Yitzchak Meir Alter

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Yitzchak Meir Alter (also Rottenburg, Rothenburg or Rothenberg as an alternate for "Alter") (1798(?) - March 10, 1866), was also known as the Chidushei Harim for his Torah book/s. He is sometimes referred to fondly as Reb Itchie Mayer by his followers. He was an Orthodox Judaism rabbi and founder of the Ger (Hasidic dynasty) within Hasidic Judaism in the town of Góra Kalwaria ("Ger" in short) in Poland.He came from a very distinguished family of Rabbis, among the most prominent in Germany and Poland. He was a descendant of Rashi, and R. Meir ben Baruch Rothenburg (1215 - 1293) the Tosafist, one of his first ancestors to hold that surname. He is considered to be the first rebbe (Hasidic spiritual leader) of the Ger Hasidic dynasty. After the Holocaust his followers and descendants transplanted the movement to the modern State of Israel.

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter was a disciple of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, known as the Kotzker rebbe who was famous for his acerbic wit and Talmudic brilliance.

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter was eventually succeeded by his grandson Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter who became the second rebbe of Ger.

[edit] See also

• Hasidic Judaism
• Ger (Hasidic dynasty)
• Rebbe

[edit] 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. Simchah Bunim Alter (1898-1992)
6. Pinchas Menachem Alter (1926-1996)
7. Yaakov Aryeh Alter (b. 1939)