Reb Yehoshua Rokeach zt”l was the youngest son of the first Belzer Rebbbe, the Sar Shalom zt”l. Though it was common in that era to anoint a close disciple to take over the Rabbinic leadership after a Rebbe’s passing, the concept of hereditary rabbinical succession, with a son assuming the mantle after his father, was new.
Compared to his father, Reb Shalom, who traveled to meet and learn from great Chassidic leaders of the time, Reb Yehoshua, on the other hand, had yet to travel to any. He used to say, “My father was my only Rebbe, and he taught me everything and revealed all that will happen to me until I pass on. He never told me to travel to other Rebbes; therefore, I don’t.
The Mittler Rav was from the leading Rabbanim who combated the Maskilim - the enlightenment movement at the time. Together with Reb Shimon Sofer zt”l, the Krakov Rav, they established Machzikei Hadas to fight the maskilim and established Kol Machzikei Hadas - a religious newspaper to combat the rebellious papers.
The head of the Maskilim met in Lemberg with leading Rabbanim, with Reb Yehoshua presiding. The Maskilim proposed a treaty saying that the Maskilim and Chassidim should agree on a middle way approach to Yiddishkeit since there’s no side route to Yiddishkeit; either to be completely removed from Torah or completely adhere to the ways of Chassidus.
Reb Yehoshua told the head of the Maskilim to come to the window and describe what he saw outside. He answered, “I see people walking on the sidewalks and horses in the middle of the road.” Reb Yehoshua replied with a smile: “Yes, yes! You said well. Only horses go the middle way!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Yisro 5786 email of The World of Belz.
