Yaakov Aryeh Alter
Encyclopedia
Yaakov Aryeh Alter, is the seventh and current Rebbe
of the Hasidic
dynasty of Ger
, a position he has held since 1996. He lives in Israel
and has followers in Europe
and the United States
. Ger is probably the largest single Hasidic group in Israel today.
. Upon the latter's unexpected death in 1996, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter was chosen as the next Rebbe of Ger, resulting from a pre-agreed-upon consensus for succession.
The Rebbe has displayed his father's style of vigorous leadership in the religious and political domains in Israel. He and his Hasidim fully back and have a major say in the Agudath Israel
of Israel party in the Israeli Knesset
, supporting the needs of the Haredi
community in Israel. The Rebbe encouraged the party to retain its alliance with the non-Hasidic Ashkenazi litvish Degel HaTorah
party within the United Torah Judaism
party representing almost all Ashkenazi Haredi Jews in Israel.
He has introduced significant innovations in the curriculum of the educational institutions operated by the Gerrer Hasidim in Israel and abroad — primarily broader knowledge of the expanse of the Talmud
, while abolishing the learning of iyun (learning a smaller portion of the Talmud in-depth).
The Rebbe is one of Israel's most wealthy individuals. "The Marker" has estimated that his family's holdings are worth between 200-250 million dollars. He and his wife have five sons and four daughters.
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
of the Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
dynasty of Ger
Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
Ger, or Gur is a Hasidic dynasty originating from Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria, a small town in Poland....
, a position he has held since 1996. He lives in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and has followers in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Ger is probably the largest single Hasidic group in Israel today.
Becomes Rebbe
Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh's father was Rabbi Simcha Bunim Alter, also known as the Lev Simcha, the fifth Gerrer Rebbe. When Rabbi Simcha Bunim died in 1992, he was succeeded by his half-brother, Rabbi Pinchas Menachem AlterPinchas Menachem Alter
Pinchas Menachem Alter, , also known as the Pnei Menachem after the works he authored, was the sixth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1992 until his death in 1996.-Early years:...
. Upon the latter's unexpected death in 1996, Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh Alter was chosen as the next Rebbe of Ger, resulting from a pre-agreed-upon consensus for succession.
The Rebbe has displayed his father's style of vigorous leadership in the religious and political domains in Israel. He and his Hasidim fully back and have a major say in the Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel can refer to any of several related organizations, including:*World Agudath Israel, an international movement*Agudath Israel of America, an American organization*Agudat Yisrael, an Israeli political party...
of Israel party in the Israeli Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
, supporting the needs of the Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
community in Israel. The Rebbe encouraged the party to retain its alliance with the non-Hasidic Ashkenazi litvish Degel HaTorah
Degel HaTorah
Degel HaTorah is an Ashkenazi Haredi political party in Israel. For much of its existence it has been allied to Agudat Yisrael under the name United Torah Judaism.-Ideology:...
party within the United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, two small Israeli Haredi political parties in the Knesset. It was first formed in 1992.The two parties have not always agreed with each other about policy matters...
party representing almost all Ashkenazi Haredi Jews in Israel.
He has introduced significant innovations in the curriculum of the educational institutions operated by the Gerrer Hasidim in Israel and abroad — primarily broader knowledge of the expanse of the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, while abolishing the learning of iyun (learning a smaller portion of the Talmud in-depth).
The Rebbe is one of Israel's most wealthy individuals. "The Marker" has estimated that his family's holdings are worth between 200-250 million dollars. He and his wife have five sons and four daughters.
Rebbes of Ger
- Yitzchak Meir AlterYitzchak Meir AlterYitzchak Meir Alter , is considered to be the first Rebbe of the Ger Hasidic dynasty, which he founded in the town of Góra Kalwaria , Poland. He was also known as the Chidushei HaRim for his Torah books...
(1798–1866) - Yehudah Aryeh Leib AlterYehudah Aryeh Leib AlterYehudah Aryeh Leib Alter , also known by the title of his main work, the Sfas Emes, was a Hasidic rabbi who succeeded his grandfather, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter, as the av beis din and Rav of Góra Kalwaria, Poland , and succeeded the Rebbe, Reb Heynekh of Alexander, as Rebbe of the Gerrer...
(1847–1905) - Avraham Mordechai AlterAvraham Mordechai AlterAvraham Mordechai Alter , also known as the Imrei Emes after the works he authored, was the third Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1905 until his death in 1948. He was one of the founders of the Agudas Israel in Poland and was influential in establishing a network of...
(1866–1948) - Yisrael AlterYisrael AlterYisrael Alter, , also known as the Beis Yisroel after the works he authored, was the fourth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1948 until 1977....
(1895–1977) - Simcha Bunim Alter (1898–1992)
- Pinchas Menachem AlterPinchas Menachem AlterPinchas Menachem Alter, , also known as the Pnei Menachem after the works he authored, was the sixth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1992 until his death in 1996.-Early years:...
(1926–1996) - Yaakov Aryeh Alter (b. 1939)