"The Rebbe of Vizhnitz admired the people of religious Zionism"
In a conversation with the head of the preparatory school in Beitar, Rabbi Moshe Hager-Lau, he talks about his father's cousin, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz, who passed away yesterday. "His attitude towards religious Zionism was positive. He abolished the Mizrahi and said they would disappear, but he had an attitude of admiration for the people of Gush Emunim, and instructed his students to learn from them how to be strict with the mitzvot."
Aryeh Yoeli , Srugim News All credit goes to the Author and the Srugim Website14.03.12 13:58 20th of Adar 5772
Admired Gush Emunim. (Shuki Lerer, courtesy of the Prime Minister's Spokesperson's Office)
This evening, Rabbi Moshe Yehoshua Hager, the late Rebbe of Vizhnitz, passed away at the age of 96.
The one who knew him closely was Rabbi Moshe Hager-Lau, head of the pre-military preparatory school in Beit Yatir, whose Rebbe was his father's cousin.
In a conversation with 'Srugim. ' he talks about the character of the Rebbe and his attitude towards religious Zionism.
"The Rebbe was a tremendous scholar compared to other Hasidic rabbis," says Rabbi Hager-Lau. "I knew him when he would come to Arad. He would immediately open a book and start studying."
In this context, Rabbi Hagar-Lau, a Moft associated with the Rebbe, adds: "The book would always open to him on the page he was looking for, always. He didn't have to flip through, even if he was looking for a specific addition on one of the pages, he would arrive at the correct page upon opening the book."
Regarding the Rebbe's approach to leading his followers, Rabbi Hagar-Lau says that his main concern was with education and not with performing miracles.
"The Rebbe was always concerned with education. He had a sign in his room that read, 'Beware of the poor children from whom Torah will come forth.'"
"He reestablished the branch of Hasidism in the second generation after the Holocaust, and always adhered to discipline, honor, and respect for parents."
However, the Rebbe did not refrain from advising and encouraging people in their troubles. "Every evening, hundreds of people with troubles would come to him, so that he could help them with advice or a blessing," the rabbi says.
Admired Gush Emunim
The Rebbe divided his attitude towards religious Zionism into two, between the Mizrahi people, whom he treated with disdain, and the Gush Emunim people, whom he respected.
"His attitude towards religious Zionism was positive. He abolished Mizrahi and said they would disappear, but he had an attitude of admiration for the people of Gush Emunim, and instructed his students to learn from them how to be strict in observing the commandments."
The Rebbe often said: "A group of believers, supreme and supreme."
Rabbi Hager-Lau calls the Rebbe's views right-wing. "He was always concerned about the security situation of the Jewish people, probably because he was a Holocaust survivor."
"He was in contact with Arik Sharon for years and opposed disengagement. I personally would inform him of the data and update him on security developments," says Rabbi Hager-Lau, himself an officer with the rank of colonel.
In recent years, the Rebbe has suffered from Alzheimer's and his functioning has gradually weakened, but the personal connection between the two families has been maintained. Rabbi Hager-Lao says that when he was sitting in prayer for his father about two months ago, the Rebbe's two sons came to comfort him.
The Yesha Council is also mourning the passing of the Rebbe. In a statement of mourning they issued, the Yesha Council says that they mourn together with the Beit Hasidut Vizhnitz and the entire people of Israel. "The Rebbe, who was known for his appreciation and affection for the people of the Yesha settlement, will be remembered favorably not only as someone who established Torah and many students, but also as someone who supported and strengthened the building of the country, and opposed any act that could have damaged its building."
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The Rebbe's funeral procession left at 1:00 PM from Kiryat Vizhnitz in Bnei Brak, with tens of thousands of Vizhnitz followers expected to attend the funeral.
Monday, May 5, 2025
All credit goes to 'כיכר השבת' & חנני ברייטקופף
Public relations, journalists and street ads
"Bnei HaTorah" exposed; this is how conservatives stirred up the sector | Investigation
A particularly disturbing investigation conducted by "Kikar Hashabbat" reveals that a conservative association financed the hanging of advertisements and pamphlets, totaling tens of thousands of shekels, at Haredi gatherings and also attempted to lure Haredi journalists under the guise of a "war on foreign labor" | In addition to stirring up trouble within the Haredi sector, extremely difficult questions also arise | The full investigation (Haredi)
The CEO of the "World Center" movement, Mr. Mauricio Beltr, and a member of the association's board, Mr. Yizhar Hess, lead a procession with Torah scrolls as part of the Women of the Wall's activities on Rosh Chodesh ( Photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash 90 )
Will the sleepy elections for the Zionist Organization open a new storm over the conservative movement's conduct? This is what emerges from the investigation that we are publishing today (Monday) in Kikar Hashabbat, according to which it appears that the movement has rudely stuck its nose into the sector while falsely covering itself with righteousness, as if they do want the Haredim to be in the Zionist Organization.
But the peak of the struggle turns out to be behind the scenes and away from the hot rays of the sun, and as you will soon discover, it is about stirring up the Haredi "Holy of Holies" - by the Conservative movement and Conservative movement figure Dr. Yizhar Hess, who serves on its behalf as vice chairman of the Zionist Organization and a member of the Zionist executive board, as well as a board member of the movement's association.
If you haven't noticed, a few weeks ago, billboards in ultra-Orthodox centers in Israel were covered with pamphlets and street ads that screamed bitterly against voting and participation in the institutions of the Zionist Organization - an issue that is currently on the agenda among Diaspora Jewry, and is subject to discussion among Jewish luminaries.
On the one hand, Rabbi Lando expressed a firm stance against voting in the elections, and on the other hand, the people of "Eretz Hakodze" present the support of Maran Rabbi Kanievsky ztuk"l, along with other rabbis in Israel and the US who supported voting in previous elections.
The ads and posters in the streets of Jerusalem, funded by the Conservative movement
The ads that were published here in Israel, along with several rounds of pashavils, were perceived as unusual due to the fact that the issue of the elections to the Zionist Organization did not arouse interest in the Israeli media, and most of the Haredi public was not even familiar with the details of the matter - which, as mentioned, mainly concerns residents abroad.
The 'Sabbath Square' investigation reveals that the printing and distribution of the paschquils was funded by the "World Center" association - this is an association that manages the activities of the Conservative movement in the Zionist Organization.
As can be seen in the invoice revealed here for the first time and constituting payment for part of the advertising campaign, "World Center" transferred tens of thousands of shekels in exchange for a round of street advertising, in exchange for participation in the elections for the Zionist Organization.
The incriminating Kabbalah revealed for the first time in the 'Sabbath Square' investigation
The Conservatives ' interest is seemingly clear, a Haredi source in the Histadrut explains to Kikar Hashabbat that "despite the fact that they tried in every way to disguise their involvement: the Holy Land faction, which represents the Torah public in the Zionist Organization, is a political and ideological enemy for them and they are trying to limit its power. The members of the Conservative movement tried to act to influence public opinion in the Haredi public, in order to harm the Holy Land and prevent it from succeeding in the US elections."
But beyond the shock and the brazen pretension of speaking in the name of the great men of Israel and hanging street signs in their name, the path they chose raises legal questions and even seemingly concerns about defamation offenses and more.
Pashto ads, against the ultra-Orthodox faction in the Histadrut
Moreover, beyond the seemingly cynical attempt to play on Haredi public opinion, it can be seen that the Conservative leaders even tried to disguise their involvement in the campaign, when Conservative Movement figure Dr. Yizhar Hess was quick to retweet the image of the ads that were placed at Haredi gatherings and supposedly express his friendship with the people of "Eretz Hakodesh" who are dealing with the publication of ads against them. As mentioned, the ads were funded by the association in which Hess himself serves as a board member and as a senior representative involved on its behalf in managing the campaign.
World Center Association board member Mr. Yizhar Hess, flanked by the association's CEO Mr. Mauricio Beltr, at a hearing in the High Court of Justice on the "Western Wall Outline" ( Photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash 90 )
Beyond the moral aspect, the Conservative movement's conduct raises legal and ethical questions. A senior legal source involved in the details told Kikar Hashabbat today that "the distributors of the Pashkvili may be exposed to defamation lawsuits, and that if indeed elements connected to the movement running in the elections are behind them, this may be considered a violation of election laws. Also, according to him, the distribution of anti-Zionist material by an association supported by the Zionist Organization may constitute a violation of the Zionist Organization's budgeting procedures."
The Influence Network: Attempts to Recruit Haredi Journalists
Meanwhile, the 'Shabbat Square' investigation also reveals that the publication of the ads constitutes the tip of the iceberg of a campaign of influence lasting several years, in which, as mentioned, the Conservative movement is trying to acquire influence and key figures in the Haredi public in order to discredit the name of the "Holy Land."
It turns out that officials on behalf of the movement approached Haredi journalists in an attempt to entice them to echo messages against voting in the elections, supposedly in the name of the great men of Israel.
Needless to say, most of the journalists and media personnel who received the tempting offers refused to join the campaign after they were told who was behind the offer.
Yizhar Hess' tweets supposedly say he is in favor of the Haredim being in the Histadrut
Yizhar Hess' tweets supposedly say he is in favor of the Haredim being in the Histadrut
Yizhar Hess' tweets supposedly say he is in favor of the Haredim being in the Histadrut
"A while ago, a well-known figure from the Haredi community approached me and indirectly and implicitly offered me to join a campaign in exchange for a very high salary," a senior figure in the Haredi media (whose name is being withheld by the Habab editorial team) told Kikar Hashabbat: "The essence of the campaign was to harm the Holy Land organization and lead public opinion in the Haredi public against them through advertisements, press reports, and messages via social networks such as Twitter, etc. The campaign's strategy was to instill in public opinion that the organization is working to instill Zionism in the Haredi sector, and to inflame the opposition of the extremist factions against the Holy Land."
He said, "After further investigation, I realized that the campaign in question was done entirely for the Conservative movement, whose goal is to eliminate the Holy Land, which is hindering it from realizing its plans here in Israel, and for this reason I informed that person that I would not be able to take part in advising the campaign. Although he said it was a tempting offer, I preferred to give up and not work on behalf of the Conservative movement, and I know that they did not only approach me, but also other Haredi journalists."
He is joined by another well-known figure involved in many campaigns being conducted in the sector, who says that powerful figures in the general media are involved in managing the campaign and recruiting key figures in the Haredi media to join it.
He claims: "A few years ago, a large PR firm wrote a blank check for any Haredi PR person who agreed to join the campaign and lead it for them in the Haredi sector. They used key figures in the world of general media who harnessed all their business and professional connections, in order to harness Haredi elements for a campaign that would operate in the long term with the aim of discrediting the "Holy Land."
As mentioned, the publication of the ads and the scandals that were exposed are not a one-time act, but rather an organized and planned campaign that even touches on the fine line between the legal and the gray area, and acts with criminal aspects and offenses against the laws of defamation and libel, the financing of associations, and the laws of elections for the Zionist Organization.
"Shabbat Square" reached out to receive a response from the Conservative Movement's World Center Movement, as well as from Yizhar Hess (who in a personal conversation with him refused to comment. Hab.) and the Holy Land, but so far no response has been received. When it is received, we will enter.
