Drama in Belz: For the First Time, Rosh Hashanah Tefillos to Be Held Across Local Branches
In an unprecedented move within the Belzer Chassidus, the Belzer Rebbe has issued special instructions to hold Rosh Hashanah davening in Belzer batei medrash across the country due to severe overcrowding in the main Beis Medrash in Yerushalayim.
The directive, conveyed in a letter sent to all Belzer kehillos, marks a historic change in the chassidus’ long-standing Rosh Hashanah traditions.
As the Rebbe of Belz continues to recover b’chasdei Shamayim from surgery performed on Sunday, the chassidus is in full preparation mode for the Yamim Noraim. Each year, tens of thousands of chassidim from across Eretz Yisroel and around the world traditionally gather at the central Beis Medrash in the Belzer Kiryah in Yerushalayim to daven with the Rebbe on Rosh Hashanah.
However, due to the extraordinary growth of the Belzer community, the massive complex — including all its galleries and side halls — has become too small to safely accommodate the crowds.
According to sources, months of extensive discussions were held among community leaders, askanim, and members of the Vaad Mishmeres HaChinuch, led by the Rebbe’s son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach. The meetings focused on possible solutions to alleviate the dangerous levels of congestion, which some described as bordering on pikuach nefesh.
The Rebbe’s son, together with Rav Yirmiyahu Yechezkel Damen, CEO of the central Beis Medrash, met personally with the Rebbe to review the challenges and explore alternatives.
Following these consultations, the Rebbe sent out a special letter last week addressed to gabbaim, rabbonim, and mashpi’im across all Belzer communities. In the letter, the Rebbe instructed that, due to overcrowding, organized Rosh Hashanah davening should be held in every Belz beis medrash that also has an ezras nashim.
The Rebbe wrote: “In light of the blessed growth of the community and the pressing need, it is necessary to organize and hold minyanim for Rosh Hashanah in every city and in every Belzer beis medrash that includes an ezras nashim.”
He concluded the letter with a heartfelt bracha: “May the Almighty grant that the tefillos and tekiyos be accepted with mercy and favor among all of Klal Yisroel, and may we all merit to be inscribed and sealed for a good and blessed year, filled with abundant spiritual and material blessings, long life, healthy children, and generous sustenance. Amen.”
Despite this new arrangement, Yerushalayim’s central BelzER Beis Medrash remains a focal point. To better accommodate the crowds, one women’s gallery has been converted into additional seating for men, primarily for younger avreichim and yeshiva bochurim.
This year, seats will not be sold to women without permanent reservations or to seminary students, a significant departure from previous years.
Additionally, a large auxiliary minyan will take place in the “Groyseh Shtib,” intended for chassidim who cannot enter the main Beis Medrash. An ezras nashim there will also be open. Meanwhile, children will daven in the large sukkah rather than in the heichal hatishim to further ease congestion.
{Matzav.com Israel}