Reb Aharon

A Holy Lineage

Reb Aharon was the oldest son of the third Rebbe of Belz, Reb Yisachar Dov. From his youth, Reb Aharon had the utmost respect and reverence for his father and for all his ancestors. He meticulously followed all their customs, which he regarded as sacred as the Torah itself.

In turn, his father and grandfather saw greatness in the young man’s demeanor, recognizing that a soul such as Reb Aharon’s is a gift from Heaven unique in his generation.

The Town of Belz

The Belz chassidic dynasty began in 1817 when Rebbe Sholom Rokeach was inducted as Rabbi of Belz, a small Ukrainian town near the Polish border. In time, the town would become a beacon of light to the surrounding provinces.

When the Russian army invaded Belz During WWI, the Third Rebbe of Belz, Reb Yissachar Dov, fled to Hungary with many of his chassidim. After the war they returned to Belz to re-establish his court. With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, the Fourth Rebbe of Belz also was forced to flee again and the town of Belz was completely destroyed by the Nazis.

The Great Shul and The Rebbe’s House

The Great Shul of Belz, built by Reb Sholom, the first Rebbe, featured a castellated roof with battlements adorned with gilded bronze balls that could be seen from the surrounding towns. The Great Shul was destroyed during WWII, but was rebuilt in Yerushalayim by the Fifth Belzer Rebbe, as a faithful replica of the original.

The Rebbe’s house also played a very large role in the Belz community. Here the Chassidim would come to see the Rebbe and gather at his tish (table) on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

The Early Years

During his early years, Reb Aharon had very little contact with the outside world. He grew in Torah and Avodas Hashem (serving Hashem) with purity and holiness. Even those few who did have contact with him were unable to grasp the lofty thoughts that flowed from his exceptional mind. Although he was fluent in all aspects of Torah, he rarely flaunted his greatness in learning. On the occasions that he did hint of his understanding, even the greatest Jewish leaders of the day were stunned at the depth of his knowledge.

A Great Leader

Reb Aharon had a different style of leadership than his father, one that helped him connect to his Chassidim him even as he himself lived in a different spiritual realm. Many thousand of followers flocked to him from around Europe to bask in his holiness and receive his blessings.

Under Reb Aharon’s leadership the Belz community grew and the small town became a center for Chassidus and Avodas Hashem.