Editing Yaakov Aryeh Alter (section)

==Life==
Yaakov Aryeh Alter was born on 18 May 1939, 29 [[Iyar]] 5699 in [[Łódź]], Poland, to Rabbi [[Simcha Bunim Alter]], also known as the ''Lev Simcha'', who later became the sixth Gerrer Rebbe, and Yuta Henya, daughter of Rabbi Nehemiah Alter, his grandfather's brother. He was named after his ancestor Rabbi [[Yaakov Aryeh Guterman]] of [[Radzymin (Hasidic Dynasty)|Radzymin]].<ref name="Winners">{{cite web |title=Handwriting of the Rebbe Yaakov Aryeh of Radzymin a special segulah for protection |url=https://winners-auctions.com/en/content/handwriting-rebbe-yaakov-aryeh-radzymin-special-segulah-protection |website=winners-auctions.com |access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref> In 1940, he immigrated, with his father and grandfather (Rebbe [[Avraham Mordechai Alter]]), to [[Eretz Israel]]. He studied in the [[Talmud Torah]] [[Etz Chaim Yeshiva|Etz Chaim]]. For many years, he [[Torah study|studied Torah]] at a synagogue known as ''Rashi Shtiebel'' in [[Bnei Brak]]. He married Shoshana, daughter of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Weitz, one of the heads of [[Yeshivat Chiddushei HaRim]].

Alter is one of the wealthiest people in the Haredi sector and in [[Israel]] in general, and in 2012, he was ranked third on the list of the richest rabbis in Israel, with a net worth of approximately NIS 350 million to NIS 500 million (between approximately $95 million and $135 million) due to real estate investments his father made in north Tel Aviv, Arsuf, and Jerusalem before Israel's establishment.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ettinger|first=Yair|url=https://www.haaretz.com/forbes-presents-the-richest-rabbis-in-israel-1.5176390|title=Forbes Presents: The Richest Rabbis in Israel|date=2012-06-11|work=Haaretz|access-date=2020-03-23|language=en}}</ref> Despite his wealth, he lived in an apartment in an ordinary residential building in the Chazon Ish neighborhood in Bnei Brak until 2011, when he moved to [[Jerusalem]].

He and his wife have five sons and four daughters.<ref name="Jewish World">{{cite news | url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3370845,00.html | title=Gur Hassidic wedding of the year | access-date=2011-02-04|work=Ynetnews|first=Neta|last=Sela| date=28 February 2007 }}</ref> In 2019, it was reported that one of Alter's sons was accused of sexually molesting two young male students from amongst Alter's followers.<ref name="Haaretz">{{cite news | url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-12-22/ty-article/.premium/sexual-assault-allegations-rock-an-israeli-hasidic-community/0000017f-dc20-db5a-a57f-dc6afb930000 | title=Sexual Assault Allegations Rock an Israeli Hasidic Community; the Hassidut covered up the cases | access-date=2012-06-22|work=Haaretz|first=Aaron|last=Rabinowitz}}</ref>

In 1996, after the passing of [[Pinchas Menachem Alter]], his nephew Yaakov Aryeh Alter became the Rebbe<ref>{{cite news |title=WATCH: 60,000 Gur Chasidim Celebrate Wedding Of Rebbe's Grandson |url=https://vinnews.com/2022/09/06/466830/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=VINnews |publisher=Vos Iz Neias |date=6 September 2022}}</ref> of Ger.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gerrer Rebbe Recovering After Surgery |url=https://matzav.com/gerer-rebbe-recovering-after-surgery/ |access-date=7 November 2021 |website=matzav.com |date=11 July 2012}}</ref>

In 2007, approximately 50,000 people attended the wedding of Alter's oldest grandson in Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite news |title=Yerushalayim: 50,000 people attend Gerrer Chasunah |url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/uncategorized/5375/yerushalayim-50000-people-attend-gerrer-chasunah.html |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=The Yeshiva World |date=28 February 2007}}</ref>

In 2016, Alter's followers were estimated at 11,859 families.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Wodzinski|first=Marcin|title=Historical Atlas of Hasidism|publisher=Princeton University Press|year=2018|page=207}}</ref> 

In 2019, Alter's cousin [[Shaul Alter]] and his followers split off, forming Kehilas Pnei Menachem.<ref name="jpost.com">{{Cite news|title=Religious Affairs: The Gerrer rebellion|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/religious-affairs-the-gerrer-rebellion-606493|access-date=2020-12-03|newspaper=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> As of 2021, membership of Shaul Alter's breakaway faction consisted of some 500 families.<ref>{{cite news |title=Followers Of Rav Shaul Alter Purchase 40 Million NIS Property Near Jerusalem Entrance |url=https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=147963 |access-date=7 November 2021 |work=Baltimore Jewish Life}}</ref>

In 2022, an estimated 60,000 people, including Rabbis [[Yisrael Meir Lau]], [[Yitzhak Yosef]], [[Yitzchok Zilberstein]], and [[Nachum Dov Brayer]], attended the wedding of Alter's granddaughter.<ref name="Vin sep 22">{{cite news |title=WATCH: 60,000 Gur Chasidim Celebrate Wedding Of Rebbe's Grandson |url=https://vinnews.com/2022/09/06/466830/ |access-date=6 September 2022 |work=VINnews |agency=[[Vos Iz Neias?|Vos Iz Neias]] |date=6 September 2022}}</ref>