in Hashkafa
A Talmid Reflects
By Rabbi Rueven Gerson When Rav Tzvi Markowitz zt”l, the chief rabbi of Ramat Gan was asked why he doesn’t tell stories of his great Rebbe, Rav Shimon Shkop, he would say, “generally people...
in Hashkafa
By an Anonymous, Loving Talmid
The 15th yahrzeit of the Rosh HaYeshiva HoRav Mordechai Gifter, זצוק״ל has arrived (he was niftar on the 23rd of Teves.) I am a Telzer talmid, Baruch Hashem, and it was the only yeshiva where...
in Hashkafa
Advice for Parents on Chanukah
Chanukah has become a festival in Jewish life although it lacks, in its origin, all the elements of the Yamim Tovim. These eight days were orginially days dedicated to Hallel and Hoda’ah — Praise and...
in Hashkafa
Deepening and Broadening Our Link with Divinity
By Rav Mordechai Gifter, ZT”L, Rosh Hayeshiva, Telshe Yeshiva Originally published in Elul, 5747 We have entered the month of Elul in the Jewish year, the month preparatory to the High Holy Days. The need...
in Hashkafa
Elul Teaches Us to Value Time
What would you do if you saw a person puncturing his own life vein, drawing forth his own blood? You might say to him, “What is wrong with you? You are committing suicide!” What would...
in Hashkafa
Kzos, Nesivos … and College
Submitted to a publication anonymously as “Observer” by HaRav Mordechai Gifter, zt”l. There is a tendency in American culture, and Western culture in general, that youth understands the problems of present day living better than...
in Hashkafa
Shemini Atzeres
An English abridgement of a lecture delivered on Yom Tov, and published in Pirkei Emunah pp.333-334. Translated by Rabbi Israel Schneider. The Sages have compared Sukkos and Shemini Atzeres to one who invites his many...
in Hashkafa
Talmudic Jurisprudence* Maran HaGoan HaRav Mordechai Gifter ZT”L
This sophisticated yet clearly written article by Rav Gifter, zt”l, about Torah law was published in the fall of 1958 in a journal entitled “Law in a Troubled World” by Cleveland College and the Franklin...
in Hashkafa
The Business of the Torah
Delivered at Telshe by Rosh HaYeshiva Maran HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Gifter, ZT”L on the Holy Shabbos Va’eschonon, 1969 “Beware, lest your heart become allured, and you will stray to serve other gods and prostrate before...
in Hashkafa
The Mitzvah of the Succah
by Rabbi Rabbi Israel Schneider. Rabbi Schneider studied in Telshe Yeshiva for about 20 years. In that period...
in Hashkafa
The Obligation of a Person to Cheer Himself (With Wine) on Purim
By Rav Mordechai Gifter, zt”l Translated by Rabbi Israel Schneider, shlit”a In explanation of the dictum (Megillah 7b): It is incumbent upon a person to cheer himself on Purim until he cannot tell...
in Politics
The Strength of Jews is in Torah
In December of 1973, Rav Mordechai Gifter addressed over 500 people at the annual banquet of the Telshe Yeshiva. Israel had just endured the Yom Kippur war. Rav Gifter’s remarks about those times bring the...
in Hashkafa
The Struggles of the Jew in Golus
Based on an address delivered at national convention of Agudath Israel of America 1988. THE ROLE OF THE JEW IN GOLUS The Jew in Golus: We are all aware that at specific points in history...
in Hashkafa
The Torah Life
Based on a Shiur Daas delivered by the Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Mordechai Gifter, zt”l In the liturgical thanksgiving which we recite on Chanukah, it states: “When the wicked Greek kingdom rose up against Your people...
in Hashkafa, Politics
Why The Restlessness?
Comments on the State of the Union Address Given By President Lyndon B. Johnson in January of 1968 By Maran HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Gifter, Zt”L. The President in his last State of the Union message dealt with two...