Rav Yehoshua (Yehoshua’le) Roke’ach of Belz, fifth son and the successor of Rav Sholom, the Sar Sholom, founder of the Belz dynasty (1825–1894). He married a granddaughter of the Oheiv Yisrael, the Apter Rav. After Rav Sholom was niftar in 1855, the Belz Chassidim had no leader for two years, after which Rav Yehoshua replaced his father, in compliance with his father’s wishes, despite the fact that Rav Yehoshua had four older brothers. He led the Belz Chassidim for thirty-nine years. He was also the founder of Machzikei HaDas, perhaps the first Orthodox Jewish organization to be involved in government politics. Some of his discourses are published in Ohel Yehoshua, a supplement to the book of his father's teachings, Dover Sholom. He was succeeded by his second son, Rav Yissochor Dov.
