Yartzeit of Reb Mordechai Rokeach zt”l

The Bilgoray Rav, Reb Mordechai Rokeach zt”l, was the beloved son of Maran Reb Yissocher Dov of Belz, the Frierdige Rav zt”l.

The Frierdige Rav would place baby Mottel’e’s carriage in his seforim room. As Mottel’e grew older, the Frierdige Rav made it a point to learn with him each night. He would ask his young son a complex question on Torah or Shas so that Mottel’e would fall asleep with holy thoughts. The following morning, young Mottel’e would wake up and share his answer to the question with his father.

After his marriage, the Bilgoray Rav, Reb Mordechai Rokeach zt”l, first lived in Belz. Due to his brilliance and vast knowledge, his father, the Frierdige Rav, entrusted him with overseeing Shechita, Kashrus, Eiruvs, and Mikvahs. Later, he was appointed Rav in Bilgoray, where he was beloved and respected by all. He infused the town with a spirit of Kedusha, establishing Yeshivas, Talmud Torahs, and Beis Yaakovs. His holy brother, Reb Aharon of Belz zt”l, eulogized him, saying: “He established a Talmud Torah in Bilgoray where the faces of its Talmidim shone!”

After thirteen years in Bilgoray, as World War II broke out, Reb Aharon requested the Bilgoray Rav join him in Premislan. The Bilgoray Rav sent his family to his father-in-law in Brezna and joined his brother. The two brothers traveled from place to place, narrowly escaping the Nazis, until their miraculous escape to Eretz Yisroel on ט’ שבט תש”ד.

In Eretz Yisroel, the Bilgoray Rav stood by his brother’s side, helping to rebuild Belz. In 1948 (תש”ח), a son was born to the Bilgoray Rav, the current Belz Rebbe shlita, fulfilling the promise of his grandfather: “The continuity of Belz will thrive until Moshiach’s times.”

A year before the Bilgoray Rav’s passing, Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt”l sent him to Europe to strengthen the Yidden. The Bilgoray Rav stayed in Paris at the home of the chassid R’ Moshe Aharon Schiff z”l. R’ Moshe Aharon, who had only daughters, asked for a bracha to merit a son. The Bilgoray Rav blessed him, and just over a year later, a baby boy was born to R’ Moshe Aharon—amazingly, on the first yahrzeit of the Bilgoray Rav.

A few hours before the Bilgoray Rav’s passing, Maran Reb Aharon visited him in the hospital, where the Bilgoray Rebbetzin was with their young child. The Bilgoray Rav gave his brother a kvittel, asking: “He should merit a complete תשובה, and that his Rebbetzin should merit to raise their child לתורה ולחופה ולמעשים טובים.”

Later that day, when Maran Reb Aharon of Belz returned home, he remarked to his gabbai, R’ Shulem Fogel a”h: “Shulem, why did it get dark?” The house was lit, and R’ Shulem was confused. A few hours later, R’ Moshe Rokeach a”h returned from the hospital to share the sad news. Maran Reb Aharon interrupted him, saying, “I know everything,” and began praising his holy brother.

Maran Reb Aharon escorted the aron, shedding tears as he eulogized: “He had the special z’chus of our father zt”l learning with him many nights.” He asked for forgiveness a few times. The Bilgoray Rav was buried in Teveria.

When the escorts returned, they handed the Bilgoray Rav’s tallis to Maran Reb Aharon, who gave it to Reb Mottel Sprung z”l, saying: “When Bern’yu (Maran Admor of Belz shlita) grows up, give this to him and tell him that his father davened with this tallis.”

During the Sinai War, Maran Reb Aharon sent messengers to the Bilgoray Rav’s tzion, requesting that he go to his holy parents and evoke mercy for the Yidden in Eretz Yisroel. זכותו יגן עלינו ועל כל ישראל אמן.

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