Sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh

B"H

Last Erev Shabbat (Friday night), I went with a friend to the Tish of the Belzer Rebbe. The great Beit Midrash of the Belzer Chassidim is gigantic and, therefore, quite impressive. The design of the building is a reminder of the old Synagogue in Belz (former Poland, now Ukraine). Inside the Beit Midrash, everything is extremely shiny and clean. Just like the style of the Belzer Chassidim; they are organized and nothing is upside down. Neither in their mind set nor in their surrounding.

We arrived a little late the the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, had already made Kiddush and started handing out Challot (Shabbat bread). Even this is organized at the Belzer Tish: Names are being called out and any Shirayim (food blessed and handed out by the Rebbe) is given to that particular person. A Belzer Chassid once explained me that every Chassid has his firm place at the Tish. Thus, around him are always the same people standing. When the Rebbe is handing out the Shirayim, names are called up; then the person receives the food and shares it with the Chassidim standing next to him. The Shirayim have an elevating purpose. The Rebbe (the Zaddik) says a Broche (blessing) over it and the Chassid later eating the food will be uplifted.

As I said, Belz is organized. In between handing out all the Shirayim, the Rebbe takes his prayer breaks. For long moments, he is totally absorbed in a book. Praying and his Chassidim emphazise very much on silence while the Rebbe is praying. Of course, some people start talking but the Belzer have a strict system. They have special guards who take care of any organization; also of the silence.

"Sssshhhhhhhhhhh !" This is what you hear all the time. One of the guards walked around and told everyone to be quiet. I've seen him a few times and he takes his job very seriously. Don't mess with him ! Furthermore, he loves to jump on litvishe visitors and tell them to "Shut Up". In the Ezrat Nashim (women's side) upstairs, we are facing the same organization. An old Chassid walks around and goes "Ssshhhhhhhhh" all the time. A man at the Ezrat Nashim ! I haven't seen this anywhere else and when I asked a Belzer Chassid why this is so he told me that it is the job of this 90 – year – old guy to tell the women to be quiet and that's it. The old guy placed himself into a corner and thus was able to watch both sides of the Ezrat Nashim. As soon as he heard a noise, he freaked out and walked over to some women. "Schamt sich !", he said in Yiddish. Some women find this very amusing, some kids are really scared.

I love the Belzer Tish but still, the Belzer Chassidim are just too organized for me. To be honest, I prefer the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak where two Chassidim just jump on the long table (Tish) with their shoes on, and throwing all the fruit (apples, grapes, nectarines, etc.) to the Chassidim. Without any names called out and without taking of their shoes and walking in their sox on the table.



The Belzer Beit Midrasch in Jerusalem