Grave

Chiddushei HaRim

Yahrzeit (Hillula)

23 Adar — Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter (Rothenberg) - the "Chiddushei HaRim"

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir ben Yisroel Rothenberg-Alter – the "Chiddushei HaRim" (1866), a direct descendant of the Maharam of Rothenburg – founder of the Ger dynasty. Yahrzeit – 23 Adar Burial place – Góra Kalwaria, Poland Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Rothenberg-Alter was the first Rebbe of the Ger Hasidic dynasty, which he founded in the town of Góra Kalwaria, Poland. He headed the Meir Baal HaNes Kollel in Poland, and his followers sometimes affectionately called him Reb Itche Meir (Yiddish). Rabbi Alter was born in Magnuszew, Poland, at the end of 1799. He came from a very distinguished family of rabbis, one of the most eminent in Germany and Poland. He was a descendant of Rashi and of the Tosafist Rabbi Meir ben Baruch of Rothenburg – the Maharam of Rothenburg. He married Feigele Lipschitz, daughter of Moshe "Chalfon" Lipschitz, in 1811 and settled in Warsaw. According to most published sources, they had fourteen children, most of whom died in infancy. Rabbi Alter became known as a Talmudic gaon. At first he was close to the Rebbe of Kozhnitz. A few years later he was drawn to Rebbe Simcha Bunim of Peshischa, of whom he became a close follower. After the passing of Rabbi Simcha Bunim, Alter became a disciple of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, also known as the Kotzker Rebbe, who was renowned for his sharp wit and mastery of the Talmud. A large number of Simcha Bunim's followers soon followed him as well. Alter and the Kotzker Rebbe eventually became brothers-in-law, when the latter married Chaya Lipschitz, the sister of Alter's wife Feigele. In 1830 he was forced to change his name to Alter because of his support for the Poles during the November Uprising. Rabbi Alter was succeeded in his position by his colleague and disciple, Rabbi Chanoch Henech of Alexander. One of his sons, Avraham Mordechai, and three daughters, Kina Pesia, Leah Chudes and Esther, lived to adulthood and married. However, by the time of Alter's passing on 23 Adar 5626 (1866), only one child (Esther) was still living. The great "Sfat Emet" was his grandson – they are buried together. May the merit of the tzadik protect Am Yisrael!