Mordechai Gifter

Mordechai Gifter (October 15, 1915 - January 18, 2001) was an American Haredi rabbi. He was the rosh yeshiva (dean) of the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland. He lived in Israel for approximately two years, and is buried there.

Rabbi Gifter studied in yeshivas in Lithuania, and held several rabbinical positions in the United States.

Early life and education Gifter was born in Portsmouth, Virginia to Yisrael and Matla (May) Gifter. He was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where his father owned a grocery. was the dean of the seminary.

Career Shortly thereafter, Gifter was appointed to the pulpit of the Nusach Ari Synagogue in northwest Baltimore. In addition to his rabbinic position, Gifter was appointed an adjunct lecturer at the expanding Ner Israel Rabbinical College headed by Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman. He was the first native Baltimorean to lead a congregation in the city.

In 1941, Gifter moved to Waterbury, Connecticut and assumed a rabbinic pulpit in that community.

For many years, Gifter led the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (presidium and leadership council) of Agudath Israel of America. He maintained a relationship with his first faculty position at Ner Israel Rabbinical College, returning to Baltimore annually to visit his daughter and son-in-law and friends.

Gifter died in 2001, having suffered numerous ailments for many years prior to his death. He was eulogized by Dovid Barkin, among others.

Family Gifter was survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters.

Controversy As a leading Haredi scholar, Gifter frequently addressed controversial topics. In one lecture, he sharply berated Haskel Lookstein for his condemnation of Elazar Shach's criticism of Adin Steinsaltz.

Works Writings Gifter was a prolific writer. As a young man he authored articles on some of the most complicated issues in Jewish Law, which were published in the Talmudic law Journal of Tzvi Pesach Frank.

He published numerous books on Jewish Law, philosophy, theology and bible. He was a frequent contributor to many scholarly journals, and once wrote an article for the Western Reserve University Law Review.

Among his books are:

Hebrew: Pirkei Torah - Commentary on the Bible. Hirhurei Teshuva - Commentary on Maimonides' Laws of Repentance. Pitei Mincha - Commentary on the Minchas Chinuch. Pirkei Iyun - Commentary on the Talmudic Tractate Makkos. Pirkei Moed - Commentary on the Festivals.

English: Torah Perspectives - Essay on a variety of topics. Pirkei Torah - Commentary on the Bible.