Chabad, Belz Break the Ice

By COLlive reporter

A meeting between Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the preeminent Chabad scholar, and the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, is being portrayed as the start of the reconciliation between both chassidic communities.

People present at the encounter which took place on Motzoei Shabbos in the Belzer Rebbe’s home in Jerusalem said it was “very friendly,” despite years of separation.

“There has been a disconnect between Chabad and Belz for 27 years, since 5748,” said Binyomin Lipkin, a Chabad author and editor of the Hamevaser frum daily newspaper, who coordinated the meeting.

He is referring to the national elections in Israel when incitement against Chabad and the Rebbe led the Litvish community to establish a rival party to the chassidic Agudas Yisroel. Belz sided with the Litvish party Degel Hatorah.

Belz have since returned to caucus with Agudah, but many refused to forgive them for helping split the frum community in Israel. In many Chabad homes, food with the Belzer kosher certification Machzikei Hadas isn’t welcome.

These strained relations were a far cry from the “great friendship between Chabad and Belz which was reflected in 2 Yechidus encounters of the Belzer Rebbe by the Rebbe in 5733 and 5741,” Lipkin said.

The second meeting, on 4 Adar II, 5741 (March 10, 1981), was held at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, NY. After conversing for approximately an hour, the Rebbe escorted his esteemed visitor to the door.

During that meeting, the Rebbe told the Belzer Rebbe that he has been reading the Belzer newspaper Hamachane Hacheredi and noticed that they started printing chassidic teachings, in addition to reporting about happenings.

“If you are now providing the laymen with regular doses of chassidus, perhaps it’s also time to provide the yeshiva students with regular study sessions in chassidus,” the Rebbe said. “Many important innovations have been introduced in our generation, for when new ‘illnesses’ arise, new ‘medicines’ must be administered.”

VIDEO: The Belzer Rebbe with the Rebbe

In the meeting last night, the Belzer Rebbe followed up on that conversation by asking Rabbi Kahn when Chassidus starts to be taught in Chabad and what do young children study.

Rabbi Kahn, commonly called “Reb Yoel,” was the chief reviewer and transcriber (“choizer”) of the discourses of the Rebbe, said teaching starts at young age and that children study Kuntres Umaayan and easier chapters of Tanya as they grow older.

The Belzer Rebbe took interest what the Rebbe would speak about on Yud Tes Kislev – – the Rosh Hashana of Chassidism. He also asked what Reb Yoel was planning to say at the massive Chassidic farbrengen in Jerusalem’s International Convention Center on Sunday night.

“Truth is, I haven’t thought about it yet,” Reb Yoel replied, but went on to discuss the purpose and advantage of Chassidic thought. He repeated the Rebbe’s explanation of the verse ‘Pada B’Shalom’ in connection to the liberation of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi.

The discussion –during which warm tea was served to the Belzer Rebbe and cold water to Reb Yoel, at his request– turned to the reason why the Rebbe hasn’t visited the Holy Land, like his predecessor, the Frierdiker Rebbe (Reb Yoel said a few reasons where given over the years, but there wasn’t a concrete one).

VIDEO: The Belzer Rebbe with Reb Yoel Kahn

“Tonight, at the home of the Belzer Rebbe, history was made,” Lipkin stated. Present were Chabad activists Rabbi Moshe Shilat, Rabbi Eliyahu Kirschenbaum, Rabbi Shmuel Vaisfish and journalist Yossi Elituv, as well as the Belzer Rebbe’s son, Rabbi Aharon Mordechai Rokeach.

This wasn’t the first meeting between the Belzer Rebbe and Chabad figures, but most certainly the highest profile one. The Belzer Rebbe participated in the funeral for the victims of the terror attack on Chabad of Mumbai, and 6 years ago he hosted Rabbi Naftali Rot and Rabbi Shimon Elituv of Chabad in Jerusalem.

While Chabad and Belz communities in the Diaspora enjoy close relations and friendship, the communities in Israel still live with the sour memory of the 1988 elections and the Belz cooperation with Chabad critics. In recent years, efforts have been made by Belz to change Chabad’s attitude towards their certification without success.

“I have no doubt that this visit will have a lasting effect,” Lipkin said. “On the eve of Yud Tes Kislev, the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid surely have much nachas because of the peace and unity among their students.”