R' Yisroel Alter, 4th Gerrer Rebbe

From Wikipedia,

Yisrael Alter, 4th Gerrer Rebbe

Term 1948 – 20 February 1977

Born: 12 October 1895, Gora Kalwaria

Dynasty Ger

Father Avraham Mordechai Alter

Mother Chaya Ruda Czarna

Yisrael Alter, (12 October 1895 – 20 February 1977), 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.

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, Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Alter, the third 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.

Rabbi Yisrael also known as the Sherfer (sharp or rude) Rabbe, 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 Yeshivos. In particular, early morning learning, prayers and Tischen (meals led by the Rabbe on Sabbath and Holidays).

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 cancer 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 (1798–1866)

2. Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter (1847–1905)
3. Avraham Mordechai Alter (1866–1948)
4. Yisrael Alter (1895–1977)
5. Simcha Bunim Alter (1898–1992)
6. Pinchas Menachem Alter (1926–1996)
7. Yaakov Aryeh Alter (b. 1939)

http://ayzilbershlag.blogspot.co.il/2010/10/blog-post_726.html

הרה"ק בעל ה"בית ישראל" מגור זצ"ל כאמור לעיל, התגורר הרה"ק ה"בית ישראל" בווארשא עוד לפני המלחמה. היתה זו הצלה פורתא לאותו מועד שכן הימצאותו של ה"בית ישראל" בווארשא סייעה עד מאד בהתארגנות אביו ה"אמרי אמת, עם הגיעו לעיר. ידו של הבן לא זזה מתוך ידו של אביו כל אותם ימים, ורבות פעל אז למען בית אביו ולמען כל נדכא ואומלל. ה"בית ישראל" הצטרף למסעו של אביו הרבי כאשר בנו חביבו היחיד הב' לייבל היה אמור להצטרף בקבוצה השניה, ואף הוא נותר לכוד בעיר הנצורה מבלי יכולת לצאת. בתוך כאבו העצום של ה"בית ישראל" על אבדן עם ה', נשא הרבי בדומיה ובכאב את אובדן בנו יחידו האהוב שעלה על המוקד.