23rd of Teves is the 10th yarzeit of Rav Gifter of Telz
By his grandson, Rav Chaim Charlap*
Ten years have gone by since the passing of Rosh Mishpachtainu, a leader of Klal Yisroel, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva Rav Mordecai Gifter zt”l. What more can be said that has not yet been mentioned? There is one aspect of his life has not been addressed - his warm and deep relationship with his first son-in-law, Rav Ephraim Eisenberg zt”l, a master maggid shiur at Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, who was niftar ton 16 Sivan 5762.
My father-in law, Rav Ephraim zt”l, was a talmid muvhak of Rav Ruderman zt”l, Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisroel. Rav Ruderman loved his prize student and suggested him as a son-in-law to his close friend Rav Gifter. After the engagement, Rav Gifter wrote a letter to the Steipler zt”l informing him of the shidduch. He asked the Steipler to please send a telegram to the chosson and kalla to give them a Bracha. The Steipler answered Rav Gifter, “Although it is difficult for me to stand in line in the Post Office, I know I am
obligated to do so out of respect for Rav Gifter’s greatness in Torah.” The Steipler then wrote a heartwarming bracha: “May they be zocheh to a beautiful marriage…upright children…good fortune in ruchnius and gashmius…The chosson…grow in Torah and yiras shamayim and be marbitz Torah in Klal Yisroel.” The Steipler’s bracha was fulfilled and Rav Ephraim zt”l
became an exceptional marbitz Torah and molded hundreds of talmidim in Torah and yiras shamayim.
Rav Gifter wrote a treasure of letters to Rav Ephraim’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman (Chaim) Eisenberg z”l, founders of Torah education in Hartford, Connecticut. These letters are testimony to Rav Gifter’s great love of my fatherin- law, Rav Ephraim. In one letter the Zeide writes: “Ephraim’s Torah is of inestimable value. I consider him a yachid s’gula b”h in many respects…I consider Reb Ephraim’s Torah a zchus for all of us.” He then
relates the following story that has been passed down for generations in our family. Our great great grandfather, Reb Leizer Telzer, married the daughter of Reb Avrohom Itzel Novazer z”l, a Dayan in Kovno. His father-in-law helped him financially for many years as the family grew. Once his mother-in-law asked, “How long will we continue to support him? When will he go out and get a Rabbanus?” Reb Avrohom Itzel answered, “Who knows if we are sustaining him or if he is sustaining us? We are living in the merit of his Torah
learning.” The day that Reb Leizer accepted his first position as a Rav his father-in-law passed away. This is our Mesora. This is how the Torah wants us to view our children who are sitting and learning. We are being sustained by them.
Important Numbers
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