Belz Ḥasidism with the organizational framework which maintained it as the focus of Ḥasidism in Galicia, and ruled his community strictly. One of the leaders of Orthodox Jewry in Galicia, he was prominent in the opposition to Haskalah. He initiated the establishment of the Maḥazikei ha-Dat organization and the Orthodox newspaper Kol Maḥazikei ha-Dat‥ As a result of the cultural and social tensions in Galician Jewry, the Belz ẓaddikim adopted an extreme stand and resisted every new idea emanating from non-Orthodox circles. Some of Joshua's teachings are published in Ohel Yehoshu'a (printed with Dover Shalom, 1910). Joshua's successor issachar dov (1854–1927) was greatly influenced by Aaron of Chernobyl although Aaron taught a form of Ḥasidism that differed radically from that of the Belz school. Issachar Dov was an exacting leader of Galician Orthodoxy and also headed the Maḥazikei ha-Dat. In particular he opposed the Agudat Israel and denounced any innovations. He strongly opposed Zionism in any form. In 1914, when the war front reached Belz, he fled to Hungary and lived in Újfehértó where he succeeded in winning many Hungarian Jews to Belz Ḥasidism. In 1918 he moved to Munkács (*Mukacevo) and became embroiled in a bitter quarrel with the ẓaddik of Munkács which gave rise to a voluminous exchange of polemics. In 1921 Issachar Dov returned to Galicia and settled first in Holschitz, near Jaroslaw, moving back to Belz in 1925.

His son and successor aaron (1880–1957) deviated little from the pattern set by his father. He lived an ascetic life, and instituted a lengthy order of prayers. The influence of Belz Ḥasidism had considerable impact on Jewish life in Galicia because its adherents entered all spheres of communal affairs and were not afraid of the effects of strife within the community. Many rabbis accepted the authority of the Belz ẓaddikim. In the parliamentary elections the Belz Ḥasidim did not join the Jewish lists, but voted for the Polish government party. On the outbreak of World War ii, Aaron escaped to Sokol and then to Przemysl where 33 members of his family were murdered. After confinement in the ghettos of Vizhnitsa, Cracow, and Bochnia, he was sent to Kaschau (now *Kosice), then in Hungary, at the end of 1942 and subsequently to Budapest. In 1944 he managed to reach Ereẓ Israel. There he revised his political views and directed his followers to support the Agudat Israel. He established yeshivot and battei midrash throughout the country. His home in Tel Aviv became the new center for the followers of Belz Ḥasidism throughout the world. His grave is a place of pilgrimage where many gather on the anniversary of his death. He was succeeded by his nephew, issachar dov (1948– ), who established a bet midrash in Jerusalem and an independent kashrut system. Large numbers of Belz ḥasidim also inhabit the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, New York.

bibliography:

L.I. Newman, Hasidic Anthology (1934), index; M.I. Guttman, Rabbi Shalom mi-Belẓ (1935); A.Y. Bromberg, Mi-Gedolei ha-Ḥasidut, 10 (1955); M. Prager, Haẓẓalat ha-Rabbi mi-Belẓ mi-Gei ha-Haregah be-Polin (1960); Y. Taub, Lev Same'aḥ Ḥadash (1963); N. Urtner, Devar Ḥen (1963); B. Landau and N. Urtner, Ha-Rav ha-Kadosh mi-Belza (1967); M. Rabinowicz, Guide to Ḥassidism (1960), 93–96.

[Itzhak Alfassi]