Tens of thousands of Chassidim go to Yerushalayim each year for Rosh Hashanah. This Rosh Hashanah – which is a three-day Yom Tov – many families are once again looking to rent apartments to stay for the Yom Tov and be as close as possible to their Rebbe.
In the Belzer Chassidus, a national committee has been established for renting apartments to those wishing to stay near the Rebbe. The committee is headed by Rav Shamai Kehas Gross, a member of the Badatz of Machzikei Hadas, along with other rabbonim. This committee, together with the Housing Committee led by the Belzer Rebbe, has set reasonable prices for apartments this year, alongside a series of other decisions for Rosh Hashanah.
In the Belzer Chassidus, it has been noted that in recent years, the industry of renting apartments for Rosh Hashanah in the Belzer complex in Yerushalayim and the surrounding area has become a bloodbath of sorts. Chassidim and others coming from all corners of the country and the world arrive and want to stay in the area, but are required to pay an exorbitant sum that is far from within their means.
According to the rental managers, most of whom are not Belzer Chassidim, they exploit the situation to make a fortune at the expense of the Chassidim. This phenomenon has no parallel worldwide. Even in the most prestigious hotels during peak demand times, such high sums are not charged for basic services.
In the explanatory pages for combating the high prices, it is stated that “a hotel provides full catering services including serving and clearing… A hotel provides spacious and courteous room services including maintenance and cleaning… A hotel offers comfortable beds and proper conditions, not thin mattresses in the corridor and kitchen. A hotel is left as is at the end of the stay, whereas a rented apartment needs to be cleaned thoroughly after the chag. …Despite all this, the prices are higher than hotels.”
The reports emerging this year from the field are horrifying. Apartment owners who charged exorbitant prices for their apartments last year are now demanding double that amount. They already know that if they found someone who paid their demanded price last year, they will also find someone this year willing to pay the inflated current price.
In the Biala Chassidus, they reached the conclusion that many Chassidim are facing a untenable situation, and therefore this year they instructed that no apartments should be rented at all, and only the yungeleit will come to stay with the Rebbe, while their families will remain in their homes.
As a result of the dramatic step taken by Biala, minyanim will be held in the shuls for the women who remain at home.
It has been reported that in the Biala Chassidus, Chassidim have already canceled their apartments in complete adherence to the instructions received.
The Belzer Chassidus Housing Committee, led by Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, has announced that they are working with brokers and landlords and are already seeing a positive response from them. The committee has created a large database of apartments that meet their price standards.
The committee is also working to flood the market with additional accommodation options for families by renting entire buildings suitable for this purpose, with the aim of balancing the prices.
Belz is also calling on Chassidim and stating that if you have an apartment you have been renting for many years, and it exceeds the committee’s prices, report it immediately to the committee’s office. They will negotiate with the landlord and simultaneously offer you a selection of apartments that meet your requirements and are within the committee’s prices. The public is asked to report immediately to the committee’s office any apartment that exceeds the new regulations.
Below are the prices published by the Belz Housing Committee, and according to the managers, they hope that other Chassidic courts will join the fight.