Rabbi Yaakov Farber, Founder of Haredi IDF Track, Dies at 32
Published
Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Farber, founder of the Maalot Tzur program for Haredi men in technical IDF service, died overnight at 32 after a long illness. Farber, a Belz Hasid from Givat Ze'ev, worked under rabbinic guidance to build tracks that preserved Torah observance. The program offered civilian dress, strict kosher food and Torah study while participants filled technical roles. After October 7, Farber worked with the IDF and Labor Ministry to align military and workforce needs with the religious requirements of Haredi participants.
Sources
Difference in reporting
Sources factually disagree on the number of Farber's children: Israel Hayom describes him as a father of five; Behadrei Haredim says he left six children. The remaining facts are uniform: Farber died at 32 and led the Maalot Tzur program for Haredi military service.
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