Rav Mordechai Gifter - כג טבת

Yahrtzeit Yomi #900!! כג טבת Rav Mordechai Gifter Rav of Waterbury CT רב מרדכי ב״ר ישראל גיפטר (1915 - 2001) SPECIAL 900TH EDITION!! Today, 23 Teves, marks the 23rd Yahrtzeit of Rav Mordechai Gifter ZTL The connection between the Talmidim of Waterbury and Rav Gifter ZTL is as poignant as it is obvious: Rav Gifter was the revered and beloved Rav of the fledgling Waterbury community from 1941 until 1944!! Rather than my own feeble attempt at portraying Rav Gifter’s thoughts as to his years as Rav of the Waterbury Kehilla, I will heretofore transcribe Rav Gifter’s own words (Rav Gifter was renowned for his impeccable eloquence and unique oratory skills). The following is excerpted from remarks which Rav Gifter delivered as the Opening Lecturer of the Community Lecture Series in Cleveland Ohio, in the year 1991, on the topic of “Diversity in Orthodoxy”: “Good evening my friends. When I was asked to speak tonight, on the influence of the Telshe Yeshiva upon the Jewish community, I wasn’t aware of the fact that it was part of a discussion on Diversity in Orthodox Judaism. You see, my friends, I’m not an Orthodox Jew. I’m at Torah Jew! Orthodoxy is strange to me. For years and years, I’ve been saying this over and over again, that this Greek term “or·tho·dox” doesn’t quite well describe what we Torah Jews believe in. And therefore, I will not be engaged in “orthodoxy” tonight, but rather in speaking a bit about Torah Jews..........” (Rav Gifter then shares his own personal feelings