Title : Funeral of leader of Orthodox Jews who died aged 104
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Funeral of leader of Orthodox Jews who died aged 104
- Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman also wielded considerable political influence
- He often judged on how his community should integrate into Israeli society
- Shteinman was also renowned as a scholar as well as a spiritual leader
- A fellow rabbi said his death is a loss to an 'entire generation' of Jews
Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, the spiritual leader of Israel's non-Hassidic ultra-Orthodox Jews of European descent and one of the country's most influential and powerful rabbis, has died at the age of 104.
Shteinman was hospitalized several weeks ago with shortness of breath and passed away early on Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands took part in his funeral procession in the central Israeli ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak and police blocked major highways and roads around the cemetery.
Emergency medical services on hand to deal with the flood of people clamoring to get a close look.
Large crowds of orthodox Jews have gathered for the funeral of Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak
His funeral is due to take place the central Israeli ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak with major roads were being shut down in advance of the procession
Ultra-Orthodox Jews stand on a rooftop as they watch the funeral of Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman
Shteinman was a longtime political kingmaker whose orders were strictly followed by his representatives in parliament. His influence, however, far surpassed just that and he was seen as the leading voice of the entire community on many issues of religion and state.
Following the 2012 death of his predecessor, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, he was widely regarded as 'Gadol Hador,' or 'leader of the generation.'
The ultra-Orthodox, known in Hebrew as 'Haredim,' or 'those who fear God,' are the fastest growing sector in Israel. Due to their high birth rate, they now number more than 1 million people, or about 12 percent of Israel's 8.7 million citizens, with the majority living beneath the poverty line.
Shteinman was known for his rabbinic scholarship, his relatively pragmatic rulings and extremely modest lifestyle. He was often called to judge on sensitive matters such as how much the traditionally insular community should integrate with the larger Israeli society, embrace technology, pursue higher education, work or agree to serve in the largely security military.
The ultra-Orthodox, known in Hebrew as 'Haredim,' or 'those who fear God,' are the fastest growing sector in Israel due to their high birth rate
The Rabbi was was often called to judge on sensitive matters such as how much the community should integrate with Israeli society
Police blocked roads around the cemetery and emergency medical services were on hand to deal with the flood of people clamouring to get a look
In recent years, he had faced a challenge from a more extremist rabbi in Jerusalem who sent thousands into the street to protest the small numbers of ultra-Orthodox who have enlisted.
Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, an expert on the ultra-Orthodox community, said that until just recently Shteinman was of clear mind and hosting followers who sought his advice.
'He was a person who knew very carefully how to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the individual,' he said. 'His legacy is greatness of scholarship ... but at the same time a very nuanced leadership.'
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin praised Shteinman as a leader who 'carried on his shoulders the existential weight of the Jewish people.'
Born in 1913 in Belarus, he studied there and in Switzerland before emigrating to British-mandate Palestine in 1945.
He taught at the leading talmudic schools in Bnei Brak, the predominantly ultra-Orthodox city in the suburbs of Tel Aviv and where he also lived.
His influence grew in the 1980s when he became part of the rabbinical committee running Degel Hatorah, a component of the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) alliance, whose six lawmakers are members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition.
'We were orphaned this morning,' said UTJ's Moshe Gafni, who considered Shteinman an arbitrator on political as well as spiritual matters.
'Rabbi Shteinman's death is a loss to an entire generation, of millions of Jews in Israel and the world,' Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi David Lau said.
'He was the generation's leader who protected the generation with his prayers.'
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