Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman

Revered leader of Israel’s non-hasidic ultra-orthodox Jews

Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, the spiritual leader of Israel’s non-hasidic ultraorthodox Jews of European descent and one of the country’s most influential and powerful rabbis, has died at the age of 104.

Hundreds of thousands of people attended his funeral in the central Israeli ultra-orthodox city of Bnei Brak.

Shteinman was a longtime political kingmaker whose orders were strictly followed by his representatives in parliament. His influence, however, far surpassed 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 about 12 per cent of Israel’s 8.7 million citizens, with most 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 military.

In recent years, he had faced a challenge from a more extremist rabbi in Jerusalem who sent thousands into the street to protest at the small numbers of ultra-orthodox who have enlisted.

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, an expert on the ultra-orthodox community, said that until 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”.