Kiryat Sanz, Netanya
Encyclopedia
Kiryat Sanz is a Haredi
neighborhood located at the northwestern end of Netanya
, Israel
. Founded in 1956 by the previous Klausenburger
Rebbe
, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam
, who established his court here in 1960, Kiryat Sanz is the world center for Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidism
. The Rebbe's son and successor, Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Halberstam
, known as the Sanzer Rebbe, holds his court here.
and living in displaced persons camps — applied to the Israeli government for land on which to build a Hasidic settlement for Holocaust survivors. The Rebbe's goals in founding Kiryat Sanz were to restore the former glory of Sanz Hasidism that had been wiped out by the Holocaust, and to establish a model of Torah living which would illuminate the surrounding secular environs.
Many Torah leaders counseled the Rebbe as to where he should establish his new community — some suggested the outskirts of Safed
, others Beer Sheva, and still others Jerusalem. The Rebbe set up his own action committee, which recommended two sites on the Mediterranean
coast in and around Netanya, and the Rebbe chose the land on the Netanya beachfront. According to Rabbi Eliyahu Shmuel Schmerler, rosh yeshiva
of the Sanz yeshiva in Netanya and a long-time confidante of the Rebbe, "The Rebbe mentioned at the time that the day would come when people would not say 'Kiryat Sanz—that’s near Netanya,' but that 'Netanya was near Kiryat Sanz'".
The purchase price of the land was covered with part of a $1 million check that the Rebbe had received from the City of New York
, which was planning to build a new road in place of the ageing buildings occupied by the Rebbe's Yesodei HaTorah school in Brooklyn. The first deposit was made on 30 September (3 Tishrei
) 1954 and toasted in the Rebbe's Williamsburg home at the end of that day, after the conclusion of the Fast of Gedalia
. In later years, the Israel Land Administration
would grant additional acreage to the budding community.
On 4 March (21 Adar
) 1956, the Rebbe returned to Israel to lay the cornerstone for Kiryat Sanz in the presence of thousands of religious Jews, many of them Sanzer Hasidim and others Holocaust survivors who had known the Rebbe from Germany. He delivered a lengthy speech expounding on the holiness of the Land of Israel
and encouraging more Jews to settle here. He also outlined his vision for the new village:
Thereafter the Rebbe began planning all the infrastructure for his community, including kindergartens, boys' and girls' schools, yeshiva
s, seminaries, synagogue
s, a children's home for orphaned and needy girls, an old-age home, and a hospital
. In 1958 he laid the cornerstone for both the old-age home and the hospital; the former was completed in 1960, while the latter, which became known as Laniado Hospital, did not open until 1975. In addition to religious services, the new settlement had a diamond
polishing factory built by a New York diamond merchant.
The Rebbe, his family, and 50 followers made aliyah
to Kiryat Sanz on 20 December (19 Kislev
) 1959. From then on, the Rebbe celebrated the 19th of Kislev as a personal holiday. Thereafter he divided his time between his home in Kiryat Sanz and the yeshiva community which he established in Union City, New Jersey
in 1968 for young men who could not move to Israel. He died in Kiryat Sanz on 18 June 1994.
Befitting its role as a Torah-observant community, Kiryat Sanz is closed to traffic on Shabbat
. Its beachfront was also the first in Israel to schedule separate swimming hours for men and women. Notwithstanding its predominant Haredi atmosphere, Kiryat Sanz is known for its tolerance toward non-religious Jews. Much of the credit for the tolerant feeling between Netanya's religious and non-religious populations goes to the Klausenburger Rebbe, who founded Kiryat Sanz and its regional hospital from the desire to give to and benefit others. Observers believe that the example set by Laniado Hospital, which treats patients of all races and backgrounds and does not leave any proselytizing literature in the wards, is responsible for the growth of the religious list in local elections
.
Since the Rebbe's death in 1994, his eldest son, Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Halberstam, known as the Sanzer Rebbe, has been the spiritual leader of the Sanz community in Israel. From his home in Kiryat Sanz, he directs the Sanz Torah and chessed organizations in Netanya, Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva
, Haifa
, Safed
, Ashdod, Modiin, Beitar Illit, and Elad. He is also directly responsible for all the institutions built by his father in Israel, including Laniado Hospital, where he serves as president.
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
neighborhood located at the northwestern end of Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Founded in 1956 by the previous Klausenburger
Klausenburg (Hasidic dynasty)
Klausenburg , also known as Sanz-Klausenburg, is a Hasidic dynasty that originated in the Transylvanian city of Cluj-Napoca , Romania....
Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam
Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam
Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam was an Orthodox rabbi and the founding rebbe of the Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidic dynasty....
, who established his court here in 1960, Kiryat Sanz is the world center for Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidism
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
. The Rebbe's son and successor, Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Halberstam
Zvi Elimelech Halberstam
Zvi Elimelech Halberstam is the present Sanz-Klausenburger Rebbe of Netanya, Israel. He is also known as the Sanzer Rebbe. He is the eldest son of Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam, the first Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, who in his will divided the leadership of the Klausenburger Hasidim between his...
, known as the Sanzer Rebbe, holds his court here.
History
In the 1950s, as the nascent State of Israel began building its population, the Klausenburger Rebbe — who had emigrated to the United States in 1947 after surviving The HolocaustThe Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
and living in displaced persons camps — applied to the Israeli government for land on which to build a Hasidic settlement for Holocaust survivors. The Rebbe's goals in founding Kiryat Sanz were to restore the former glory of Sanz Hasidism that had been wiped out by the Holocaust, and to establish a model of Torah living which would illuminate the surrounding secular environs.
Many Torah leaders counseled the Rebbe as to where he should establish his new community — some suggested the outskirts of Safed
Safed
Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...
, others Beer Sheva, and still others Jerusalem. The Rebbe set up his own action committee, which recommended two sites on the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
coast in and around Netanya, and the Rebbe chose the land on the Netanya beachfront. According to Rabbi Eliyahu Shmuel Schmerler, rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of the Sanz yeshiva in Netanya and a long-time confidante of the Rebbe, "The Rebbe mentioned at the time that the day would come when people would not say 'Kiryat Sanz—that’s near Netanya,' but that 'Netanya was near Kiryat Sanz'".
The purchase price of the land was covered with part of a $1 million check that the Rebbe had received from the City of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which was planning to build a new road in place of the ageing buildings occupied by the Rebbe's Yesodei HaTorah school in Brooklyn. The first deposit was made on 30 September (3 Tishrei
Tishrei
Tishrei or Tishri , Tiberian: ; from Akkadian "Beginning", from "To begin") is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar. The name of the month is Babylonian. It is an autumn month of 30 days...
) 1954 and toasted in the Rebbe's Williamsburg home at the end of that day, after the conclusion of the Fast of Gedalia
Fast of Gedalia
The Fast of Gedalia , also spelled Gedaliah, is a Jewish fast day from dawn until dusk to lament the assassination of the righteous governor of Judah of that name, which ended Jewish rule following the destruction of the First Temple.-Origins:...
. In later years, the Israel Land Administration
Israel Land Administration
The Israel Land Administration is part of the government of Israel and is responsible for managing the 93% of the land in Israel which is in the public domain. These lands are either property of the state, belong to the Jewish National Fund which controls 13% of the land, or belong to the Israel...
would grant additional acreage to the budding community.
On 4 March (21 Adar
Adar
Adar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days...
) 1956, the Rebbe returned to Israel to lay the cornerstone for Kiryat Sanz in the presence of thousands of religious Jews, many of them Sanzer Hasidim and others Holocaust survivors who had known the Rebbe from Germany. He delivered a lengthy speech expounding on the holiness of the Land of Israel
Land of Israel
The Land of Israel is the Biblical name for the territory roughly corresponding to the area encompassed by the Southern Levant, also known as Canaan and Palestine, Promised Land and Holy Land. The belief that the area is a God-given homeland of the Jewish people is based on the narrative of the...
and encouraging more Jews to settle here. He also outlined his vision for the new village:
Hundreds of families will move to Kiryat Sanz from abroad and establish roots here, living their lives according to our holy Torah and our tradition. In the center of the city there will be a yeshivah and educational institutions for both boys and girls, to educate them in Torah and fear of Heaven. We will build businesses and factories that will provide the families who move here with an honorable livelihood and steady income.
Today is a day of great celebration for me. I have often thought to myself, "Why did I remain among the living? Why did I alone survive from my entire family?" Today I know clearly that everything happened so that I should merit to lay, with my very own hands, the cornerstone of Kiryat Sanz in the Land of Israel.
Thereafter the Rebbe began planning all the infrastructure for his community, including kindergartens, boys' and girls' schools, yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
s, seminaries, synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s, a children's home for orphaned and needy girls, an old-age home, and a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. In 1958 he laid the cornerstone for both the old-age home and the hospital; the former was completed in 1960, while the latter, which became known as Laniado Hospital, did not open until 1975. In addition to religious services, the new settlement had a diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
polishing factory built by a New York diamond merchant.
The Rebbe, his family, and 50 followers made aliyah
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
to Kiryat Sanz on 20 December (19 Kislev
Kislev
Kislev Kislev Tiberian ; also Chislev is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar....
) 1959. From then on, the Rebbe celebrated the 19th of Kislev as a personal holiday. Thereafter he divided his time between his home in Kiryat Sanz and the yeshiva community which he established in Union City, New Jersey
Union City, New Jersey
Union City is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. According to the 2010 United States Census the city had a total population of 66,455. All of the city is on land, an area of...
in 1968 for young men who could not move to Israel. He died in Kiryat Sanz on 18 June 1994.
Kiryat Sanz today
Today Kiryat Sanz has a population of approximately 1000 families. Most of the older generation are Holocaust survivors. Besides its educational facilities for boys and girls from elementary to post-graduate, it has five synagogues, a mikveh, a printing house, a religious hotel, a religious nursing school, and the Laniado Hospital, which encompasses two medical centers, a children’s hospital, a geriatric center and a nursing school, serving a regional population of over 450,000.Befitting its role as a Torah-observant community, Kiryat Sanz is closed to traffic on Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
. Its beachfront was also the first in Israel to schedule separate swimming hours for men and women. Notwithstanding its predominant Haredi atmosphere, Kiryat Sanz is known for its tolerance toward non-religious Jews. Much of the credit for the tolerant feeling between Netanya's religious and non-religious populations goes to the Klausenburger Rebbe, who founded Kiryat Sanz and its regional hospital from the desire to give to and benefit others. Observers believe that the example set by Laniado Hospital, which treats patients of all races and backgrounds and does not leave any proselytizing literature in the wards, is responsible for the growth of the religious list in local elections
Elections in Israel
Elections in Israel are based on nationwide proportional representation. The electoral threshold is currently set at 2%, with the number of seats a party receives in the Knesset being proportional to the number of votes it receives. The Knesset is elected for a four-year term, although most...
.
Since the Rebbe's death in 1994, his eldest son, Rabbi Zvi Elimelech Halberstam, known as the Sanzer Rebbe, has been the spiritual leader of the Sanz community in Israel. From his home in Kiryat Sanz, he directs the Sanz Torah and chessed organizations in Netanya, Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
, Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, Safed
Safed
Safed , is a city in the Northern District of Israel. Located at an elevation of , Safed is the highest city in the Galilee and of Israel. Due to its high elevation, Safed experiences warm summers and cold, often snowy, winters...
, Ashdod, Modiin, Beitar Illit, and Elad. He is also directly responsible for all the institutions built by his father in Israel, including Laniado Hospital, where he serves as president.