1st Yartzeit of Rabbi Giter Marked

Photos: Tzvi Perlow

A new Torah is being written in memory of Rabbi Gershon Giter OBM, an individual who managed to change the people and world around him in his short time on this earth.

Rabbi Gershon Giter was born in Leningrad in 1954 to a family of earnest musicians. The times in Russia were tough for the Jews, void of any Jewish life or education. Rabbi Giter grew up being persecuted for his very identity. Despite the immense pressure and brutal dehumanization, Rabbi Giter kept steadfast and strong against the communists and miraculously made it to the US in 1979. He subsequently married his wife, Rebbitzen Leah Giter, and brought up a beautiful chassiddishe home with the warmth and light of Torah.

This past Chof Av marked the first Yarzeit of Rabbi Giter. Friends and family gathered in the very Shul visited by Rabbi Giter on a daily basis, Adath Israel Synagogue.

The event was marked with renowned sofer, Rabbi Moshe Klein, along with his parchment and ink to begin writing “Rabbi Giter’s Sefer Torah.” Each family member wrote a letter corresponding to their name, followed by the guests in attendance.

The evening began with Rabbi Reuven Giter as the emcee, sharing thoughts about his fathers deep commitment to his children’s spiritual education. Reuven related how on one icy Shabbos morning as a young boy, he and his father took the usual trek to mikvah. Upon arrival, it was pretty clear that the room was quite cold, if not the equivalent temperature of the below zero weather outside. Much to Reuven’s dismay, his shivering father dunked himself in the freezing mikva, and of course he followed suit. This left a deep impression upon Reuven. “It is no mistake that my father passed away on Chof Av, the same day as Reb Levi Yitchak Schneersohn, the Rebbe’s father, who spread Torah and stood up to the communists, ultimately giving his life for the cause.”

Rabbi Asher Zeilengold, Rabbi of Adath Israel Synagogue, began by describing the many chuppahs Rabbi Giter conducted, which resulted in many warm Jewish homes filled with Torah and Mitzvos. Rabbi Zeilengold went on to describe Rabbi Giter’s deeply accomplished life, making every day count without putting anything off.

Among the guests was Mr. Shlomo Birman, a supporter and congregant of Rabbi Giter’s. Mr. Birman articulated how Rabbi Giter completely changed his perspective, way of thinking, and life. Mr. Birman, a young immigrant who was fascinated by the American dream, wished to lead a rich and luxurious life style. Upon meeting Rabbi Giter, he learned how to daven with a minyan, and began thinking and living like a Jew. Mr. Birman also described his cozy late night dinners with Rabbi and Mrs. Giter, when he and his wife would leave way past midnight. The discussion were always lively and deep, answering any and all questions Mr. Birman may have had.

Mrs. Miriam Assayag, eldest daughter to Rabbi Giter, spoke candidly about what she learned from her father, including many valuable character traits and lessons. Miriam concluded: ‘Tatty, I love you and miss you so much, and I know, because you told me, ut ut kumt Moshiach”.

A student visiting from Rabbinical College of America in Morristown, NJ, Yosef Katzev gave over his initial introduction to Rabbi Giter. He described the Rabbi’s successful quest to have Yosef over for Shabbos dinner. “Rabbi Giter taught by example, and through the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rabbi taught me and many others to hold the benchmark high. He engrained in me to never accept complacency and always challenge ourselves to grow in our connection to Hashem. How befitting it is, to start a Sefer Torah, something Rabbi Giter gave his life for.”

Rabbi Manis Friedman, a close friend of Rabbi Giter’s, shared a few words on the electricity Rabbi Giter inserted into his life. Rabbi Friedman described the meaning of a healthy person – one, whose body listens to its mind. He explained how a truly healthy person is one whose mind is able to pursue the purpose for which we exist. To quote, “Rabbi Giter was a healthy person. He was truly alive for every moment of his life. The life he lived made the people around him want what he had. What we need to do, to learn from him, to honor his legacy, is to want what he had. We need to have a body that does what its told and to have a mind that looks every day for what has to be accomplished, what should be accomplished, and then go for it. Go do it.”

Mendy, the youngest of the children, spoke eloquently about his nurturing childhood and his personal perspective of his father. His persistence and perseverance, using each day to its fullest, and living by example, to name a few, where some of the deep rooted lessons Mendy learned from his father. He also mentioned Rabbi Giter’s top priority: making sure children had a Jewish education, often paying for tuition himself. Mendy also shared a story of his fathers sacrifice and the miraculous last Pesach he celebrated with the family and Shul.

Among the participants, Mrs. Yana Slobodyanyuk relates: “Rabbi Giter touched so many people its just impossible to imagine. Everyone was touched some way or another. I remember some time ago, I hosted a Friday night dinner at my house for some young boys in our community who were departing town to achieve bigger and greater things. As I looked around the table, I realized how all 9 of the boys sitting there had started off by Rabbi Giter as teenagers going to public school and are now committed and involved in Judaism on a regular basis. Now that is unbelievable: the breadth of his involvement and change he has brought on our community.”