Yisrael Alter

Yisrael Alter (Polish: Izrael Alter, Hebrew: ישראל אלתר; October 1895 – 20 February 1977), also known as the Beit Yisrael, after the works he authored, was the fifth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1948 until 1977.

Yisrael Alter
TitleGerrer Rebbe
Personal
Born
Yisrael Alter

(1895-10-12)12 October 1895
Gora Kalwaria
Died20 February 1977(1977-02-20) (aged 81)
ReligionJudaism
Parents
Jewish leader
PredecessorAvraham Mordechai Alter
SuccessorSimcha Bunim Alter
Began1948
Ended20 February 1977
Main workBeit Yisrael
DynastyGer

He escaped from Poland during the Holocaust, and settled in Palestine during 1940. In 1945, he learned that the Nazi regime had murdered his wife, daughter, son, and grandchildren. He remarried, but had no children.

Following the death of his father, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter, the fourth Rebbe of Ger, in 1948, he became a forceful leader of his growing followers in the Ger Hasidic movement, as well as became very active in the political life of the nascent State of Israel. He would go around at night by himself to the various yeshivas, even the non-Hasidic ones, and check on the students. He would also have one of his agents call an especially good student to talk to him, thereby gaining many new and outstanding followers.

He married Perl Weinfeld, daughter of Rabbi David.

Rabbi Yisrael also known as the "Sharfer (sharp) Rebbe", left a great impression on people from all walks of life who came in contact with him, and was highly respected by all Hasidic circles. His idea was to elevate every person to somehow become one level higher than his present state. There are countless stories from individuals (Hasidim and non-Hasidim) who met the Rebbe, relating how he had a tremendous spiritual impact on them and how this strong impression will never leave them. What makes this even more impressive is that many of these encounters with the Rebbe were for a very short period of time.

Rabbi Yisrael actively encouraged a strong competitive rivalry between the young man in his yeshivot - in particular, early morning learning, prayers, and Tischen (meals led by the Rebbe on Shabbat and Holidays).

He was a charismatic leader with a dynamic personality, quick wit, and an unpredictable nature.

Rabbi Yisrael became a powerful force within the Agudat Israel of Israel party, and guided its work in the Israeli Knesset, concluding alliances with various other political parties to further the causes of Haredi Judaism in the Jewish state.

He died of bowel obstruction in 1977, leaving no heir. He was succeeded by his brother, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Alter. After his death, his widow performed chalitza on Rabbi Simcha Bunim, in accordance with halakah.

Rebbes of Ger

  1. Yitzchak Meir Alter (1799–1866)
  2. Chanokh Heynekh HaKohen Levin (1798–1870)
  3. Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter (1847–1905)
  4. Avraham Mordechai Alter (1866–1948)
  5. Yisrael Alter (1895–1977)
  6. Simcha Bunim Alter (1898–1992)
  7. Pinchas Menachem Alter (1926–1996)
  8. Yaakov Aryeh Alter (b. 1939)
Jewish titles
Preceded by
Avraham Mordechai Alter
Gerrer Rebbe
1948–1977
Succeeded by
Simcha Bunim Alter
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