IN COLOR: For the first time in 10 years, Bobov Rebbe visits Lakewood

The spiritual leader of the Bobov Hasidic dynasty made a rare and significant appearance in Lakewood, New Jersey this week, marking his first visit to the community in over ten years. The Bobov Rebbe presided over a ceremonial dedication of a new Torah scroll at the movement's local study center, donated by prominent community member Rabbi Israel Blau.

[Photos: Avromi Berger]

Bobov, one of the largest and most influential Hasidic dynasties in the world, traces its origins to the town of Bobowa in southern Poland. Founded in the mid-1800s by Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam, the dynasty was nearly decimated during the Holocaust but was remarkably rebuilt in America by his grandson, Rabbi Shlomo Halberstam II, who established the movement's new center in Borough Park, Brooklyn.

Today, Bobov is known for its emphasis on Torah scholarship, refined character development, and its distinctive musical traditions that have influenced much of contemporary Hasidic music.

The event drew considerable attention from the Hasidic community, with followers gathering to witness this uncommon appearance of their leader. The Bobov movement maintains significant communities in Brooklyn, Montreal, and Israel, with a growing presence in Lakewood, one of America's largest Orthodox Jewish communities and home to Beth Medrash Govoha, the largest yeshiva outside of Israel.

The dedication of a new Torah scroll, considered one of the most joyous occasions in Jewish life, was marked with traditional dancing and celebrations characteristic of Bobov's renowned warmth and musical heritage.

Kikar Hashabbat contributed to this article.