How about several Rebbes ?

B"H

After the Lelover Rebbe passed away on Yom Kippur, the group is considering to have three Admorim (Rebbes) taking over leadership. If this should really be the case, I regard the decision as very positive and other chassidic groups should take Lelov as an example. Instead of fighting after a chassidic Rebbe dies, the sons should find a solution everyone can live with. A common decision not destroying the group.

Unfortunately, a split has occured in many chassidic groups lately. Just mentioning Satmar, Toldot Aharon, Bobov or Vishnitz (Bnei Brak).

I once wrote about the argument that there actually is something positive in a group's split. This way members who wouldn't agree to the new Rebbe have the chance to follow the split - off. Lets look at the Toldot Aharon. When they split after Rebbe Avraham Yitzchak Kahn passed away 13 years ago, those Chassidim who wanted to be more "modern" joined the split - off Toldot Avraham Yitzchak under the leadership of Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov Kahn. Today, many conservative Chassidim such as the strict followers of the Chatam Sofer consider the Toldot Avraham Yitzchak as "having left the way". Meaning that the group became too modern. At least compared to the Toldot Aharon standards.

In Avraham Yitzchak, for instance, members are not forced signing the Takanot (internal laws). What I also noticed is that there are women who do not shave their hair entirely but keep it longer under the head cover. Furthermore, Rebbe Shmuel Yaakov met with the Belzer Chassid Israel Eichler some years ago. Satmar got very upset about the meeting and complained that "Reb Yankele has caused Satmar great pain".

Chassidut Belz left the "Edah HaCharedit" in the early 80ies and is considered as a traitor by many Edah groups. We also see this in the two different existing Hechsherim (kosher certificates). Belz does not eat anything with the Hechsher of the Edah HaCharedit and vice versa. Call it "political" or "revenge" but it does exist.

Every group member is still an individual and sometimes, although born into the group, does not always fit in. Thus a split is giving those members a new opportunity starting something new.

This would be the best argument in favour of splitting a chassidic group.

However, I still think that Lelov is a great example in showing that several chassidic leaders are able to work together and not only against each other.