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Spiritual Heroism in the Holocaust Era

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Spiritual Heroism in the Holocaust Era Rabbi Reuven Brand Spiritual Challenges in Rosh Kollel, YU Torah Mitzion Kollel of Chicago Times of Persecution SPIRITUAL HEROISM IN THE HOLOCAUST ERA istorians, educators and and social strata whose devotion Pre-War curators offer many reasons to Torah, Judaism and Hashem are to study the Holocaust. nothing short of heroic. Unlike armed Rabbi Isaiah Wohlgemuth zt”l (1915- HFor Torah Jews seeking to grow in resistance, their spiritual resistance 2008) succeeded his father as a Rabbi spirituality and in a relationship with is a form of heroism manifest in in Kitzingen, Germany in 1935; Hashem, there is a special dimension personal conviction and unbreakable the subsequent years in Germany to Holocaust studies: role models in commitment to values.1 It is a were marked by the Nuremburg spiritual heroism. priceless legacy and a model that can Laws and anti-Semitic persecution culminating with Kristallnacht.2 Rabbi Role models inspire us to achieve inspire us in our generation. This Wohlgemuth captures his tenure as greatness. The Torah consciously presentation is a mere drop in the a rabbi in Germany with a surprising presents role models from whom ocean of tears that is the Holocaust and enlightening description: we are supposed to learn and grow. literature of spiritual heroism. By taking a close look at Jewish life Moreover, these acts of heroism I have classified the years from 1933 to before, during and after the Holocaust, help us appreciate some of the dire 1939 as another Golden Age in Jewish we can be inspired by countless challenges that Jews faced during this history. You might think it strange to individuals of different backgrounds time. refer to those years as a Golden Age… Thank you to Avi Mori, Mr. Etzion Brand, Professor Leslie Newman and Mrs. Andrea Polster for their help in reviewing this article. 28 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5778 The most significant aspect of this period, questions. For example, Rav Yechiel Eastern European Jews who had however, was our ability to study Jewish Yaakov Weinberg zt”l (1884-1966), not been murdered by German texts and observe the great spiritual who spent most of the war years Einzatzgruppen and their heritage of our ancestors. The political in a German labor camp for Soviet collaborators were confined to oppression of those years might have prisoners, was asked whether it ghettos. The living conditions in frustrated most people in the world, but was permitted to host a concert in these circumstances were exceedingly it did not frustrate the Jews in Germany, the sanctuary of a synagogue since difficult, yet many Jews continued who, in spite of all the obstacles, Jews were barred from concert halls to embrace their Torah lives.6 One difficulties, and hardships, dedicated in Germany, and they sought the example is found in the writings of all their free time to learn Torah, in the comfort and culture of music (Seridei Zelig Kalmanovitch zt”l Hy”d (1915- widest sense of the word… Eish 1:12). 1944), a leading religious member of Suddenly, everyone in my congregation Kristallnacht led to the incarceration YIVO Institute for Jewish research in wanted to learn Torah Shebichtav (the of more than 30,000 Jews in Vilna. He describes Simchat Torah written word of Torah) and Torah concentration camps in Germany, celebrations in the Vilna ghetto in Sheba’al Peh (the oral law of Torah). where hundreds died. In many cases, 1941 in his diary that was written at They also wanted to improve their families received only a container the time and published posthumously: knowledge of English and modern of ashes of their relatives, and many Upon the invitation of the rabbi, I went Hebrew. They believed that these raised questions regarding burial. on Simhat Torah eve for hakafot in languages would make it easier for them In response to these issues, Rabbi a house that had formerly been a to adjust in the countries to which they Menachem Mendel Kirschbaum zt”l synagogue and was now a music school. would immigrate. Hy”d (1895-1942) — author of the The remaining yeshiva students and I was busy every hour of the day, and multi-volume responsa Menachem scholars were gathered there, as well what happened in my congregation Meishiv — published a monograph as some children. There was singing happened all over Germany. The most called Kuntrus Efer Serufim detailing and dancing. The commandant and assimilated Jews wanted to increase the halachos related to cremated his assistants were also there. I was their knowledge of Jewish studies. There remains.4 honored with the first hakafa. H. K. was a tremendous search for knowledge [Herman Kruk] also came to see the that was unequaled in all Jewish history. Wartime spectacle. I said a few words: “Our song Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzwig, and and our dance are a form of worship. Leo Baeck, to name a few, were leading After the outbreak of the war, anti- Our rejoicing is due to Him who decrees scholars of this renaissance of Jewish Jewish persecution intensified life and death. Here in the midst of this learning. throughout Europe, yet many Jews small congregation, in the poor and In the Orthodox community, the Munks, continued to cling to their observance ruined synagogue, we are united with the Wohlgemuths, the Cohens, the of halacha. TheSheelot Uteshuvot the whole house of Israel, not only with Breuers, the Biberfelds, the Freimans, Mikadshei Hashem by Rabbi Zvi those who are here today and with the the Carlebachs, and many others taught Hirsch Meisels zt”l (1902-1974)5 tens of thousands of the pure and saintly Talmud virtually all day long. We did of Veitzin, Hungary, includes who have passed on to life eternal, but not think of the dangers ahead of us, and his responsa and those of other with all the generations of Jews who we continued on the path that we set for Hungarian rabbis during the wartime were before us. In our rejoicing today we ourselves.3 period that shed light on halachic give thanks for the previous generations, Remarkably, we learn that despite the concerns. One responsum deals with the noble generations in which life was intense Nazi persecution of their time, the use of unwatched flour for matzah worthwhile. We feel that with our song many Jews, including those previously due to food shortages (#64) and today we sanctify the name of Heaven less engaged, embraced their Judaism another regarding the time for women just as our ancestors did. And, I, a and Torah learning. to immerse in a mikvah while a city straying Jewish soul, feel that my roots Additionally, the pre-war persecutions was subject to a curfew (#71). are here. And you, in your rejoicing atone for the sins of a generation that is brought with them a host of halachic As the war progressed, the many perishing. I know that the Jewish people 29 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5778 will live, for it is written: ‘As the days of described in the diary of Dr. Hillel the heaven upon the earth.’ And even if Seidman zt”l (1915-1995), who we were the last generation, we should wrote: give thanks and say: ‘Enough for us that Throughout the many vicissitudes of we were privileged to be the children of the Ghetto, Rav Ziemba’s apartment those!’ And every day that the Holy One, remained a source of light, warmth, blessed be He, in His mercy gives us is a and encouragement. He had to move gift, which we accept with joy and give 7 house five times — either because of the thanks to His holy name.” contraction of the Ghetto or for his own We find another incredible instance safety — but always his home was full recorded by Rabbi Shimon of people seeking advice or reassurance. Huberband zt”l Hy”d (1909-1942), They were not disappointed. The wisdom Rabbi Menachem Ziemba Hy”d the leading chronicler of religious life and unshakeable trust of generations was in the “Oneg Shabbos” archives in distilled in Rav Menachem’s personality; attics, tunnels, and cellars to perform the the Warsaw ghetto. He describes how with his genius, he had little difficulty precious mitzvah… — despite a ban on shechita (ritual in finding the apt phrase suitable for slaughter), which was a capital offense each petitioner and every occasion. All He visited the clandestine yeshivos in — a clandestine operation of kosher his sentiments were rooted in Torah Nalewki, Nowolpie, and Mila Streets slaughter continued in basements at sources and reflected the eternal truths. — testing the yeshivah bachurim and night by candlelight.8 He combined the ice-cold logic and clear spurring them to greater achievements. In the Mila Street Yeshivah, they would Many Jews continued to observe vision of the Lithuanian lamdan with all learn right through the night. Outside halacha to the best of their ability the fire and warmth of Polish Chasidim, panic reigned, no one knew what the despite the obvious limitations. This is fusing the mussar and perspective unnatural lulls signified, everybody illustrated by two questions published of Rebbe Yisrael Salanter with the feared what the morrow would bring. in the responsa of Rabbi Sinai Adler sharpness of Kotzk chasidus. The Nazi The gedolei Torah, Rav Menachem (born 1928) regarding his time in the terror did not break him; he remained Ziemba and his talmidim, ignored this Tereizinstat ghetto. Prisoners were a beacon of light amid the buffeting bitter reality to soar to the spiritual often given horse meat at a meal, storm… heights of Torah and yiras Hashem.10 which they ate for life preservation; Even during those terrible months of must they wait subsequently until from July to September 1942, when the At this same time, Rabbi Kalonymus eating milk if they could? Due to a deportations accelerated to a frenetic Kalman Shapira zt”l Hy”d (1888- curfew imposed on the ghetto, people pace, he never ceased his continual Torah 1943), the Rebbe of Piaseczno, were forced to conduct their Pesach study nor stopped producing new Torah delivered Shabbat sermons in the seder in the afternoon before sunset.
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