Historic Significance Behind Colorful Flag at Munkatcher Shul

C.G. Hoffman

Boro Parkers passing by the Munkatch Shul on 14th Avenue have been greeted by a celebratory display in honor of the wedding of the Munkatcher Rebbe’s einikel iy”h, the youngest son of the Munkatch Rosh Yeshiva Rav Chaim Eluzer, oldest son of the Rebbe, which will take place Wednesday Dec. 27,.

Along with the decorative signs and festive lights, there is one embellishment that has left some passersby puzzled: an unfamiliar flag displaying many colored stripes. Is there a story there? Yes, there is!

The origin of the mysterious flag goes back to the times of the holy Minchas Elazar, ztz”l. In those times there was a chaburah of bachurim who gave themselves the name “Darchei Tshuvah,” who studied the holy teachings of the Minchas Elazar. They had branches in several cities, wherever there was a sizable community of Munkatcher Chassidim. 

The bachurim also designed their own flag, and the colors were deeply rooted in symbols that were significant to Jewish history. The colors were chosen to represent the ancient colors that the Yidden used on their journey from Mitzrayim to the Holy Land: Techeiles (blue), Argaman (purple), and Tola’as Shani (crimson red) and Shesh (a bright white). Others say the colors were drawn from the Sefiros outlined in Kabbalistic teachings (as in Sefer Pardes Remonim from the Remak zy”u), and represent the middos of Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferes and Malchus.

The multicolored flag was prominently displayed at the historical wedding of the Minchas Elazar’s precious only daughter, the Rebbitzen Frimele, in 1933. It was hung on communal buildings of the Kehillah, and at the Kabbolas Panim for the Chasan, throughout the weeklong joyous festivities at the famous wedding. Munkatcher Chassidim today have revived the historical flag colors and given it a primary place of honor at yet another Munkatcher wedding.

Credit: Yisroel Zev Guttman, Hoitzuas Emes Munkacs