YWN regrets to inform its readers of the petirah of Harav Yitzchak Alster zt”l, a distinguished talmid chochom, revered marbitz Torah, gifted baal menagen, and one of the most devoted talmidim of Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Hutner zt”l.

Harav Alster was niftar on Erev Shabbos, leaving behind generations of talmidim and admirers who were profoundly influenced by his Torah, wisdom, warmth, and unique personality.

Born in Cologne, Germany, to Reb Tzvi Alster z”l, Rav Alster emigrated with his family to the United States before the outbreak of World War II. His father, who was deeply committed to preserving Torah life in America during an era when many Jewish children were attending public schools, was among those who sacrificed greatly to strengthen authentic Yiddishkeit in Chicago.

As a young man, Rav Alster became one of the closest and most devoted talmidim of Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Hutner zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin and author of Pachad Yitzchak. For more than seven decades, he carried the teachings, spirit, and vision of his rebbi, transmitting them to thousands through his shiurim, institutions, writings, and personal example.

Throughout his life, he remained deeply connected to Rav Hutner’s hashkafah and authored several English-language works based on his rebbi’s philosophy, in addition to publishing his own seforim series, Olas Yitzchak.

In 1967, Rav Alster founded the Yeshiva Gedolah of Pittsburgh, where he served as rosh yeshiva and shaped countless talmidim. Nearly two decades later, in 1985, he established Kollel HaTorah in Flatbush for businessmen and professionals, operating within Kehillas Veretzky. Widely regarded as the first kollel of its kind for working baalei batim, it became a model for similar programs that followed.

After relocating to Eretz Yisrael in 2004, Rav Alster settled in Har Nof and founded Kollel Nachalas Tzvi, serving the English-speaking Torah community of Yerushalayim.

Alongside his accomplishments in Torah, Rav Alster possessed another extraordinary gift: music.

His compositions became woven into the soundtrack of yeshivos, batei medrash, and Jewish homes throughout the world. His stirring “Vehaviosim El Har Kodshi” first appeared on the iconic Torah Lives and Sings album produced by Yeshivas Chaim Berlin. That album also featured several of his other beloved compositions, including Heviani, Pischu Li, Dovkah Nafshi, and his celebrated Yedid Nefesh

His melodies combined depth, yearning, and simplicity, allowing them to transcend communities and generations. To this day, Yedid Nefesh and Vehaviosim remain among the most beloved and widely sung niggunim in the Torah world.

Those who knew Rav Alster describe a man of exceptional refinement, humility, warmth, and sincerity. His home was open to all, and his life reflected a rare blend of profound Torah scholarship, inner spirituality, joy, and ahavas Yisrael.

Harav Alster is survived by his wife, Mrs. Rachel Alster; his daughter, Mrs. Gitty Kaplan; his son, Harav Amram Moshe Alster; and his son-in-law, Harav Chaim Yitzchak Kaplan, Mashgiach of Yeshivas Chevron Knesses Yisrael and a ram in Yeshivas Pachad Yitzchak.

The levayah was held Friday afternoon from Kehillas Bnei Torah in Har Nof and proceeded to Beis Hachaim Eretz Hachaim near Beit Shemesh.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)