Raving about the Rav
Around 20,000 Charedim turned out for the Belzer Rebbe’s visit to London last weekend
THE UK’S strictly Orthodox community gathered together to welcome the Rebbe of the Belz Chasidic dynasty, with an estimated 20,000 Chasidim taking part in a celebration on Saturday night.
Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the grand rabbi of Belz, was visiting the UK for the first time since 1994, to attend the opening of a new synagogue and learning facility for the local Belzer community.
Belz is one of the largest Chasidic sects, numbering more than 7,000 families in Britain.
Strictly Orthodox Jews from across the country spent Shabbat in Stamford Hill, north-east London, and 1,500 people flew in from abroad.
A giant marquee was erected in the grounds of Yesodey Hatorah school, allowing
Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach 5,000 people to join Rabbi Rokeach for Shabbat dinner.
The holiday of Lag b’Omer began on Saturday night and a traditional bonfire ceremony was held, with the celebration continuing into the early hours of the morning.
The official opening of the new synagogue took place on Sunday, with a procession through Stamford Hill and the Rebbe giving his blessing.
Rabbi Ahron Klein, who organised the event, described the visit as a “huge success”.
“We are deeply grateful to the Rebbe for attending and we are sure that this will stay long in the memory of all those who took part,” he said.
Rabbi Yidel Baumgarten, who was among those who co-ordinated the visit, said: “This is an incredibly special year for Belz in the UK. To be able to open a state of the art facility within our community was testament to the dedication of our community.
“To have the Rebbe come here to open it — this transcends Belz and affects the whole area. This is something that our children will remember and I hope will lead to our continued success in London and across the UK.”
At one point on Sunday police intervened after scuffles broke out when a small group from the anti-Zionist Neturei Karta sect protested against the Rebbe’s support for Israel.