Shaul Alter

Rabbi Shaul Alter (born 1957) is the leader of the "Pnei Menachem" community within the Gur Chassidic group, and the son of the sixth Gur Rebbe, the author of 'Pnei Menachem'.

Life History

Born on 7 Tammuz 1957 to his father Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Alter, the sixth Rebbe in the Gur dynasty (from 1992 until his passing in 1996).

In 1977, he married Mrs. Naomi, daughter of R' Chaim Dov Rubinstein from Haifa, a graduate of Yeshivas Toras Emes and grandson of the Chossid R' Dovber Moshe Shmotkin. After his marriage, he was appointed as the Rosh Yeshiva of "Ohr Simcha" of the Gur Chassidus. In 1993, he was appointed as the Rosh Yeshiva of "Sfas Emes" Yeshiva of the Gur Chassidus, where he served as Rosh Yeshiva until its closure in 2016.

Some Gur Chassidim view him as their spiritual leader. Following a dispute that spread within the Chassidus, Rabbi Alter separated at the beginning of 2020 together with a group of his Chassidim and established independent institutions from Gur Chassidus, called "Pnei Menachem Institutions." Rabbi Alter does not consider himself as an Admor.

His Connections with Chabad

In his childhood, he participated in a Chabad summer camp in Kfar Chabad. Before his wedding, his father, the Pnei Menachem, who maintained a close connection with the Rebbe, sent a letter to the Rebbe announcing the wedding and noting the groom's qualities as a Torah scholar with great talents who completed the entire Shas several times. In response, the Rebbe sent his father a letter with the standard blessing for a wedding, dated 27 Iyar 1977.

For seven years after the wedding until he and his wife had a son, he was mentioned for blessing by the Rebbe several times. When the son was born, Rabbi Alter informed the Rebbe, and in response, the Rebbe sent the standard blessing letter for the birth of a son. The letter is dated 21 Iyar 1984 and bears the Rebbe's holy signature at the bottom. Rabbi Alter's title at the head of the letter is: "The Rav, Chossid, G-d-fearing, faithful, etc. Rabbi

Rabbi Shaul Alter's Connection with Chabad

Rabbi Shaul Alter joined his father, the Pnei Menachem, during his visit to the Rebbe in 1979 (in connection with his brother's wedding), and even entered into yechidus (private audience) with his father. On one occasion, he told the Rebbe's secretary, Rabbi Binyamin Klein, that he didn't remember the Rebbe's words from then, since he was busy the entire time engraving the Rebbe's image in his mind.

In Tishrei 5768, he received the book "Pilpul HaTemimim" Volume 22 from the Hearos HaTemimim V'Anash system of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Kfar Chabad.

He participated in many Chabad events. In 5777, he participated in the 19 Kislev celebrations at Binyanei HaUma, and spoke about the importance of studying Chassidus. Rabbi Alter maintained a friendly relationship with Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Chitrik as a result of his writings in the Kfar Chabad weekly magazine, to which he has been subscribed since being interviewed several years ago, and even visited him in the hospital when he fell ill in 5780.

In Tevet 5782, Rabbi Tovia Blau published a letter in which he raised several claims from the Chabad perspective and requested not to express an opinion on the division.

In Sivan 5782, he visited the Chabad Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon - Chabad in Los Angeles, where he was received by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Ezra Schochet. He prayed Mincha with the Temimim students at the yeshiva and afterward delivered words of drush (Torah insights) to the students, concluding by noting the uniqueness of the yeshiva where they study the inner dimensions of Torah and operate according to its ways.

Rabbi Alter has a fondness for reading books of stories about the Rebbe.