Rabbi Asher Deutsch, a leading figure in Israel's ultra-Orthodox community and head of the prestigious Ponevezh Yeshiva, passed away Monday following a year-long battle with illness. He was 79.
Deutsch served as the spiritual leader of the 'Bnei Torah' movement, also known as the Jerusalem Faction, a significant ultra-Orthodox group known for its strict interpretations of Jewish law and its stance on religious education.
As previously reported, last Friday the Rosh Yeshiva and leader of the Jerusalem Faction's medical condition deteriorated and he was classified as critically ill. However, by Friday night, he had briefly regained consciousness and was able to communicate with those around him.
Following this medical improvement, which continued into Shabbat morning, his students and family members were encouraged and hoped for a miracle that would restore the Rosh Yeshiva to health.
However, this morning his vital signs began dropping sharply again, prompting doctors to call in the family. A select group of his closest students joined them, and in the past hour, they began reciting the final prayers and preparing to bid farewell to their leader.
Unfortunately, earlier today (Monday) he passed away.
Born in 1945 to a prominent rabbinic family, Deutsch rose through the ranks of religious scholarship to become one of Israel's most respected Torah scholars. He studied under several renowned rabbinical figures, including Rabbi Elazar Menachem Man Shach, whom he considered his primary mentor.
Throughout his career, Deutsch held significant leadership positions in Israel's religious education system. He headed numerous religious institutions, including several prestigious yeshivas and seminaries across Israel.
His influence extended beyond traditional religious education, as he was frequently consulted on major political issues affecting the ultra-Orthodox community, particularly regarding military service exemptions for religious students. In recent years, Deutsch emerged as a powerful voice in internal ultra-Orthodox politics.
He was particularly vocal on issues concerning religious education and the controversial topic of ultra-Orthodox participation in Israel's military service. His positions often put him at odds with both government authorities and other religious factions.
As an author and scholar, Deutsch published several important works on Jewish law and Talmudic studies. His books, including "Sha'arei Ribit" on the laws of interest and various commentaries on Talmudic tractates, are widely studied in religious institutions.
He is survived by his children, who continue his legacy in religious leadership positions: his son Rabbi Shmuel Deutsch, who heads the Be'er Shlomo Kollel in Bnei Brak, and his sons-in-law Rabbi Shalom Hillel Kershinski and Rabbi Shlomo Gutsgenda, who serve as leaders in their respective religious institutions.
The funeral procession is expected to draw thousands of mourners from across Israel's religious community. Further details about the funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.
Deutsch's passing marks a significant loss for Israel's ultra-Orthodox community and leaves a leadership vacuum in the Jerusalem Faction, which he had led for several years.
May his memory be a blessing.
Who is the Peleg Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Faction)?
A hardline ultra-Orthodox Jewish group which champions complete separation from modern society and staunch opposition to military service.
The group split from the mainstream Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community in 2012, pushing for even stricter religious observance and isolation from secular influence. It particularly opposes any cooperation with Israel's military draft, higher education, or workforce integration - positions that often put it at odds with both the Israeli government and more moderate ultra-Orthodox leaders.
Following the death of its founder, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach, in 2018, the group has been led by a council of rabbis who maintain its fierce independence from mainstream ultra-Orthodox society. The Faction operates its own educational institutions and communities, creating what amounts to a society within a society in Israel's already complex religious landscape.
The group's influence has been particularly notable in its protests against military service and its resistance to government funding for religious schools, arguing that any state support could compromise religious purity. These positions have frequently led to tensions with authorities and occasionally to street protests in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.
