Shomrei Emunim

Shomrei Emunim is a Jerusalem dynasty spanning four generations.

Tzion of the Shomer Emunim in Jerusalem

History of the Chassidus

The founder of the dynasty, Rabbi Aharon Roth, from the city of Satmar, built his approach on holiness, chassidus, and abstinence, and praying with a loud voice, particularly when responding "Amen." He authored the books 'Shomer Emunim' and 'Shulchan HaTahor.'

After his passing, the chassidus split. The majority of chassidim appointed his son-in-law Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kahn as the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon.

Another portion of chassidim crowned his son Rabbi Avraham Chaim Roth, who also inherited his beis medrash, as the Rebbe of Shomrei Emunim. This Rebbe resided in Bnei Brak.

During the Rebbe Rayatz's visit to Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Aharon and his son Rabbi Avraham Chaim visited him several times and merited to have private audiences.

In the writings of Shomrei Emunim chassidus, it is related that once Rabbi Aharon Roth met with the Rebbe Rayatz, and they looked at each other for an entire hour without speaking at all. When Rabbi Aharon left, the Rebbe Rayatz said [about Rabbi Aharon]: "He has mesiras nefesh like me."

Rabbi Avraham Chaim of Shomrei Emunim maintained correspondence with the Rebbe for decades. They never met face to face because Rabbi Avraham Chaim never visited the United States, but his sons, the Rebbes, visited the Rebbe at 770 several times on his behalf.

After Rabbi Avraham Chaim's passing, all his sons were appointed as Rebbes according to his will.

According to his will, his second son Rabbi Shlomo was appointed as the central Rebbe, and most of the chassidim flocked to him after his passing, with the center of the chassidus being on Meah Shearim Street in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Avraham Chaim's additional sons were appointed as Rebbes in Bnei Brak, Ashdod, and Kiryat Gat.

His eldest son, Rabbi Refael Aharon, who led his court in Bnei Brak, passed away in 5780 (2020), and Rabbi Refael Aharon's eldest son filled his position.

Toldos Aharon

After the passing of Rabbi Aharon, most of the Chassidim turned to his son-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kahn, and appointed him as the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon. Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak was a student of the Satmar Rebbe, and therefore led his Chassidim in the Satmar approach from an ideological perspective. From a Chassidic perspective, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak demanded consistent and fundamental study of Chassidic texts, despite the fact that his approach was primarily based on very simple faith. He had a fixed daily shiur every night in the Tanya, which he did not forgo even on the busiest days (on Yom Kippur he studied it before the Neilah prayer). He expressed about himself that he knew it forwards and backwards. He edited the sefarim of the Maggid of Mezritch, "Maggid Devarav L'Yaakov" and "Likutim Yekarim," and stated that he aspired to also edit the sefer "Toldos Yaakov Yosef" (which serves as a vessel for the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov), but his strength was no longer in his loins.

Despite the differences of opinion between his Rebbe from Satmar and Chabad, he greatly appreciated the Rebbe, and visited the Rebbe several times, and they conversed at length on various topics, including the method of learning Chassidus, and the method of contemplation in the service of prayer (the conversation is well-known and famous). He wanted to visit the Rebbe again, but for various reasons he was prevented from doing so.

It is interesting to note that his great devotion to the Tanya was received as an instruction from his Rebbe, the "Divrei Yoel" of Satmar, in his youth, while studying in his yeshiva. And so he recounted: In my youth, I once asked my teacher and Rebbe about the verse (in Parshas Bereishis) "and unto thee shall be its desire, and thou shalt rule over it," and Rashi explained: "If you wish, you will prevail over it." And I asked the holy Rebbe of Satmar, how does one reach "if you wish" - the very desire? And he answered me: Through learning the holy sefer Tanya.

In the 5730s (1970s) he often said that the Rebbe was one of four tzaddikim upon whom the world stands. He also said that were it not for the fact that the Rebbe's views contradicted those of his Rebbe from Satmar, "we would all have to submit to him and travel to him." He also said that whoever wants to learn Chumash with Rashi well should learn it with "Likutei Sichos" (referring to the Rebbe's unique approach to understanding Rashi's commentary).

The Rebbe greatly appreciated him. Rabbi Yaakov Emanuel Schochet, who published the sefer "Maggid Devarav L'Yaakov" of the Maggid of Mezritch, related that the Rebbe instructed him to visit the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon, who had edited the sefer in a previous edition, to hear from him in this regard, adding that even without this connection, it would be good to see him. Rabbi Yekusiel Farkash also related that in his youth he was a Toldos Aharon Chassid and later was drawn to Chabad, that when he first came to the Rebbe and entered for yechidus, the Rebbe told him, "Ask your questions in Jerusalem," and only when Rabbi Yekusiel persisted did the Rebbe agree to answer him.

After the passing of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak, it became clear that the previous Rebbe Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak had not left clear instructions on whom to appoint as Rebbe from among his 6 sons (the will stated that they should choose a Rebbe according to majority opinion. However, there were erasures in the will, and there are those who claim that originally it was written that Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov should continue - but this cannot be proven). Most of the Chassidim, led by the two gabbaim of the late Rebbe Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak, turned to his second son who was living in America, Rabbi Dovid Kahn - who is very connected to Chabad sefarim and often quotes from them - and appointed him as the successor, and this Chassidus is called Toldos Aharon like the Chassidus of the father.

The Chassidim did not want to appoint his brother Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov as Rebbe, partly because he was a Chassid of Rabbi Chaim Meir Hager of Vizhnitz, whose approach is different from that of Toldos Aharon.

Despite this, some of the Chassidim, led by Rabbi Meir Brandsdorfer, Rav of the Toldos Aharon community and member of the Eidah Hachareidis, as well as Rabbi Daniel Frish, appointed Rabbi Shmuel Yaakov Kahn as Rebbe. This Chassidus is called 'Toldos Avraham Yitzchak', after the previous Rebbe.

For Further Reading

• The Liaison, the relationship of the Rebbe Rayatz to the founder of the dynasty Rabbi Aharon Roth, in Kfar Chabad weekly 1908 page 83

External Links

• Tzamah Lecha Nafshi at a tish of Toldos Aharon
• Rostov Niggun in the Toldos Aharon synagogue