Chassidut Vishnitz (Vizhnitz)

B"H

The Vishnitzer Chassidim are always good for a headline and so also again in these days. In Monsey, outside New York, a new branch of the U.S. discounters Wal - Mart is to be opened. However, Monsey has the highes concentration of Vishnitzer chassidim and exactly those are against the opening of the new discounter - market. Thousand of non - or secular Jews could storm to Monsey and so destroy the religious atmosphere. We will see soon how the issue develops.

But not only in Monsey, there is this type of headlines. Also in the Israeli town of Bnei Brak, Vishnitz caused a stir; there the Vishnitzer chassidim wanted to introduce separate sidewalks. Separated after sexes. Whether that is reality, I don't know, because I rarely get to Bnei Brak.

Much is said and written about Vishnitz, however, hardly any chassidic group appears so closed and unknown to the public and even to other chassidim, as the Vishnitzer. I don't know any single Vishnitzer chassid and therefore asked other chassidim about the life as well as the customs of the Vishnitzer. None of them knew anything. So, I was forced using two books written by the Vishnitzer themselves. I wish I would have found more, however, this is all I found out so far. One simply recommended me to call the Hager family (family of the Rebbe) and ask them. Calling them up seemed to me a little unpleasant, because if groups like Vishnitz or Toldot Aharon only also hear the word internet or writing on the internet, already all seems suspiciously to them.

The chassidut Vishnitz was founded approx. 200 years ago. The town Vishnitz is located in the Bukowina which was the center of the chassidut at that time. At that time, the region belonged to Romania and today it is part of the Ukraine.

Of course, also chassidut Vishnitz is based on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov. Rabbi Yaakov Koppel (Kopul) was a student of the Baal Shem Tov. A later descendant of Rabbi Koppel became the first Vishnitzer Rebbe. Therefore, the Vishnitzer see themselves directly connected to the Baal Shem Tov.

The first Vishnitzer Rebbe was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Hager, the author of the book Zemach Zadik. Rabbi Hager came into the city Vishnitz and was chosen by the local Jewish population as their rabbi. Immediately after his election, Vishnitz turned into an important center of the chassidut.

The Hager family and chassidut Vishnitz suffered a great loss in the Holocaust. Many chassidim and family members were murdered by the Nazis. Finally, in the year 1947, the Vishnitzer Rebbe Chaim Meir Hager came to Israel. Immediately, he opened a Yeshiva in Tel Aviv and later in Bnei Brak, close to Tel Aviv.

Until today, Bnei Brak is the most important community of the Vishnitzer with its present head Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager. His brother Rabbi Mordechai Hager is the Vishnitzer Rebbe in Monsey and their cousin Rabbi Eliezer Hager is the Rebbe of the Seret - Vishnitz in Haifa.

A chassidut with three Rebbes is somewhat puzzling for me and I have not yet found out how exactly these three work together. The worst thing is, which can happen at all to a chassidic group, that if a Rebbe dies and his sons argue about succession. Often, divisions within the group then occur as we will see later with Satmar and Toldot Aharon as well as Avraham Yitzchak.

The two most important contents of the Chassidut Vishnitz are Ahavat Israel, the love of the people Israel, and the study of the Torah. Already boys at the age of three years go to the Cheder and begin to learn Torah. Religious education is seen as one of the most important issues. The boys study in Talmud Torah and the girls in a special division of Beit Yaakov which is called Banot Vishnitz.

Many Vishnitz girls learn in Yiddish but today there are many who also learn in Hebrew. One can meet some of them in the Jerusalemer district Kiryat Mattersdorf where the girls have one of their schools. Normally, Beit Yaakov girls wear blue school uniforms. However, the Vishnitzer have red uniforms.

Another important thing is looking for a good Shidduch, preferably a Ben Torah. Whoever learns Torah won't be influenced from the outside world. Already two hours before the Shacharit prayer, chassidei Vishnitz begin with their Torah study. This is seen as a proper and intense preparation for a deep prayer. Furthermore, the men go into the Mikwe (ritual bath) on a daily basis.

Each chassidic Rebbe emphazises his particular customs. Vishnitz does so by putting on clean clothes. Clean clothes are a sign of a pure soul. The table of the Rebbe is famous. All his chassidim are around him and listen to his derashot (Torah explanations). Famous is also the Seudah (meal) on Rosh Chodesh.

It goes without saying that Vishnitz also emphazises the study of the Halachot (Shulchan Aruch) and the Talmud. What surprised me was to hear that very much value is being put on the study of the book "Mesillat Yesharim", "The Path of the Just" by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto. A pure Mussar - book. How do I perfect myself in order to serve G-d.

Vishnitz is quite famous for its own Niggunim (melodies) which are even available on the internet. People whom I asked about Vishnitz said that they don't know any details but could sind me Vishnitz niggunim right away.

As we will later see with the Satmarer chassidim, Vishnitz is also socially very much involved. Gemilut Chassadim (Gemach). Whoever requires help of financial, material or any other matter goes to a Gemach. If it is clothes, glasses, dishes or money. Anything is available. Until now I thought that Chabad and Belz follow the strictest Pessach rules. But with Vishnitz I was taught better:

The Vishnitzer don't drink any milk on Pessach and don't smoke either. I read that there once was the custom not to eat any fish on Pessach. Whether this is still valid today I don't know. Also, they sieve the water on Pessach. Hence, like Belz and Chabad, they hang a rag around the tub in order to make sure that the water does not contain any chametz. There are very many different stories about this chassidic custom. One may either think that this is exaggerated or antiquated, but on the basis of my relationships to Belz, I myself hold this custom.


Regarding the topic Pessach: No chassidic group eats Gebrochts on Pessach. Litvishe haredim and other religious people do love their Mazze - ball - soup on Pessach. For Chassidim this is impossible and not kosher for Pessach. I also do keep this custom and I only participate in a chassidic Pessach Seder.

What should maybe much outsider interest: One must me born into chassidut Vishnitz. Otherwise no one is getting into the inner circle let alone accepted. Of course, a newcomer can probably study at one of their centers but it doesn't mean that he is Vishnitz.

A good friend of me informed me that he wants to arrange a meeting between me and a Vishnitzer chassid. This would be great because this way I could find out many more details. Hopefully, the meeting is going to take place and if, I am going to write more about the chassidut.

Otherwise, I will explain the Chassidut Toldot Aharon next. Toldot Aharon, the most fundamentalist group at all.