סאטמאר revising history, בעלזא on the warpath

First we were told that Toras HaBaal Shem Tov was forgotten. Not the derech, they said, just the Torah. So what we have now in our Chassidic world is - I'm supposed to believe - derech HaBaal Shem Tov. But why then was the davka the Torah forgotten? Why is it different than Toras HaMussar - or Torah in general that never was and never will be forgotten? Was only Chassidus Chabad forgotten, since it's too deep for our shallow heads? Now we're being told that there really was never TRUE opposition to Chassidus after all! Yes, the Gro may have opposed the davening late, or maybe all the drinking and dancing, but that was probably because of the Bittul Zman and Bittul Torah. And besides, we're against that too, so that's no chiddush. But there was no "Ches," despite the documents we've seen and all the history written about it. If you tell me that ווייסהויז made this stuff up then I guess we can go back to the drawing board... Also, I hear that the new book "The Rebbe" about the Satmar Rov has some cute attacks against the new Yeshivishe derech haLimud, (such as saying that it's very often "boych s'vores," and that's why they're so "into it.") which is interesting, since the book will be read primarily by those who subscribe to that derech...





then I received this via email: (with minimal additions by yours truly)

"The Belzer Rebbe and his mouth piece are on a full fledged war against Mevakshim that are not satisfied in Belz. As usual they're saying that it's a disease in many chassidesen that people look elsewhere. It's shocking the way things that used to be unofficial talk (and were discussed in private - "pnimi") are now officially discussed in the Zietungen. The "Hamevaser" covers this new jive with pages upon pages of coverage. Pinchas Friedman - the unofficial spokesman for the Belzer Rov - spoke about it at the jubilee of the hatzola of the Belzer Rov zt"l and his brother the Bilgorajer Rov (9 Shvat.) The Belzer Ruv first gave the pep talk with his childish observations with very little Torah, he creates a "kedushas Belz" that is hot air, He says things like "the Yoshvim were mafkir themselves, their families, and gave away their nefesh for Belz." What kind of a lie is that? They gave away their life for torah and kedusha that they believed they found in Belz, they were chasidim of the Belzer Rebbe that they believed is the Tzadik Hador, but this lie of the name "Belz!" it's all brainwashing the people so that they stick around with him and his son, a certified "nobody in all fields." He finished it off saying that we have to chazer that again and again; the whole year, we have strive and work for that, and ask Hashem for Kedushas Belz. He claims that the Belzer Derech is not a lot of going to the Mikvah, no Tehilim, no Fasting.

Pinchas Friedman claims as follows: after the Belzer kingdom was rebuilt after the war, the Yetzer Hora does not stop, he's not happy seeing that the great Belz has been rebuilt. He tries to confuse the people with thoughts that you are not respected enough in your current place, and all kind of thoughts and Nisyones about where he currently is, so that he thinks about other places. This is all so that the Yetzer Horah can destroy Belz. All that is atzas haYetzer, Friedman says. The Baal shem tov came on this world that people should be affiliated with a Kehila and a Chotzer. From my experience - he says - in education, I can say that I personally know people that left their Kehillos for other places and got confused, it is not only when the leave Belz it is also in other places too. It's interesting to note that Pinchas Friedman learned in Krasne Boro Park and left that structure to a new place called Belz, but he can't see other people leaving where they grew up to go elsewhere. Also how come all these 100's of Pupener Talmidim left Pupa for Belz; is this only a 1 way street? Are you only allowed to leave to Belz, but not FROM? why can't Kluger create a chabura and a kehila?

Sorry for my long rant, but I can not take this big farce that Belz has become."

See the Friedman interview Here