Although there are exceptions, Jewish law considers a potential life to trump most other concerns, writes the director of public affairs for the haredi Orthodox Agudath Israel of America.
The non-Chasidic haredi community went to Rabbi Elyashiv as the final arbiter for any dilemma, not just in the field of religious practice, but also in matters of politics, business and even matchmaking. Followers saw him as the Gadol Hador — the greatest of his generation.