Belz 50th Yahrzeit

08/08/2007

By Menasche Scharf

On the 50th yahrzeit of the holy Rebbe R' Aron of Belz zt"l, the central Belz beis hamedrash on Clapton Common was packed to capacity to commemorate the event . Participants arrived from many parts of town, after having seen the notices that were displayed in all shuls in North and North West London .

The main speaker Rabbi Shimon Hirschler Shlit"a, enthralled the gathering with anecdotes and insights pertaining the revered personality and elevated stature of the Ba'al Hahilula. He recounted how, when on a visit to London in the eighties Reb Sholom Shwadron zt"l, the legendary Yerushalmy Maggid retold a story which brought out the essence of the one whose sincere words penetrated the hearts of all who came into contact with him. Rabbi Yosef Lieberman Shlit"a of Yerusholayim, the brother in law of the Rebbe Zt"l told the following anecdote: Once during Shalosh Se'udos on the week preceding Rosh Chodesh Elul, he sat very near to the Rebbe and overheard him moaning to himself: "vos vet zyn mit meer, s'kumt shoyn Elul" - "what will become of me, Elul is upon us already", with the famous "Belzer Nussach". He recounted to Reb Sholom that ever since that Shalosh Se'udos - and this was thirty years later - whenever he hears proclaiming "Rosh Chodesh Elul yehyeh beyom...." on Shabbos Mevorchim Elul, his whole being is stirred to Teshuva - just from this sentence, which the Rebbe said to himself.

Dayan Babad Shlit"a, the Rabbi of the Belzer community in London recounted Divrei Torah from the saintly Rebbe. The Belzer Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yitzchok Rosengarten Shlit"a recounted stories that emphasised the refined middos, especially the purity of speech that were the hallmark of the Rebbe, he dwelled on the greatness and humility and how we in this generation could learn from this great Tzaddik's ways. Mr Naftoli Rokach of Golders Green bentched and the gathering finished with Ma'ariv after which the assembled departed on a high note of unity and preparedness for the oncoming Chodesh Elul and the holy days.