By COLlive reporter
A historic compromise was announced at the funeral of Bnei Brak’s Chief Rabbi Moshe Landa on Sunday, bringing an end to years of rabbinic rivalry.
Mayor Avraham Rubinstein said that two rabbis will be filling Rabbi Landa’s position following consultation with “Gedolei HaTorah, Admurim, Roshei Yeshivos and Rabbis in the city” in an effort to promote “truth and peace.”
Working together “in full cooperation,” he said, will be Rabbi Yitzchok Aizik Landa, Rabbi Landa’s son and a Lubavitcher chossid, and Rabbi Shevach Tzvi Rosenblatt, a Litvish Rosh Kollel.
The settlement was reached in discussions between Rubinstein with the posek Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, head of the Ponevezh yeshiva in Bnei Brak, with the full cooperation of the Gerer Rebbe.
Rabbi Aizik Landa will be leading the highly regarded “Rabbi Landa” kosher certifying agency built by his father and grandfather, Rabbi Yaakov Landa OBM. Together with Rabbi Rosenblatt, he will be overseeing Mikvahs and marriage registration in Bnei Brak.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Belinow, son in law of Rabbi Moshe Landa, will continue to oversee the Eiruv department. Rabbi Landa’s brother Rabbi Eliyahu Landa, a Rosh Yeshiva of Tomchei Tmimim in Kfar Chabad, will continue his role in the Shmitah department.
It isn’t clear yet how Badatz Sheeris Yisroel, which Rabbi Rosenblatt was a member of, will proceed. The certification was established after litvish rabbis refused to accept Rabbi Moshe Landa’s as the chief rabbi of the city.
By all accounts, the decision is a monumental one, deciding to perserve the “Rabbi Landa” esteemed brand of kashrus and keeping the de facto harmony between Chassidic and litvish communities.
VIDEO:
At least somewhere in the world a Jewish community is able to make compromises and live in harmony!