Yitzchak Meir Alter

Yitzchak Meir Rothenberg Age (c. 1798 in Magnuszew, † 1866 in Góra Kalwaria ) was a Hasidic tzaddik in Poland and the founder of the Ger dynasty.

Life

The date of birth of Yitzchak Meir Alter is not entirely clear, the details vary from 1789, 1798 and 1799. His father, Rav Israel, was a student of Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev and Rabbi of Gur or Ger, the Yiddish name of Góra Kalwaria. From a young age won a reputation as a brilliant Yitzhak Torah scholar. He grew up under the care of Israel Hofstein, the Maggid ( itinerant preacher ) of Kozienice on, was after his death, a student of Simcha Bunem Przysucha and after his death by Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. After the death of Kotzker Rebbe Yitzchak Meir in 1859 was recognized by the majority of Kotzker Hasidim as his successor. The seven years which he served until his death in 1866 as head of the Ger - movement, were responsible for the development of Hasidism in Poland crucial. The Demolisher Hasidism retained until the Holocaust an influential position within the Orthodox Polish Jewry.

Although Yitzchak Meir was heavily influenced by the principles of Kotzker Rebbe, his views differ in certain significant respects. He avoided by no means the contact with the masses, but sought to win them to his cause and showed interest in everyday problems. As an uncompromising advocate of Jewish traditions he turned against provisions of the Government to amend the dress code, which were supported by representatives of the Jewish Haskalah, and was arrested for it. In the Polish uprising of 1830/31 he was suspected of collaborating with the Polish loyalists. He changed his name from Rothenberg to age. His family life was characterized by painful losses; none of his 13 children survived him.

His work Chidduschei Harim was printed in 1875 in Warsaw and contains short stories to Talmud tractates and the Shulchan Aruch. It is still regarded as a classic work in yeshivot for the study of Jewish religious literature and as a model for pilpul ( dialectical method of interpretation ). After his book is often called in Orthodox circles " Chidduschei Harim " Yitzchak Meir Alter. Among other things, the Isaac's age Synagogue in Warsaw was named after him.