Departures of note

Rabbi Yaakov Aharon Farber was a prominent member of the Belz Hasidic community and a vocal advocate for Haredi participation in Israeli society. In 2024 he established Ma'alot Tzur, a program that offered short military training, a specialized course, and post‑service employment to ultra‑Orthodox men, successfully enlisting around 500 yeshiva students. The initiative drew both praise for promoting civic duty and criticism from segments of the Haredi community, leading to public protests outside his home.

Farber also worked on broader integration projects for Haredim in the labor market before shifting his focus to army recruitment after the October 7 war. He was known for drafting a rights document to protect the religious identity of enlisted soldiers. His efforts made him a notable public figure in Israeli media and within the Haredi community.

Farber died at the age of 32 during a medical procedure on the morning of July 27, 2026. His funeral was held at Har HaMenuchot in Givat Shaul, with processions beginning at the Belz Great Synagogue. He is survived by his wife and six children, the youngest being four months old.