Yisrael Alter

Yisrael Alter, (October 12 1895 - February 20 1977), also known as the "Beis Yisroel" after the works he authored, was the fourth spiritual leader of the hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1948 till 1977.

He escaped from Poland during the Holocaust and settled in Palestine during 1940. In 1945 he learnt that the Nazi regime had murdered his wife, daughter, son and grandchildren. He remarried but had no children. Following the death of his father in 1948, he became a forceful leader of his growing followers in the Ger chasidic movement as well as becoming very active in the political life of the State of Israel. He would go around at night by himself to the various yeshivas, even the non chasidic ones, and check on the students. He would also have an especially good student called (by an agent of his) to talk to him thereby gaining a lot of new and outstanding followers.

He left a great impression on all walks of life that came in contact with him and was highly respected by all chasidic circles. His idea was to elevate every person to somehow become one level higher than his present state. There are countless stories from individuals (chasidim and non-chasidim) who met the Rebbe, which relate 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. It has been said that if the Rebbe were to break wind after eating cholent and one was to inhale deeply, he would experience the smell of raisins and honey, but if he were to inhale that of another human, the smell would merely be that of rotten eggs.

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

He died of cancer in 1977 and leaving no heir, was succeeded by his brother Rabbi Simcha Bunim Alter. After his death his widow performed "chalitsa" on Rabbi Simcha Bunim, in accordance with Torah law.

ee also

*Hasidic Judaism
*Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
*Rebbe

External links

* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5502568499316801417&q=rebbe Film of Rabbi Alter burning the leavened bread on the eve of the Jewish feast of Passover]

Rebbes of Ger

#Yitzchak Meir Alter (1798-1866)
#Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter (1847-1905)
#Avraham Mordechai Alter (1866-1948)
#Yisrael Alter (1895-1977)
#Simchah Bunim Alter (1898-1992)
#Pinchas Menachem Alter (1926-1996)
#Yaakov Aryeh Alter (b. 1939)