Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Farber, founder of Ma'alot Tzur haredi enlistment program, dies at 32

Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Farber, founder and CEO of Ma'alot Tzur, a program integrating Haredi men into the IDF, died Monday at 32 during a medical procedure. He enlisted about 500 yeshiva students, the highest number of haredi recruits in years, despite heavy criticism from parts of the Haredi community. He leaves a wife and six children.

Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Farber, founder and CEO of Ma'alot Tzur, a program that helped integrate Haredi men into the IDF, passed away early Monday morning at the age of 32 during a medical procedure. Farber established Ma'alot Tzur almost two years ago and successfully enlisted approximately 500 yeshiva students, the highest number of haredi recruits in years, according to the program's spokesperson. He faced heavy criticism from segments of the Haredi community, with demonstrators protesting outside his home and publicly criticizing him. Prior to the war, Farber worked to integrate haredim into the labor market, shifting into army recruitment post-October 7. In an interview with Ynet, he said his goal was to organize a rights document that enshrines the rights of the enlistees, ensuring they enter and leave as ultra-Orthodox. The announcement of his death noted he was a prominent community member and activist of the Belz Hasidic dynasty. His funeral was held at Har HaMenuchot in Givat Shaul, with processions starting at the Belz Great Synagogue. He leaves behind a wife and six children, including the youngest, who is just four months old.