Chassidut Seret - Vishnitz

B"H

People visiting Eastern Europe in order to see all the famous chassidic sites do not find any living chassidim left in the area. They can just visit cemeteries. Buildings once serving as Batei Midrash or synagogues before the Second World War are now turned into theatres, cinemas or gymnasiums. The chassidic shtetl world in Eastern Europe is dead.
Those chassidim who survived the Holocaust moved to other places such as Jerusalem, Haifa (Seret - Vishnitz), Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, New York - Boro Park, Wlliamsburgh, Crown Heights or Monsey, Antwerp, Zurich (Gur), Manchester and London.

Outside Haifa, the chassidic group Seret - Vishnitz is almost unknown. However, in the mostly irreligious city of Haifa, their chassidim have an enomous influence. Seret - Vishnitz is mostly in charge of watching the kashrut and giving out kosher certificates.
After the Second World War, Haifa became the headquarter of Seret - Vishnitz. There they built their own neighbourhood called Ramat Vishnitz with approx. 200 families living there today. According to their own sources, 450 live in Ramat Vishnitz today. Worldwide there are about 600 families.
In the past years, the chassidut started to spread outside Haifa and built Batei Midrash in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak and New York.

The town Seret (Siret) is located in today's Romania, just 2 km far away from the border to the Ukraine. The region is called the Bukowina and the county is called Suceava (Shatz, Shotz in Yiddish).
From 1870 – 1940, Seret was one of the chassidic centers. Their Rebbes came from the Rubin family which was also related to the founders of the Vishnitz dynasty, the Hager family.
In 1936, the Jewish community of Seret chose the newcomer Rabbi Baruch Hager as their spiritual leader and Rebbe. Rabbi Baruch Hager was one of the sons of the third Vishnitzer Rebbe Israel Hager. At most chassidic groups it is customary to call the Rebbe by one of the names of the books he wrote. The same custom applies to Vishnitz, and the third Vishnitzer Rebbe is called "Ahavat Israel". His son Rebbe Baruch was later on called "Mekor Baruch".
When the third Vishnitzer Rebbe died his son Rebbe Chaim Meir Hager took over leadership and his brother Baruch moved to Seret where he served as Rebbe until 1941.

Both brothers escaped from the Nazis and moved to Israel right after the war. Vishnitz as well as Seret – Vishnitz very much empasizes the love to Eretz Israel. The Land of Israel is a miracle and every Jew should live there.
After the war, on Erev Yom Kippur, the two brothers arrived at Antwerp. Approx. six months later they received the permission to move to Israel. As soon as the boat arrived at Haifa port, the Seret – Vishnitz Rebbe decided to stay in Haifa in order to reopen a new chassidic center. His brother, the Vishnitzer Rebbe CHaim Meir Hager first moved to Tel Aviv and later on to Bnei Brak.

Rebbe Baruch Hager did not waste any time and built a whole neighbourhood in Haifa which is Ramat Vishnitz. When he was older he sometimes was forced to leave Israel due to health reasons. He went to Switzerland to get fresh air and medical treatment. He always said that in Switzerland one can have a great cure but the air in Eretz Israel is best for the soul. In 1963, Rebbe Baruch Hager died at the age of 68 years.
His successor was his son Rebbe Elizer Hager who is still the Rebbe today. He followed in the footsteps of his father and also emphasizes Torah study. It was him who built further synagogues and yeshivot in Ramat Vishnitz. The present Vishnitzer Rebbes in Bnei Brak and Monsey are his cousins. Rebbe Eliezer Hager's brother Rabbi Moshe Hager is or was head of the Seret – Vishnitz yeshiva in Haifa.

His nephew is the head of Shotz – Vishnitz in Haifa. The only thing I could find about Shotz is that Rebbe Moshe of Shotz, a son of Rebbe Baruch Hager, became Rebbe of Shotz in 1899. Later on, his son Chaim succeeded him.

What is really the difference between Seret – Vishnitz and Vishnitz ? First of all, Seret – Vishnitz originates in the town of Seret, and only under the leadership of Rebbe Baruch Hager the two names were merged together. In general, Seret – Vishnitz still sticks to the customs of Seret. Unfortunately, I cannot give you any examples, as I don't know their specific customs. Seret – Vishnitz has its own internet forum on an Israeli forum site. The information given there is rather limited and in order to get more, one needs to sign up. A process which was to inconvient for me.
It is very likely that Seret – Vishnitz took over certain customs from the Vishnitz group. At least, I couldn't find any differences in their clothing. What still interestes me is how Vishnitz can love the Land of Israel and still be somehow anti – zionistic ? It seems that they only love Israel for religios reasons.

My second question is how can you stress the importance of loving every Jew but, on the other hand, be such a closed sect. As we all know, chassidic groups do might accept newcomers such as Jews becoming religious later on in their lives or converts to Judaism, but even if, there are still differences being made. Especially when the subject Shidduchim comes up.
Maybe someone from Vishnitz or Seret – Vishnitz reads this and can answer.