Rav Alter Eliyahu Rubinstein

Early years

Rav Alter Eliyahu Rubinstein zt"l was born on 17 Kislev 5707 (1946) in Sighet, Romania. As a young child he moved with his father, Rav Efraim Fishel Halevi Rubinstein, and his mother to Eretz Yisroel, where the family settled in Beit Gamliel.

Before his bar mitzvah he learned under the Kretchenifer Rebbe in Rechovot. He later continued his studies in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, under the Klausenburger Rebbe, who recognised his talents and taught him personally. He was considered a talmid muvhak (closest student) of the Rebbe.

Torah and leadership

Rav Alter Eliyahu married the daughter of Rav Yehoshua Deutsch, Rav of the Katamon neighbourhood of Yerushalayim. The Klausenburger Rebbe himself was the shadchan (matchmaker). After the chasuna, Rav Alter Eliyahu joined a select group of yungeleit (young married scholars) who learned horaah (practical halachic ruling) with the Rebbe every day, and the Rebbe granted him semichah (rabbinic ordination).

The Klausenburger Rebbe later appointed him to head the Sanzer Kollel in Yerushalayim. Afterwards he was installed as Rav of the Heichal Tzvi beis medrash of Sanz-Klausenburg in Batei Varsha, Yerushalayim, a post he held from 5730 (1970) until 5753 (1993). During those years he published his sefer, Migdanos Eliyahu. He also left many manuscripts of chiddushim, including hundreds of halachic teshuvos.

In 5753 (1993) he was appointed Rav of the Shomrei Hachomos kehillah in Ramat Shlomo, Yerushalayim. He served there until less than a year before his petirah, when he left to lead the community of Antwerp.

In Sivan 5764 (2004) he was installed as Rav of Antwerp, succeeding Rav Chaim Kreiswirth. In the short time he served the kehillah, he won its heart. He shared in people's joys and sorrows, his door was open to everyone who sought advice, and he made great efforts to attend community events.

Rav Alter Eliyahu was known for keeping far from machlokes (strife) and for preventing quarrels among Yidden.

On Shabbos Hagadol he spoke to the Antwerp kehillah about the hardships local families were facing in earning a parnassah (livelihood), and he urged the wealthy members of the community to help those less fortunate.

Later years and passing

In his last week he gave a shiur on Sefiras Ha'omer to the Antwerp yeshivah bochurim before they left for Eretz Yisroel for the summer zman (term).

During his final days, Rav Alter Eliyahu said several times that he wanted to be in Eretz Yisroel on Lag BaOmer. At 2 a.m. on the night of Lag BaOmer, his neshamah returned to its Maker. He was buried on Har Hamenuchos.