The City of Belz
Belz (Ukrainian: Белз, Polish: Bełz, Yiddish/Hebrew: בעלז translit. Beltz), a small city in the Lviv Oblast (province) of Western Ukraine (pre WW2 in Poland), near the border with Poland, is located between the Solokiya river (affluent of the Bug river, called Western Bug) and the Rzeczyca stream.
The current estimated population is 2408 (as of 2004), making it the smallest city in Ukraine.
Belz is a Hasidic dynasty named for the town of Belz in Western Ukraine. The town has existed since at least the 10th century with the Jewish community being established during the 14th century. The town became home to Hasidic Judaism in the early 19th century. At the beginning of World War II, Belz had 6,100 inhabitants, of which 3,600 were Jewish.
The founder of the dynasty was Rabbi Shalom Rokeach, also known as the Sar Shalom, who was inducted as rabbi of Belz in 1817
Belz today
Since 1966, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach has presided over both the expansion of Belz educational institutions and the growth of Hasidic populations in Israel, the United States, and Europe. Like other Hasidic groups, the Belz community has established a variety of self-help organizations, including one of the largest patient-advocacy organizations of its kind, a free medical counseling center, and an affordable medical treatment clinic in the New York area.[1]
Today Belz has Hasidim all over the world including Israel, USA, Canada, Belgium, England, Switzerland, and Australia.
Belz in the USA
The largest number of Belzer Hasidim outside of Israel are living in the USA, mostly in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, which has seven Belzer synagogues and nine dayanim.
The biggest synagogue is on 43rd St. and is operated by long-time gabbai Reeven Chayim Weinberger, who was once a meshamesh (personal assistant) of the current rabbi.
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