Farewell to the groundbreaking rabbi who passed away at 32: "Haredi enlistment burned in him"
Yaakov Farber, founder of a program for integrating Haredim into the IDF, passed away at 32. Rabbi Yonatan Ries eulogizes his brother-in-law and partner, highlighting his character against the backdrop of scandalous reactions from extremist elements: "The recruiter croaked."
Rabbi Yonatan Ries eulogized his brother-in-law and partner in the path of integrating Haredim into the IDF, the late Yaakov Farber, who passed away on Sunday. Ries defined the 32-year-old Farber, founder of the "Maalot Tzur" program, as a person of deep faith and mission who acted to help Haredi avrechim earn a living with dignity.
Rabbi Ries described how Farber promoted enlistment:
"After October 7, he understood that the war effort needed to be part of the national story, with the backing of the great sages of Israel. He directed these avrechim to designated units in the IDF, where they could contribute to the state. He always acted from a place of respect for IDF commanders. In recent years, he battled a difficult illness, yet even without a drop of energy, he would answer calls and promote his work. It burned in his soul."
When asked about dealing with pressure from extremist elements in the Haredi sector, Rabbi Ries replied:
"Most of the time he didn't really relate to it, because he had the absolute backing of the great sages of Israel, including the Belz, Sanz, and Karlin Hasidic groups. We are talking about groups of extremists who even beat great rabbis, so he didn't let it affect him. He was very determined."
In painful farewell words, Rabbi Ries addressed the family's situation: "He left behind six young children, so the pain is great. He utilized every moment of his life; there was not a dull moment. This is a small comfort in such a complex situation."
Meanwhile, on the "Defense Line" of the Jerusalem Faction, they reported Farber's death with hostility, writing: "At the loss of the wicked there is joy, the recruiter who founded Maalot Tzur croaked an hour ago; from now on he will not be able to recruit Haredim."
