Sholom Rokeach, also known as the Sar Sholom, was the first Belzer Rebbe.
Background
His father was Rabbi Eleazar Rokeach, one of the sages of the Kloyz of Brody. The latter was the grandson of Rabbi Eleazar, author of Maaseh Rokeach, rabbi of Brody until 1736, then Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam. His mother was Rebbetzin Rivka Henna Ramraz.
Career
To Belzer Hasidim, he is known as "Der Ershter Rov" (the first rabbi), but in the city of Belz itself he was called "Der Alter Rov" (the old rabbi) in deference to the Bach, who presided as rabbi of Belz in the sixteenth century. After Rabbi Eleazar died at the age of 32, Rivka Henna lived in Brody with her five orphaned children. He was also a disciple of the Seer of Lublin.
He composed several songs, most of them still sung by the Belzer Hasidim, including one niggun (melody) to Tzur Mishelo sung during the Shalosh Seudot (third Shabbat meal).
Many of his teachings are preserved in an anthology entitled Midbar Kodesh. He reigned as Rebbe from 1817 (when he became rabbi in Belz) until his death in 1855.
In a famous exchange, the governor of the district invited him to his office and said, "Do you know that I am the second Haman?" The Sar Sholom replied, "Luck was not on the side of the first one, either". The governor was so impressed by the Rebbe"s firm stand that he promised to put an end to the Jewish persecution.
He built a four-story synagogue in Belz which was inaugurated in 1843.
lieutenant had a capacity of 5,000. Rabbi Sholom Rokeach (1781–1855)
Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach (1825–1894)
Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach (1854–1926)
Rabbi Aharon Rokeach (1877–1957)
Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach (b 1948)
include: Rabbis Shlomo Kluger, Chaim Halberstam, Moshe Teitelbaum, Zadok HaKohen, Asher of Stolin, Shalom of Kaminka, and Yehoshua of Lezsno (Lechno).
Views
In addition to leading his Hasidim, he defended the beleaguered Jews of his district to the governor.