Rabbi Emanuel Gettinger
Rabbi Emanuel (Menachem) Gettinger served as Rabbi of the Young Israel of the West Side for more than fifty years. He was ordained by Yeshivas Chaim Berlin and was a close disciple of the Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Hutner. Rabbi Gettinger received an advanced degree in mathematics from Columbia University. He served for more than two decades as the President of Ezras Torah, a major charitable organization in Israel. To see a biographical tribute to Rabbi Gettinger from Ezras Torah, please click here.
Rabbi Gettinger was married to Rochel Riff, daughter of Rav Naftali Riff, and a great grand-daughter of the famed Netziv of Volozhin, Rav Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin. Rabbi Gettinger was a close disciple of HaGaon HaRav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin. Rabbi Gettinger had a lifelong interest in Bein Hashemashos, which culminated in the publication of his magnum opus “Mnach Yoma,” a ground-breaking discourse on Rabbeinu Tam's opinion on Bein Hashemashos, which can be ordered from Ezras Torah at this link.
Apart from serving as a congregational rabbi for more than half a century, Rabbi Gettinger was a master teacher who enlightened generations of students. As a tribute to Rabbi Gettinger, his students have created this website so that his teachings can be preserved and disseminated to a wider audience. Those who were privileged to learn with Rabbi Gettinger will recall fondly his analytical rigor and vast erudition that made his shiurim a veritable odyssey of the intellect. We invite you to explore this website and learn with Rabbi Gettinger.
Rabbi Gettinger passed away on Shushan Purim 5775 (March 5, 2015) and he is buried on Har Hamenuchos in Jerusalem. A video of his Levaya, which took place at Young Israel of the West Side on March 8, 2015, can be viewed at the left side of this page. To see a video of his levaya in Jerusalem click here, and to see a video of hespedim at Machon Yaakov in Jeruslem, click here.