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Belz is Israel’s second largest Hasidic group. In 2022, for the first time, the sect agreed to teach the core curriculum in its elementary schools, including math, science, Hebrew and English. Many schools refuse to teach core curriculum and refuse state funds rather than accept what they regard as secular interference in religious studies.
- Kosice
Leftist Jewish leaders gained prominence. In 1919, the...
- Lithuanian Yeshivot
Rabbi Naphtali was known by his acronym as the "Netziv" of...
- Kosice
BELZ. BELZ , one of the most important ḥasidic dynasties of Galicia, so called after the township where it took up residence (see previous entry). The founder of the dynasty, shalom roke'aḤ (1779–1855), came from a distinguished family descended from R. Eleazer *Roke'aḥ of Amsterdam. Orphaned as a child, Shalom studied under his uncle ...
Early Jewish literature was not concerned with proving God’s existence or categorically defining God’s nature. In the Hebrew Bible, God plays many roles and has many personalities. God is a judge, lawgiver, liberator, creator, father, king, and shepherd. Oftentimes, God’s attributes seem contradictory.
- What Do Jews Mean When They Say G‑d?
- G‑d Is Not A Superhero
- G‑d Is Not An Old Man in The Sky
- G‑d Has Many Titles
- G‑d Is One
- Does G‑d Have A Personality?
- G‑d Did Not Retire
- The Universe Is Not G‑d
- G‑d Wants Something from Us
- Addendum: Absolute Existence
The Problem of Definition
The philosopher will likely explain that G‑d is absolute existence. Or that G‑d is the true reality of all things. The kabbalist will utter some mysterious words about the Infinite Light—or perhaps just “The Infinite.” He’ll explain that the Infinite Light, being infinite, is found everywhere, within all things, and beyond all things. The simple Jew will tell you that G‑d is the one you talk to when things get rough, the only one who truly knows what’s in your heart, and also the only one, gi...
On Polytheism
Many people believe in a supreme god over all the other gods. The minor gods, they believe, dominate various forces such as fire and wind, while the supreme god reigns over all of them—although rarely mixing in. This is called polytheism. Belief in one G‑d, on the other hand, means believing that there is only one force behind all things—life, physics, even existence. Whatever happens, G‑d is there, intimately involved.And yet, at the same time, He remains above it all. If that’s hard to conc...
On Anthropomorphism
The Torah and the prophets often speak about G‑d as though He has a right hand and a left hand, steams with anger through His nose, sits on a throne, writes with His finger, hears with His ears, and peers down from heaven with His eyes. He also fills the heavens and the earth,6 knows everything everyone is planning to do even before they do,7 and remains unchanged by any of it.8 If that seems contradictory and absurd to you, you’re right on track. Because it is all obviously metaphor. G‑d not...
Names of G‑d
“G‑d” is a relatively new European word of Proto-Germanic origin. In Hebrew, quite a few titles are used, each with a different meaning according to the circumstance. The only title that is referred to as G‑d’s name, and not simply a descriptive title, is YHVH (י–ה–ו–ה). (We don’t want to write out divine names, since we are not permitted to erase them.13We’ve interpolated those hyphens to get around that.) This name is only pronounced in the Temple in the priestly blessing, or by the High Pr...
The Shema
“Hear O Israel, YHVH is our G‑d, YHVH is one.”17 You might think this just means that there’s only one G‑d. But that’s not what it says. It says G‑d is totally one. In simple words: G‑d is not made of parts. Neither is He an idea that encapsulates many ideas. Neither does He occupy space. Neither does He change over time. And if you are looking for a parallel of some sort to grasp this, there is none. Here is how Maimonides, the great codifier of Jewish law, describes the oneness of G‑d: Some...
The Mind of G‑d
Fine, G‑d doesn’t have a nose or eyeballs. But what about emotions? Doesn’t the Torah describe G‑d’s wrath and jealousy, His love and compassion? And what about a brain? Isn’t G‑d wise and understanding? Yes, but those are not descriptions of G‑d. Because, like we said, G‑d has no parts or details. Those are the modalities by which He interacts with His universe. When G‑d created the universe, He did it through these modalities. He continues to direct it through these modalities. But He’s not...
Constant Creation
Here’s a common question: Why can’t G‑d just build a world, program it to do what it does, zap it with sufficient energy for a few trillion years, and then leave it running? Could the problem be that He has to step in to get things back on track once in a while? That would be strange—if He’s an all-powerful, all-knowing G‑d, why couldn’t He get the program right on the first iteration? Quite simply, G‑d can’t retire because if G‑d would step away from His creation even for a moment, it would...
On Pantheism
Take a look at the first statement of the Torah: “In the beginning, G‑d created the heavens and the earth.”23 First of all, that tells us He is not the universe. He is the creatorof the universe. But there’s a yet more important point: Saying that a higher sentience deliberately created this place means that it doesn’t have to be here. It didn’t pop up by accident or by necessity. Rather, G‑d choseto create it, purposefully and with intent. Which makes exquisite sense. Our world is filled wit...
G‑d and Humanity
So if the universe is purposeful, what does G‑d want with these creatures He made—meaning you and me? Basically, He wants us to do just what He does, but in reverse. Just as He relates to us through the things we find important, He wants us to reach up to Him through the things He desires. That way, the whole world will feel His presence and it will be a wholesome world. That’s the ultimate purpose of this world—to be a place where G‑d sort of “feels at home.” What are the things He desires?...
The problem of defining G‑d can be stated simply: Everything we know of is defined in relation to something else. Light is only light because there is dark. Big is big relative to something smaller. The same with all categories, events, and things. The definitions we use for them describe their relationship to the rest of the universe. But when we ...
"Belz" published on by null. Name of a smali town in Galicia and of the Hasidic dynasty founded there by Rabbi Shalom Rokeah (1779–1855). Shalom was succeeded as both the Rebbe and the town Rabbi of Belz by his son, Joshua, who was in turn succeeded by his son, Issachar Dov, succeeded by his son, Aaron (1880–1957) who escaped the Holocaust ...
The Belz Great Synagogue (Hebrew: בעלזא בית המדרש הגדול; Belz Beis HaMedrash HaGadol) is one of the largest synagogues in Israel.It was built by the Belz Hasidic community with financial help from its supporters and admirers around the world.
Belzer Yeshiva, 1779 51st St., Brooklyn, NY 11204. The Shapira are a Polish Hasidic family that established several Hasidic dynasties in the nineteenth century. One was established at Belz, a small town in Ukraine. By the beginning of the twentieth century the majority of the town’s 6,000 residents were Jews.
