Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman met with the Belzer Rebbe Shlita, brining to an end a period lasting over three years in which Gur and Belz were not in contact with one another. The two met on motzei shabbos, and the meeting is billed as “the start of a new era” by members of both chassidic courts. Ladaat.net reports the last meeting between Litzman and the Belzer Rebbe was on 22 Shevat 5769.

Tensions flared between Belz and Gur during the last mayoral elections in Yerushalayim, when the Belzer Rebbe called on the tzibur to support R’ Meir Porush in his mayoral bid but Litzman and Gur worked hard to keep Porush out of City Hall, succeeding in that effort. There were other issues pertaining to Chinuch Atzmai as well that led to the breakdown in relations between Gur and Belz.

Ladaat adds that it was due to the efforts of MK Rav Yisrael Eichler, the Belzer Rebbe’s man in Knesset that led to the meeting, as Eichler began the renewed contact with Litzman.

The motzei shabbos meeting lasted for 2.5 hours, just Litzman and the rebbe. There is no report as to what was discussed at the meeting.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)