After 40 years: "Shomrei Hadas" and "Machzikei Hadas" come closer

"Shomrei" or "Machzikei", "Hadas" is the same religion: in Antwerp, Belgium there are two veteran Jewish communities: Machzikei Hadas and Shomrei Hadas. Both have prominent rabbonim serving in them.

These communities differ in the policy of entering them. Shomrei Hadas allow any Jew to register and be a member of the community, Machzikei Hadas - in contrast – allow only Jews who are observant to register.

The two communities hold an independent kosher system, a separate Beis Din and institutions.

The current situation is that most Jews in the city are members of Shomrei Hadas, more than those who are members of the other community. The distance between the different approaches led to various disputes between the communities.

This coming Tuesday history is expected: After 40 years, Hagaon R' Aharon Schiff (51), Av Beis Din of Machzikei Hadas, is destined to come to the shull of Shomrei Hadas community, where there will be a rally in memory of Rebbetzin Chaya Lieberman a"h – wife of the community Rabbi, Hagaon R' Dovid Moshe Lieberman (88), who will say things in her memory.

Elders point out that since the death of Harav Hillel Medalia zt"l, Rav of Shomrei Hadas, there has not been such unity.

The expected hesped of Hagr"a Schiff comes in continuation of the visit on Purim by Hagr"a Schiff to the home of Harav Dovid Moshe Lieberman. The sharing trend is also apparent in that the city's charity organizations are recently under the presidency of the two and their signatures are perched on the letters. Last month, the two rabbis participated in a meeting at Israel's ambassador to Belgium on the issue of the draft decree, along with the Av Beis Din, Hagr"a Sternbuch.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!