Rav Schick's Thoughts on the Belzer Wedding

Translated from Ladaat:

A Breslover Hasid posed a question to his rabbi - Rav Eliezer Shlomo Schick, the rav of the Breslov Hasidim in Yavne'el.  In the question, the Hasid wrote that he participated in the large wedding in the court of Belz and was very amazed at the holiness and joy that was there, but it bothered him that it was "a waste of money and a waste of time".

In his answer, Rav Schick went out to defend the Hasidut of Belz and rejected the claims of unnecessary waste:

In my opinion, it was an awesome and wonderful Kiddush Hashem to see so many Jews from our brothers - the children of Israel - that came with one heart to participate in the joy of the marriage of a holy lineage.  And especially to see such a large gathering of Torah-and-Mitzvot-keeping Jews who gathered together with one heart - this is the greatest Kiddush Hashem possible - that they are all coming to be joyous together and they are all coming with one intent - to participate in a strong joyous occasion.  And it also shows the great power of Torah-and-Mitzvot-keeping Hasidic Jews, and it sanctifies His name, may He be blessed.

In the continuation of the letter, Rav Schick adds that the wedding was:

a very rare sight to see how so many Torah-and-Mitzvot-keeping Jews unite together with very very great love.  And this was an awesome and wonderful Kiddush Hashem.  And even though I didn't see it, nevertheless, from what I just heard about it, it gladdens the heart very much that we see that when all is said and done, that somewhere, there is unity among Jewish souls.  Because it is enough already with all the divisions, fights, and arguments that exist among us since this only prevents the Geula ... HKBH should help that from this Hasidic sect, all Hasidic sects, all courts, all groups, and all communities that exist among the entirety of Am Yisrael will learn what true unity is and will imitate it.  And only in this way will we merit the complete Geula.