Belzer Rebbe Establishes Organization For Those Who Leave Chareidi Lifestyle: ‘They Need Our Embrace’

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JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In a historic move, the Belzer Rebbe announced the establishment of a new organization for former chareidim, both those who maintain a religious lifestyle and those who are not religious.

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The new organization is not meant to do kiruv but to provide a warm embrace to all those who have chosen a different lifestyle from their parents. The new organization, dubbed Ahavat Kedumim, will serve to maintain the connection to these people, deal with their concerns and help them keep associated with their families.

The initiative stemmed from a tragic case involving a former member of the Belzer chassidus, who took his own life after his parents and the community broke off relations with him. The tragedy triggered the establishment of the organization, as the Rebbe understood that breaking off relations is not the solution for those who leave religious practices and embark on a new path.

The organization was warmly received by former chareidim. One of them who was interviewed by Galei Tzahal said that “we feel like we are in a dream, we received a true embrace from one of the great men of our generation.”

A senior person involved in the establishment of the organization said that “those who studied in chasidic institutions, need to be taken care of and loved unconditionally even after they decided not to keep mitzvos.”


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80 Comments
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Yeah Yeah
Yeah Yeah
9 months ago

AS much as my backround is the polar opposite of Belz, This Rebbe has the eyes of a Navi, always twenty years ahead of schedule.

Wilbur
Wilbur
9 months ago

I read all the comments till #31 .
My comment is: this may not be the answer to all issues – it’s not a one solution fits all. But this Yid CARES” and wants to do something about it! Let’s only give him kudos and credit! He has no personal gain. He is pained by the צרות הציבור and cared to address it!

Samuel
Samuel
9 months ago

Rebbi,you will bring moshiach.

sick ppl
sick ppl
9 months ago

beautiful!!!! wow!!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 months ago

Chochom udif m’navi
Someone that truly cares for his flock and Klal Yisroel

hard at work yeshiva grad
hard at work yeshiva grad
9 months ago

iyH this initiative should be successful. better that otd people should feel connected so they should not join chas veshalom chas vechalialh hate orgs that are filled with decadent, pruste, shmutzdik mushchasim menuvalim who post mi’us shmutz on family websites like….

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
9 months ago

I know I posted this below but its so important to reapeat.

We desperately need a counter to Footsteps. We need an organization that helps people who chose to integrate and not be chasdish or yeshivish yet show them that they can still remain frum and keep the basic mitzvos without being judged. We have lots of great mosdos out there for OTD boys and Rabbi Wallertsien zt’l did amazing work with the girls. But whats out there for adults who chose a different path? Are we guiding them to something that still keeps them relgious ? maybe modern orthodox etc.?

Many have children stuck in custody battles where one day they are chasdish when with one parent and then not frum when with the other. What if we guided both sides to say there is a middle where the child can keep their faith yet not be chasdish? Perhaps then even the non frum parent would say OK this isn’t what i chose but its something i can live with and i won’t influnece my children to be non frum. At least they are heading to college and integrating etc.

(Yes I see this with some footsteps parents who turned their kids to complete shiktzas with nose rings and tattos simply bec of the other way. Many say they only wanted their kids to go to college and get a better education. of course alot of that is an excuse, but still perhaps there is a middle ground. We are now begining to see that the footsteps parents kids don’t remain frum even if we win custody. We need to be more strategic and win them over at least for the kids)

Moshe R
Moshe R
9 months ago

The Lubavitcher Rebbe discussed this with him in 1981 and explained to him what was needed to avert this kind of wave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSZVcUt8kEs

ah yid
ah yid
9 months ago

This is a very positive development, However we must try to figure out what we are doing wrong that so many children are falling out of our system. It’s not only those who are OTD there are many who are what they call, “with it,” tuna bagels” “wanna bees” Basically men and women who just go through the motions. Some more and some less. What are we doing wrong? Is it the yeshivos? The home? One thing I do know from personal experience is, that most boys or girls who get rejected from three or four mesivtas or high schools says I love yidishkeit.

Enough
Enough
9 months ago

Next he the rebbe should start to understand why they are driven out and start a program to address these issues as well. But it’s about time that they reach out to them.

Hurt
Hurt
9 months ago

Well if the schools would be kinder and except siblings with greater ease. And not be so hard on regular people. I would not have to need an organisation like this

Anonn
Anonn
9 months ago

It’s just 2 days after Shevuos and you haven’t stopped posting your hate against individuals or groups. Stop now already !

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
9 months ago

I hope the belz brother in law the Skevra reba takes heed and builds a spot for his lost chasdim including his own einklach too. The exclusivity and draconian rules in Skver is dangerous.

Eli
Eli
9 months ago

Not everything TRUE deserves to be shared…

Josh
Josh
9 months ago

Complain to VIN for using this language it didn’t come from the organization.

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
9 months ago

It depends. If the “different lifestyle” just means not chasdish now then thats within our tent and part of the har sina menu.
If however, we are calling non frum “a different lifestyle” Then you are correct.

A REAL YID
A REAL YID
9 months ago

Why people go OTD? I have some ideas but each time I post them on VIN they get cancelled. That tells you something.

Gersey
Gersey
9 months ago

There was a song once: Put a little love in your heart.
I do not know much about this rebbe, but perhaps that
song was about him!

Maven
Maven
9 months ago

Very very good and i couldn’t agree with you more!

Halibut tails
Halibut tails
9 months ago

So we know where you’re coming from, mr. antiBelzer. Hameivin yuvin

Chaya
Chaya
9 months ago

I totally agree with you.

Yona
Yona
9 months ago

This is a smart and dangerous move. By keeping them in house, it will soften the wrath the otd people have. so they shouldn’t cause trouble for the establishments. Like what happened with Naftuli Moster the head of Yaffed, who is from Belz. But it is still a dangerous move, it will make it now officially acceptable to be otd and still stay. The closeted otd’s will come out. And it will encourage others who are hesitant still, to embrace it. Additionally, where do you draw the line. I wouldn’t give it more than a few years and they will start accepting trans too.

Holy Moe
Holy Moe
9 months ago

Very unclear.
Belzer chosid wakes up one morning and decides to go OTD.
Do you really think he will call their toll-free number and ask to become a member?
Or is it a support group for the family?

triumphinwhitehouse
triumphinwhitehouse
9 months ago

95% of people who go off the derech have a mental illness issue no doubt about it and this is good as this gives them an excuse when they have to give a cheshbon after 120. What appeal does the world of sheker have to normal people when the emes is in front of them?

Yessiree
Yessiree
9 months ago

Relax. All it’s going to be is a hole in the wall with trays of jarred Gefilte Fish, stale Kichel, vegetarian Cholent, & a bottle of warm “Super ‘G’ Cola” that was opened last week.
It’s brought down in Chasidus that eating foods with a Yiddishe Taam causes people to do Teshuva. Hopefully it’ll work.
(Any resemblance to your Shul’s Kiddush is strictly coincidental & very pathetic)

triumphinwhitehouse
triumphinwhitehouse
9 months ago

youre kidding its not meant to do kiruv, so a guy who has a toeiva lifestyle with nose rings will be embraced?

Avromie
Avromie
9 months ago

No – not another Footsteps!