16 Adar · Yahrzeit
"Pnei Menachem"
16 Adar is the yahrzeit of Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter - the "Pnei Menachem" — the 6th Rebbe of Ger, who led the Gerrer Chassidic movement from 1992 to 1996. He was an authoritative expert in Torah, headed the "Sfas Emes" Yeshiva, and was held in great esteem for his wisdom, humility, and approach to education.
Yahrzeit - 16 Adar
Burial place - Jerusalem, in the courtyard of the Gerrer Yeshiva
Great-great-grandson of the founder of the Gerrer dynasty, Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter (the Chidushei HaRim).
Pnei Menachem
Many remember his sudden passing in 1996. It was a time when terrorists first began using a new tactic: a bus was blown up every day.
The Rebbe took this very hard. He began telling those close to him that he must die in order to become an atonement for the Jewish people.
On Purim, during the tisch, he did not speak at all about the theme of Purim, but rather about how the death of a tzadik brings atonement. Going to sleep at the end of the holiday, for the first time in his life he did not place a "nagel vasser" cup of water by his bed. That night hepassed away. The bus bombings stopped, and there were none for about ten years.
The "Pnei Menachem" is buried next to his father, the Admor "Imrei Emes," in the courtyard of the "Sfas Emes" Gerrer Yeshiva. Many prayers are answered at this place, as attested by notes bearing testimonies from various people.
The Ohel can be recognized by its stylized brick wall, similar to the one that stood in Ger, Poland. It is located in Jerusalem, near Jaffa Street, across from the entrance to the Machane Yehuda market. The Rachmastrivka Rebbe tells the following story, which he heard from an eyewitness.
The narrator lives abroad. His son's bar mitzvah was approaching. And according to custom, a month beforehand, a tzadik puts Tefillin on the boy for the very first time in his life. Pnei Menachem, who was not yet the Rebbe at that time, put Tefillin on the man's son. Afterward, the boy's father made Pnei Menachem promise that when his second son grew up, he would put Tefillin on him as well.
A few months before the appointed time, he met Pnei Menachem and reminded him of his promise. The Rebbe said he remembered - the boy's bar mitzvah was on 16 Nisan, and the Tefillin needed to be put on for the first time on 16 Adar. But he would be busy that day, so the boy should come the day before, on the 15th. The father and son came, and the Rebbe put Tefillin on the boy. But he refused to make a promise for the third son. A few hours later, the Rebbe passed away.
May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!
(With the personal permission of Rabbi Yaakov Doctor, from his book "At the Shabbos Table")