ALTER, SIMCHA BUNIM

(1897-1992)

   Rabbi Simcha B. Alter was born in Gora Kalwaria, Poland, and immigrated to Palestine in 1934. He was named the head of the Ger (Gur) Hasidic dynasty in 1977. He was an influential figure behind the scenes in Israeli politics as leader of one of the largest Orthodox Jewish dynasties and as head of the Council of Torah Sages, the spiritual adviser to Agudat Israel. He campaigned for strict religious legislation in Israel. His role as head of the Ger Hasidic community was later taken by his half-brother, Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter, who in turn died in March 1996.

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