Ultra-religious Jews push for a last touch as they crowd round the shroud-covered body of Rabbi Pinhas Menahem Alter (C), leader of the Jewish Hassidic sect of Gur who died March 7 aged 69. Thousands of followers turned out in pouring rain for the funeral through the streets of the Mea Shearim neighborhood. Some of the men wear plastic bags on their hats to protect them from the rain while others hold onto their hats from fear of losing them to the wind.

ISRAEL RABBI