Yehoshua Rokeach

Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach (1825 – February 3, 1894), known as the Mitteler Ruv, was the second rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Belz. He opposed the Haskalah ("Enlightenment") movement that was making inroads in Jewish communities in Poland during the nineteenth century, and founded the Machzikei Hadas organization.

Family Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach was the youngest of five sons of Rabbi Sholom Rokeach (the Sar Shalom), founder of the Belz dynasty. His eldest brother was named Elazar. His father was his primary teacher. and had five sons and four daughters.

Leadership The notion of a son succeeding a father as Rebbe was uncommon at that point in the development of the Hasidic movement; usually the Rebbe was succeeded by a close disciple.

To strengthen Torah Jewry against the inroads of Haskalah, the Rebbe helped found the Machzikei Hadas organization in 1878 and the Machazikei Hadas newspaper, and died on the train returning to Belz, at the age of 69.

He was succeeded as rebbe by his second son, Yissachar Dov Rokeach.