One person who was never intimidated by people of power and influence was the great Telsher Rosh HaYeshivah, R’ Mordechai Gifter zt”l. His passion for Torah was combined with his incredible common sense and practical view of the world. He learned this outlook and hashkafah in Telz, in Lithuania. He saw it in his father-in-law, R’ Zalman Bloch zt”l Hy”d, and the Roshei HaYeshivah, R’ Avraham Yitzchok Bloch zt”l Hy”d, and R’ Elya Meir Bloch zt”l.
Although America was viewed by many as a spiritually desolate wasteland, it was actually Lithuania of all places where the spirit of heresy and hatred of Torah was very strong. Consequently, Rav Gifter began his crusade against those who threatened the authenticity of Torah and the honor of the Almighty while he was still a bochur back in Telz.
As a young man, Mordechai Gifter did not hesitate to express himself when he felt things needed to be said. Once, he spoke in a shul in the Lithuanian town of Shadav on a Shabbos when the Haftarah of “Shimu d’var Hashem” was read. It was during the days leading up to Tishah B’Av, and this Haftarah speaks of the truth of the authentic prophets and the falsehood of others. The young, fearless Mordechai Gifter was renowned even at a younger age as a proficient and inspirational orator, and he spoke about how disgraceful it is that there are those who respect and refer to the non-religious poet, Chaim Bialik, as a prophet. “Not only is Bialik not a real prophet, he is not even to be considered one of the prophets of the Baal (an idol)!”
The editor of the newspaper Dos Vort, an organ of the Zionist Socialist party, was in the audience that day, and he became upset at the chutzpah of this young man. He immediately called out the bochur in public and challenged his words. In sharp and condescending language, he told Mordechai to sit down and keep quiet. But Mordechai would not back off; if anything, the challenge against him strengthened his resolve. Soon the entire synagogue was in an uproar and a verbal battle raged. Most of the people took the editor’s side, and they attempted to gang up on the young yeshivah bochur from Telz.
But Mordechai fought back tooth and nail, not budging an inch. Finally, unable to make headway with the congregants, Mordechai called out in a loud, booming voice, “Shadaver baalebatim! Ir hut nit dem gehareggen kavod fahr a Torah(dikke) vort. Ir zeit aleh pusta amaratzim! Un deriber, gei ich arup” (People of Shadav! You have no respect for the words of Torah! You are all ignoramuses! And this is why I am stepping down!) With that, a sense of calm prevailed and the congregants tried to calm him down and convince him to continue his speech, but he refused.
When Mordechai returned to the yeshivah, he worried about what his rebbeim would say when they heard the story. He was pleasantly surprised to find that they had only compliments for him. They assured him that his actions constituted a Kiddush Hashem and agreed that more young men like him were needed. Mordechai would not disappoint them.
On another occasion, however, there was an instance where the young bochur did go a bit overboard. In Telz, a group of non-religious Jews held a rally that was fiercely anti-Torah. Taking matters into his own hands, young Mordechai (he was even younger than in the previous story) tried to disperse the crowds that had gathered for the meeting by rushing into the room and yelling, “FIRE!” Needless to say, there was a stampede toward the door. Pandemonium ensued and the meeting was interrupted. It took a few minutes to determine there was no emergency. Luckily, no one got hurt.
This time the Roshei HaYeshivah decided that Mordechai Gifter had gone too far. They told him to learn in another Beis Medrash (instead of the yeshivah) for three days as a punishment for his outburst. His rebbi explained to him that his action did not constitute zealotry (kana’us); it was wildness and recklessness (pera’us). A ben Torah must learn to recognize the difference between a positive action and one that is dangerous. He learned from his mistake, and it would never happen again.
Indeed, the Roshei HaYeshivah knew that they had a future Torah giant in young Mordechai Gifter, but they also knew that he had to be taught when and where to use his uniquely powerful and dynamic mode of speech. Endangering people’s lives and creating chaos to make a point was not the way of Telz, nor the way of Bnei Torah.
(Adapted from Rav Gifter, by R’ Yechiel Spero)
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.