Rav Avrohom Chaim Feuer shares his privileged view of Rav Mordechai Gifter

Photos: Reuven Photography, AEGedolim
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While Rav Mordechai Gifter ztz”l has been gone for over two decades, for his son-in-law Rav Avrohom Chaim Feuer, the Rosh Yeshivah is still very much present, continuing to inspire with his trademark confidence and encouragement in the face of distractions — a prescient message in these complex times. Rav Feuer and his Rebbetzin open a door to the man the world knew as a leader, but for them, the father they could always count on

I vividly recall the frequent ten-hour drives from hometown Toronto to yeshivah in New York and vice versa. There was a giddy excitement as the group of five or six of us would clamber into a newly rented car, armed with basic necessities: MBD, Avraham Fried, Yaakov Shwekey (Ishay Ribo wasn’t around then). But one of the fellows didn’t care much for music — when he was in the driver’s seat, his choice of entertainment was something else entirely.

The audio was muffled and warbly, but that didn’t stop the magnetic energy from transcending the tape deck. The voice was deep and guttural, punctuated by an antiquated American dialect and accentuated by a blazing passion. The vocabulary was exquisite, yielding words that hovered well outside of our limited yeshivish lexicon but then, seamlessly, would switch to a rich, soulful Yiddish.

Is the neshamah there, or is it only lip service? And when we ask of Hashem, “chaneinu mei’iticha dei’ah,” do we feel that we are really speaking to One who can give us wisdom? And then we stand and beg of Him, “Ribbono shel Olam, I need it so badly — give it to me!” Do we really feel that? And we follow up with “s’lach lanu avinu ki chatanu — forgive us for we have sinned!” It’s something we say three times a day, not just on Yom Kippur, but are we even conscious of what we are saying?

With the word “chatanu!” the entire car could begin to shake. The concepts may be well-known, but the words took on a life of their own.

This was Rav Mordechai Gifter ztz”l, late rosh yeshivah of Telshe Cleveland and his delivery presented something no music could offer. With his trademark eloquence, he bridged between past and present, America and Europe, exalted spheres and firm earthly ground.

And while his passing on 23 Teves 5761 (January 2001) left so many bereft of a much beloved rebbi, Rav Gifter’s legacy indeed continues, through his Torah, through his impact, and, most of all, through his children.

Rav Avrohom Chaim Feuer is the son-in-law of Rav Gifter and an outstanding talmid chacham in his own right. Having served as a rav for many decades and compiled and translated dozens of works, including such classics as ArtScroll’s Interlinear Tehillim, Kinnos, Selichos, Iggeres HaRamban, Shemoneh Esreh, Tashlich, Tzedakah Treasury, and so many others, Rav Feuer’s imprint on the American Torah world has become indelible. Yet, much as he is a teacher, he remains a student. Rav Gifter continues to be not only Rav Feuer’s dear father-in-law, but his mentor and inspiration. Together with his wife, Rebbetzin Luba Feuer, they open the door to the man the world knew as a leader, but they knew as a father.