TWENTY-TWO YEARS OF RAV GAL’S SHIURIM

By Simcha Zilberman

Givatayim

“Gal Einai V’Abita Niflaos MiTorasecha.” (Open my eyes, that I may behold wonders from Your Torah). 

“V’nigla K’vod Hashem. U’Mal’a HaAretz Dei’a Es Hashem KaMayim LaYam Mechasim.” (And the glory of G-d will be revealed. And the earth will be filled with knowledge of G-d as water covers the sea bed).

That sums up the soul that I got to know in my teacher and rebbi, Mordechai (Motty) Gal. It is no coincidence that the Hebrew family name that was chosen for him revealed a wondrous aspect of his neshama, that aspect that was encapsulated by the s’firos of Chochma, Bina and Daas of his soul which he toiled to refine. At the same time, in the shiurim he delivered it was clear that it was not only through his intellect that he acquired his understanding of Chassidus and Kabbala, but also with deep love of G-d and Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim beyond all reason.

Being an intellectual did not diminish his ability to listen. He was possessed of refined character traits such as those which motivated him not to stop giving. Listening to the needs of others spurred him on to be involved in giving. His giving began with supplying the material needs of the poor and dispirited, extended to giving emotional support to the downtrodden, and concluded with seeking ways to bringing the Geula.

On a personal note, we called him Motty. He was our rav but above all else, he was a friend. He loved the shiurim he organized on Fridays, which we kept attending for over twenty years. We collected a group of students about whom it can be said, “And from my students more than all.” In these shiurim, another trait of his stood out, the trait of being willing to receive. He was open to an array of views, he listened, he agreed or corrected and only rarely dismissed.

It was a pleasure and maybe beyond that to see the great patience he exhibited toward new views which were not in sync with the party line. It was this trait that sometimes led to astonishing and novel ideas and understanding. No wonder we all loved him. The love of friendship is not the love of family ties, and yet it cannot be measured in gold.

Motty was a man of many facets and paved his way not only to the hearts of those learning but also to the hearts of those who did not know G-d. These people drew close to him because they saw the great light within him, a light that has been extinguished; nobody knows why, and nobody, as of now, can fill his place.