ר׳ שלום רוקח מבעלזא

ר׳ שלום רוקח מבעלזא (1779–1855), known as the שר שלום, founded the Belz Hasidic dynasty. Born in Brody into a distinguished rabbinic family, he was orphaned young and raised by his uncle and future father-in-law ר׳ ישכר דב רמרז in Sokal. There he encountered Hasidic teaching through ר׳ שלמה מלוצק. He later became a disciple of leading masters including ר׳ יעקב יצחק הורוביץ, the חוזה מלובלין, ר׳ אורי מסטרליסק, ר׳ ישראל מקוז׳ניץ and ר׳ אברהם יהושע השל מאפטא. Appointed rabbi of Belz around 1817, he built a major Galician Hasidic centre whose emphasis combined rigorous Torah study, prayer and attachment to the tzaddik. He personally oversaw construction of the monumental Belz synagogue, dedicated in 1843 and capable of holding thousands; it became the architectural symbol of the dynasty until its destruction during the Holocaust. His teachings and traditions were preserved orally and collected after his death in works including דברי שלום and מדבר קדש. He died in Belz on 27 Elul 5615, 10 September 1855, and was succeeded by his son ר׳ יהושע רוקח.