R. Yisachar Ber of Belz: 100-Year Lebacy
Tonight, 22 Marcheshvan 5787, marks the centennial anniversary of the death of the Third Rebbe of Belz, R. Yisachar Ber Rokach (also known as R. Yissachar Dov). His piety and approach to life in his turbulent times still have much to teach us in today’s faction-riven, chaotic world.
A preliminary note. My father’s family had a close professional and personal relationship with R. Yisachar Ber. My great-grandfather, R. Elazar Rokach, Rabbi of Hivniv, ordained R. Yisachar Ber, who, in turn, later ordained my grandfather, R. Avraham Yaakov Rokach, the penultimate Rabbi of Hivniv. (My father carried on in New York until his death.) In addition, when the town elders of Ratzfert, Hungary (the Rebbe’s WWI refuge) asked if he lacked anything, the Rebbe said “ I lack the Hivniver Rebbe.” That should authenticate what follows.
In certain respects, he held to conservative principles. Vehemently, he opposed efforts of the Austria-Hungarian authorities to assimilate Jews through the imperial school system. He opposed studying secular philosophy, shortening peyot (side locks) and publicly displaying affection between husbands and wives. At the same time, he did follow policies progressive in his day. Not for him the line attributed to the Hungarian sage Chatam Sofer, “New is forbidden from the Torah,” (which actually refers to eating from barley crops before offering the proper meal offering in the Temple}.
Nowadays, we have a thriving educational system for girls. However, back then, girls did not go to school. They learned what they could from their mothers or read the Yiddish Tzena U’reanah, a compilation of stories and the like. Everyone knows that Sara Schenirer, the founder of Bais Yaakov, received approval from Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, the Chafetz Chaim, for her innovation. Less well known, but just as controversial, R. Yisachar Dov gave his stamp of approval to the project in the Hasidic world. Relevant to us, he did not worry about “letting girls out into the world.”
More comical, but equally instructive: When Austria Hungary began issuing passports, people, including Jews, had to have their pictures taken. Some urged R. Yisachar Ber to refuse a portrait, because it violated the Second Commandment’s prohibition against creating graven images. (It does not; the Commandment applies to pictures for purposes of idol worship.) The Rebbe said, “I do not want a situation where my Hasidim (who have their pictures taken) sit in Gehenom, while I, their Rebbe, sit in Gan Eden.”
This use of humor shows that the cliche, “Disagree without being disagreeable”applied to him.
In another example, Hivniv and Belz stood about 13 miles apart by direct rail before World War I. Hivnivers, including my father and his family, spent the holidays in Belz. My father’s childless aunt and uncle, who lived in Belz, used to invite children from the family to brighten up their seders. The year they asked my father, he did not want to go. He wanted to attend the Rebbe’s table, instead. . R. Yisahcar Ber must have heard about it. The Rebbe called him in and said, “Your aunt’s kashrut is as reliable as that of my cook.” Of course, my father went to his aunt and uncle. This approach was more effective than lecturting him about the Chesed of cheering up a lonely couple at the seder.
In short, as R. Aaron of Belz later said, “You have to sweeten.” How different the atmosphere in our society would be if we did the same today.
One final example. When World War I broke out, the Rebbe fled to Hungary, as I mentioned earlier, to flee the Russian Army’s attack right over the border. He was right, because the Cossacks kidnapped Rebbes off the street, especially when they retreated in 1915. In the midst of this suffering, he heard one of his Hasidim lament, “If only the Moshiach were to come” to deliver us. The Rebbe responded, “If only we loved each other and our fellow Jews.” Bringing the Messiah lay outside our control. Loving and respecting each other stands within the realm of the immediately possible.
If only we followed R. Yisachar Ber’s example.
