[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 20, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E 1300]]

TRIBUTE TO RABBI YISOCHER DOV ROKEACH, THE BELZER REBBE, UPON HIS VISIT 
                              TO NEW YORK

                                 ______


                          HON. JERROLD NADLER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 20, 1995
  Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rabbi Yisocher Dov 
Rokeach, known as the Belzer Rebbe, who will be visiting next week from 
Jerusalem. The Belzer Rebbe is the leader of a prominent Chassidic 
community whose core is based in my district in Boro Park and in Israel 
where Rabbi Rokeach resides. He stands out as an individual who has 
maintained the vibrancy and cohesion of a community, with followers who 
number in the thousands and reside around the world.
  The Belzer Chassidic community was founded in Galicia, toward the end 
of the 18th century. It was well known for the wisdom of its literature 
and the religious dedication of its leaders. During the Second World 
War, Nazi terror devastated the Belzer European community and the 
surviving Belzer Chassidim left Europe to try to revitalize their 
movement in Israel. Under the direction of the fourth Belzer Rebbe, 
they began a program of community building, developing schools for 
child and adult education, and creating supportive economic 
institutions for the multitudes who had been impoverished by an 
oppressive war.
  In 1966, Rabbi Rokeach took over these efforts. He has since realized 
the post-war vision of Belzer revitalization and has infused new life 
into the Belzer community. The community presently sponsors numerous 
self-help organizations including one of the world's largest patients 
advocate organizations of its kind, a center for free medical 
counseling, and a clinic providing affordable medical treatment. In 
addition, the Belzer community prides itself upon the recent growth of 
its numerous yeshivot--academies for talmudic scholarship.
  Hillel the Elder stated, ``If I am not for myself then who will be 
for me? But if I am only for myself, then what am I?'' The Belzer 
Chassidim reflect this message. Under the leadership of the Belzer 
Rebbe, this community has truly succeeded in forging the ethnic of 
self-help together with an awareness of social responsibility. The 
modern-day Belzer Rebbe has created a vibrant, exciting community that 
would make each of his predecessors proud.


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