Search
Close this search box.

AUDIO: Rav Gifter Talks About Jews Meeting With Pope


Recently, a group of Jews met with the Pope in the Vatican. The story was covered extensively on YWN, and many videos were viral on social media.

Many were angry and upset with the way the visit was done, while many defended the group.

YWN is doing neither – but today we are simply publishing an audio clip of the Telzer Rosh HaYeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Mordechai Gifter ZATZAL, who spoke about a group of Jews that met with a previous Pope when he visited Miami.

Rav Mordechai Gifter (October 15, 1915 – January 18, 2001) was the Rosh Yeshiva of the Telz Yeshiva in Cleveland and among the foremost religious leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the late 20th century.

For many years he led the presidium and leadership council Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel of America. He was one of the most electrifying speakers in the Jewish world.



12 Responses

  1. Please also list the differences between this Pope that this group of Jews met and the one who was Pope when Rav Gifter was alive. Please possibly mention how this Pope was the first Latin American Pope as opposed to all other Popes that have come from Europe. Also please let us know what Rav Gifters response would have been if he heard why Rav Gluck went.

  2. This is very nice. I do not believe that this clip is the entire shmus from the Rosh Yeshiva, zt”l , zy”a.

    You should post the entire shmus. While YWN states “YWN is doing neither – but today we are simply publishing an audio clip of the Telzer Rosh HaYeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Mordechai Gifter ZATZAL,”, by not publishing the entire shmus, the YWN is making a statement.

    Those who knew the late Rosh HaYeshiva, zt”l, zy”a can attest that he would want the entire shmus posted.

  3. This scenario however lichora seems that It’s totally different. They were going to talk to him for a specific purpose not to go greet him to pay respect.

  4. With all due respect to the Rabbonim that spoke on another topic and not on those that had a specific meeting with the Pope on a set agenda. The work that Rabbi Gluck does and the work of others in Europe do for the preservation of Jewish graves is on another realm of conversation. Jews are a world minority and need to foster partnerships in order to preserve our history, religious sites or have advocates to help in our world interests to combat anti-antisemitism. Anyone that understands the difficulty of what they do on a regular basis to avoid desecration of our history, like stopping governments from building roads over Rabbis and your family burial places to ensuring maintenance of these sites, would be donating or singing their praises. I have personally seen first hand this success and had the opportunity to assist in only one case. Keep up the great work on preserving our heritage with whatever means you need and you think is necessary, there are always critics but few who step up to the plate to do their work.

  5. NYC JEW,
    Well said.

    I want to add in addition to preserving the sites in Europe, Zvi Gluck with his organization, Amudim, is preserving the well being and lives of many. His organization is now fielding 250 plus calls a day. Kudos to Zvi and wishing him much hatzlocha in his life saving work.

    Kudos to those who took on the challenge and meet with the Pope for Kiddush Shem Shomayim.

  6. NYC,
    no one questions Rabbi Gluck’s integrity, it’s the other ones who take the meeting as a Zchus and opportunity to be “lucky” to meet the famous Pope. On that, thanks for YWN for posting da’as Torah.
    Rather than taking it as the Talmud would state כאילו כפאו שד

  7. As far as I know they didn’t just have a meeting but they made a whole greeting ceremony which is disgusting. Maybe they had an important issue to discuss but if they would’ve heard this shmuz first I’m sure they would’ve done things differently

Leave a Reply


Popular Posts