New Belz Regulation: Only 20 Candy Bags Allowed During Chassan Aliyah

Starting this Shabbos, a new guideline will go into effect at the main Belzer beis medrash in Yerushalayim, restricting the number of pekelach (candy bags) thrown during a chassan’s aliyah l’Torah. The regulation aims to minimize noise and disorder during krias haTorah in the massive bais medrash, which often hosts multiple aufrufs each week.

Initiated by the leadership of the Belzer beis medrash, and issued with the blessing and support of the Belzer Rebbe, the Vaad HaRabbanim announced the following takanah regarding the long-standing custom of tossing sweets when a chosson is called to the Torah:

A. Only 20 small, specially prepared pekelach—containing a modest amount of nuts and almonds—may be thrown during the aliyah. These will be sold exclusively through an appointed coordinator.

B. To ensure that children are not left out, each family celebrating a simchah is required to provide enough pekelach for all the children in the beis medrash. These will be distributed in an orderly fashion by a designated gabbai, with full coordination. In cases where there are multiple aufrufen on the same Shabbos, each family must supply a smaller number of pekelach, to be pooled and divided accordingly.

Similar policies have already been in place for over two decades in other kehillos, including Vizhnitz, where efforts were made early on to reduce disturbances during aliyos.

{Matzav.com Israel}