Chassidic Tu be'Shevat Photos

B"H 

Tu be'Shevat in Nadvorna, Permishlan, Kretchnif - Jerusalem, Lelov - USA, Machnovke and Shomrei Emunim:

Chassidut Nadvorna / Bnei Brak

Chassidut Kretchnif in Jerusalem

See all photos HERE !

Chassidut (Belz) Machnovke in Bnei Brak

Chassidut Machnovke and its much larger "sister" Belz have been at war for quite some time. At the moment, the Belzer decided not to refer to Machnovke anymore and since, it has been quiet. 

Chassidut Machnovke is mainly located in Bnei Brak and the two photos show the shul. 

The stairs lead into the Machnovke Synagogue (men's entrance only !)

Photos: Miriam Woelke

Chassidut (Belz) - Machnovke is building a Beit Midrash in Beit Shemesh

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On March 7, 2011, Chassidut Belz - Machnovke (I never know whether I should call them "Belz" or not although a Beit Din has decided so) was laying its foundation stone of its new Mosdot in Beit Shemesh.The "competitor", Chassidut BELZ, is huge in Beit Shemesh and has its own little neighbourhood.

Source: Chadrei HaCharedim

Rebbe Aharon Rokeach z"l, Belz & Machnovke

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Yesterday was the 53th Yahrzeit of the previous Belzer Rebbe Aharon Rokeach and his nephew and present Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach gave a huge Tish at the Jerusalem Beit Midrash.

For all pictures go HERE !

I haven't found an offical confirmation anywhere but some Israeli haredi forums claim that the present Belzer Rebbe's son Rabbi Aharon Mordechai took part in a Machnovke event. This would be a miracle, as Belz and its counterpart Machnovke are at a serious war with each other.

See HERE the Hebrew forum of the Chadrei HaCharedim !

Maybe anyone can provide further information on this event !

Machnovke on its way to the Supreme Court

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Officially Chassidut Machnovke (Bnei Brak) is calling itself "Belz - Machnovke". Fact is that Machnovke and the "real" Belzer together with their Rebbe Yissachar Dov Rokeach have been fighting for many years. Machnovke wants to be part of Belz but the Belzer don't want them.

Two years ago, a Belzer Chassid (some say a donor of Machnovke) was attacked by Belzer Chassidim when he went to the grave of the former Belzer Rebbe Aharon Rokeach (the uncle of the present Rebbe). The Belzer, on the other hand claim, that they didn't attack the particular Chassid.

The Belzer Beit Midrash in Jerusalem

Now the Machnovke Rebbe asked the secular Israeli Supreme Court to allow the police to protect the Machnovke Rebbe while he is visiting the grave of Rebbe Aharon on his Yahrzeit. Just in case that the Belzer may attack him as well.

Details HERE (in Hebrew only) !

Admorim lighting Chanukkah Candles

The Vishnitzer Rebbe Israel Hager lighting Chanukkah candles in Bnei Brak.

The Rebbe of Chassidut Machnovke lighting Chanukkah candles in Bnei Brak.

The Rebbe of Chassidut Alexander is lighting Chanukkah candles.

All photos can be viewed HERE !

Purim in Bnei Brak

B"H

As a Jerusalemite, I am spoilt. Wherever I go, I expect the same atmosphere and way to celebrate just like in the Holy City. Not that I am planning my expectations but it rather comes up unintentionally.

On Tuesday, in the late afternoon, I went to Bnei Brak in order to have a look at the local Purim celebrations and what I saw was not like Jerusalem at all. I could have skipped Bnei Brak and no one would have ever noticed it.

To say it briefly: Most guys were totally drunk. Mostly litvishe guys were yelling around in Rabbi Akiva as well as in Chazon Ish Street. A entirely drunk litvishe guy was laying behind a fence in Chazon Ish; full of fresh sick. And "sick" was THE word. I found it all over the place.

Sorry for my description in case you just ate or are still eating.
In a street (I don't know the name) right across Rashi, all the beggars were standing and the street was symbolically called "the street of the poor". I think the Synagogue I passed was called "Yitzkovitch" and some drunk Chassidim were standing outside. I just walked right through (other women as well) and someone yelled at me that women are not allowed in here. The guy was drunk and I kept on walking. Further away I found all the beggars from Jerusalem. Obviously they were having a "business trip" to Bnei Brak. For beggars, Purim is a good day to make money. One of the beggars recognized me by sight and was ashamed.
Yesterday, one day later, I saw some of them back in Jerusalem and "earning their income" due to Shushan Purim.

In Rashi Street, I passed the Machnovke Synagogue and the Chassidim were all over the place. Drunk and no women were allowed.
Generally speaking, not too many females were to be found in the streets of Bnei Brak on Purim. The Synagogues were mostly empty or crowded with men. Otherwise everyone celebrated at home; plenty of windows were open and guys were hanging out of them, drunk and yelling.

This is the whole description of Purim in Bnei Brak. When I passed the Slobodka Synagogue in HaAdmor of Gur Street, I saw a face of a young Yeshiva guy pressed onto the window. He was unconscious and filled up.

This was basically it and after two hours of walking around, I took the bus back to Tel Aviv. And who else did I see on the bus ? More young litvishe Yeshiva guys who didn't have enough but went to Tel Aviv to continue drinking. Yesterday, lots of Haredim traveled to Jerusalem and after two days of booze, the male haredi population has to behave again and keep all individual pressure inside. At least until Simchat Torah or the next Purim.

Purim in Tel Aviv

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I am still in Jerusalem but half on my way back to Tel Aviv where Purim already starts tonight. This morning I totally forgot that there is a fast (Taanit Esther) and was already wondering why all the religious bakery customers stared at me in a funny way when they walked into the store while I was sitting there eating and having coffee.

Tonight I am going to Chabad in Tel Aviv to hear the Megillah and tomorrow night I am planning to visit the chassidic Tishes in Bnei Brak. I even try to go to Machnovke, the arch - enemy of Belz. But, as I said to a Belzer Chassid, I am going there in order to write about the Machnovke celebrations. I do that with all kinds of chassidic or orthodox groups and I am not getting involved in internal fights such as the two Satmarer Rebbes or Belz and Machnovke. I do write about the backgrond but I am not on either side.

On Wednesday I will be back in Jersalem for the local Shushan Purim celebrations and Rabbi Mordechai Machlise's party in Maalot Dafna. Later on, there are Tishes in Mea Shearim including the Neturei Karta. I am going to join the Tishes (not the Neturei Karta :-)) and hopefully have lots to tell afterwards.

PURIM SAMEACH to all of You !!!

Satmarer Rebbe met Machnovke Rebbe

B"H

Here a Video, showing the Satmarer Rebben Aharon Teitelbaum, visiting the Machnovke Rebbe, Rabbi Joshua Rokeach, during his recent visit in Bnei Brak.
In the video, the Satmarer Rebbe appears on the far right !
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Chassidut Machnovka (Yiddisch: Machnovke) has its headquarter in Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv. Officially, Machnovke is allowed to call itself "Belz - Machnovke", although Chassidut Belz considers them as their greatest enemies.

Links to the Belz - Machnovke War:

Belz versus Machnovke

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2008/09/edah-is-making-point.html

The Belz - Machnovke War reaches Yediot Acharonot

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Today, the Israeli secular newspaper "Yediot Acharonot" is publishing a huge article about the war between the two chassidic groups BELZ and MACHNOVKE. The article also speaks about beatings and telephone threats on either side.













Now there are three questions coming up:

1. Why is an Israeli daily like "Yediot Acharonot" dealing with the subject at all ? Did either Belz or Machnovke inform the press ?

2. What is the Israeli public going to think about the chassidic war ? Has anyone thought about it ?

The moment you start publishing such an issue, the secular are going to think that you (the Chassidim) are a tax waste and totally out of your minds.

Chaseneh in Machnovke (Bnei Brak)

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Here are a few photos from the Chaseneh (wedding) in the Rebbe's family (Chassidut Machnovke in Bnei Brak).



The Se'udah - The festive meal




The groom is sitting to the far right in the front row.




Under the Chuppah (the wedding canopy)



You can look at further photos here:

http://www.bhol.co.il/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=2479231&forum_id=15238

The Edah is making a Point

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Even after the Edah famous rabbi, Rabbi Me'ir Brandsdorfer, shook the Belzer Rebbe's hand at the Sheva Berachot in Boyan last week, the Edah HaCharedit is condemning certain actions concerning the dispute between the two chassidic groups Machnovke and Belz.

When the London millionaire, Rabbi Eliyahu (Eli) Englander, came to the previous Belzer Rebbe's grave in order to pray there at his Yahrzeit (21 Av), some Belzer Chassidim caught him and beat him up. Rabbi Eliyahu Englander is known for giving financial support to Chassidut Machnovke in Bnei Brak which is a competitor of Chassidut Belz. The dispute between those two groups has been going on for many years and until today, Machnovke claims to be part of Belz although the Belzer don't accept them as such.

Englander himself doesn't accept the present Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, and neither does Chassidut Machnovke.

Now the anti - Zionist umbrella organization "Edah HaCharedit" is making a point by condemning the Belzer behaviour towards Rabbi Englander.

"It is a desecration of Rebbe Aharon's grave (the previous Belzer Rebbe) when a Torah fearing rabbi like Englander is getting beaten up".

The Fakshivili is signed by the Edah members:

Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss,

Rabbi Me'ir Brandsdorfer,

Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Ullmann,

Rabbi Naftali H. Frankel,

Rabbi Yehoshuah Rosenberger

as well as by Rabbi Yaakov Mendel Yuravitch.

Belz versus Machnovke

Chassidic Tish in Chassidut Belz (Jerusalem)


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This last Shabbat, Mea Shearim as well as Ge'ulah were full of small pamphlets thrown into the streets. Chassidut Belz had spread them out and not, as last Shavuot, its enemy Machnovke (Machnovka) from Bnei Brak.

More then a week ago, Chassidut Belz commemorated the Yahrzeit of its former Rebbe Aharon Rokeach who died on 21st Av in 1957. At about the same time (at the Yahrzeit ten days ago), a Belzer Chassid found the grave of Rebbe Aharon desecrated. Paint was all over the tombstone and the police were informed. As expected, the Belzer Chassidim suspected their rivals from Chassidut Machnovke in Bnei Brak of having the grave desecrated.

Belz (Jerusalem) versus Machnovke (Bnei Brak). The two groups are arch - enemies although the Rebbes are actually from one family. The Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, resides in Jerusalem and the Machnovker Rebbe, Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach, is in Bnei Brak.

The dispute seemingly started while the former Rebbe Aharon Rokeach and his brother, Rabbi Mordechai Rokeach, where still alive. Already at that time, some rebellious Belzer Chassidim didn't want Rabbi Mordechai to become the successor of Rebbe Aharon and played an unfair game.

Later, when Rabbi Mordechai's son, the present Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, became the new Belzer Rebbe, some older Chassidim began to rebel because they didn't want to accept him as Rebbe. As a consequence, those rebels left Belz and joined Machnovke. So, it is Machnovke and its Mordim versus Chassidut Belz. All politics but a huge dispute which even became violent when one of those rebels, Eli Englander, recently came from London in order to pray at Rebbe Aharon's. The Belzer caught him and beat him up. Thus, Machnovke is furious and Belz is furious.

If Machnovke really desecrated the grave of the former Belzer Rebbe Aharon Rokeach or not, I think that the whole Machloket is a disgrace on both sides. We just entered the month of Elul, and none of either side should run after tombstones or spread all the hate pamphlets in the Ge'ulah neighbourhood. Of course, the Belzer consider it as their right to protect their dynasty, Rebbe and honour. On the other hand, Machnovke is officially allowed of calling itself "Belz - Machnovke". There has been a Psak - Din (verdict) in this matter. So, why not simply ignore each other, as then, at least, violence would stop. Instead all the little provocations continue. A very sad issue.



Chassidut Machnovke in Bnei Brak