Reuven Brand Spiritual Challenges in Rosh Kollel, YU Mitzion Kollel of Chicago Times of Persecution

SPIRITUAL HEROISM IN ERA

istorians, educators and and social strata whose devotion Pre-War curators offer many reasons to Torah, 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 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. The Sheelot Uteshuvot the whole house of , 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 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 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 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 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 sermons in the seder in the afternoon before sunset. insights. During our oppressive plight, he to his disciples.11 Did they fulfill their obligation?9 drew his strength and inspiration from He taught Torah teachings to his downtrodden audience, combining Many rabbis provided spiritual the Torah… traditional Chassidic teachings leadership during this time of crisis in I remember the Sukkos of 1942. Under with messages about contemporary the ghetto. Rabbi Menachem Ziemba extreme danger, Rav Menachem broke suffering and put these words to paper zt”l Hy”d (1883-1943) was known as open the roof of his apartment to that survived the ghetto’s destruction the “Prager Ilui” (genius from Praga, construct a primitive sukkah. True, it and were found by a Polish ) and a leading rabbinic figure was a tiny sukkah, but thousands of construction worker in December among European Jews. Until his death people passed through. On erev Sukkos I 1950. In one drasha, he reminds his during the received three esrogim from . suffering listeners not to become on Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach Naturally, I brought them all straight to callous to the suffering of others: 1943, he was a leading force of Torah Rav Menachem Ziemba … Immediately, study and Jewish life in the Warsaw the news spread, hundreds of Chasidim We need to awaken in ourselves Ghetto. His incredible activities are and yeshivah bachurim crawled through compassion for other Jews … We

30 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5778 must not habituate to Jewish suffering, incredible aspirational commitment There were, of course, many who did meaning the increase in difficulties should to halacha is found in the following not follow this path of observance and not obscure or dull the compassion question posed to Rabbi Ephraim many who struggled. On the night of for Jews … And this is the issue that Oshry zt”l (1914-2003), a rabbi in the seder in the Kunin concentration appears in the Gemara Megillah 14b Kovno, whose multi-volume responsa camp, Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe that when King Yoshiyahu was in a — Sheelot Uteshuvot Mimamakim — Aaronson zt”l (1910-1993) gave voice time of difficultly he sent to Chuldah has become synonymous with the to this challenge (Alei Meroros, p.145): world of Holocaust and halacha: the prophetess although Yirmiyahu the When I concluded the recitation of prophet was in that generation since 12 It was common for the cursed murderers Kiddush and arrived at the bracha of women are compassionate. ym”sh to lead the forced laborers to work shehechiyanu, we all broke out sobbing, From these examples and many others in the dark of night before daybreak such which continued for around a half hour. we learn that devout Jews continued that it was impossible to don Tefillin I spoke with those around and asked, is to observe the Torah and rabbis before leaving to work. They would work this not a blessing in vain, when the seder continued to encourage and teach throughout the day into the night. There is filled with tears and sadness instead of Torah through this period. were those among the workmen who celebrating the festival of freedom with mustered the courage to clandestinely happiness and elevation? Concentration Camps wear Tefillin as they walked once the day broke; however, one time the Death Camps Between 1933 and 1945, Nazi caught one of the laborers while he was Germany and its satellites established wearing Tefillin walking to work. After The Germans established six killing over 40,000 camps and other they tortured him with all types of torture centers in Poland to execute their final incarceration camps throughout they were not satisfied until they lacerated solution. Even in these places — the Europe.13 Yet despite these ever a cross into his left bicep — the place of literal shadow of death — many Jews intensifying hardships, many Jews the Tefillin — so that any time he were demonstrated their commitment to continued to hold to their Torah to expose his arm to don Tefillin people Hashem. would see this sign of disgrace embedded observance. Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau relays in in his arm. And I was asked if it were Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Yerucham his autobiography that his father, permitted for him to place a bandage over zt”l Hy”d (1864-1942),14 one of the Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau, zt”l Hy”d this disgraceful sign and place the Tefillin leading rabbinic authorities of Galicia, (1892-1942), led the members of his on top of the bandage so that onlookers was asked by someone who had eaten communities of Piotrkow and Presov would think that he had a wound on his to the gas chambers in Treblinka with קאנצענטראציאנס non-Kosher food in a bicep; does this constitute a violation of concentration camp) if the the words of Shema and Vidui (Out of) לאגער the laws of Tefillin [chatzitzah]?15 inmate required teshuva for this the Depths, p.14). Perhaps even greater than this violation (Shu”t Bircas Chaim #42). Ya’akov Gabai, a Greek Jew individual’s heroic commitment to The questioner was obviously so and member of the Auschwitz committed to his Torah observance the initial performance of the mitzvah sonderkommando (the men of Tefillin is his rededication to the that he was concerned about the responsible for transfering bodies mitzvah after the unimaginable abuse effects of this unusual circumstance from the gas chambers to the he had suffered. after the fact. Another example of crematoria), reported about a group

See more shiurim on Responsa from the Holocaust at www.yutorah.org/search/?s=holocaust+responsa

31 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5778 of Polish sonderkommando who had Post War and every alleged sin of the survivors. a break from work on September 26, “We did not commit evil acts. We did 1944, which was erev Yom Kippur. The end of the war dawned a new not sin willfully! This vidui was not They organized siddurim and challenge for the survivors: rebuilding written for us,” he concluded, closing davening for Yom Kippur in their their shattered lives. One of the most his machzor. His congregation stood in barracks above the crematoria (We active rabbinic leaders in postwar shock. Wept Without Tears, p. 200). Europe was Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda “But we are guilty of sins that are not Halberstam, the Klausenberger Rebbe Just ten days earlier in Auschwitz, written in the machzor. We sinned in zt”l (1905-1994). One example of his camp authorities separated one our faith and trust in our Creator. Did unceasing advocacy for the physical thousand boys in a designated we not doubt Hashem out of despair and material lives of the survivors barrack for death on Rosh Hashana. and hopelessness in the camps? When occurred in a remarkable, historic Somehow they knew that Rabbi Zvi we recited Shema at night, we hoped event. Hirsh Meisels zt”l of Veitzin was it would be our last HaMapil, that the secretly hiding a shofar and sent word On September 10, 1945, this Yiddish end of our suffering would come. How asking him to sound the shofar for speaking survivor, clad in a tear- many times did we pray, ‘Master of the them in their condemned barrack. soaked tallit, spoke with the Supreme Universe, I have no more strength. Take He deliberated and decided that Allied Commander, General Dwight my soul so I will not have to recite Modeh even though it was against normative D. Eisenhower during Eisenhower’s Ani anymore’? And when the sun rose halacha as it endangered his own life, visit to the DP camp in Feldafing, and we were obligated to thank Hashem he must go and sound the shofar for Germany. That date was Yom for ‘returning my soul with great mercy,’ these boys. He describes the scene: Kippur— the first after liberation. The we were consumed with anger and rage. Klausenberger’s request was a set of When we removed the corpses from the There is not a writer or poet in the entire arba minim (four species) for Sukkot, barracks, weren’t we jealous of those world who can portray my feelings as I which were flown to Feldafing from lucky people who had died? entered the sealed barracks. It was only Italy under Eisenhower’s instructions. “This is how we have sinned. We sinned due to the miracle of G-d that my heart The previous night, the Klausenberger with a lack of faith and trust. We must did not burst in anguish when I saw before addressed his fellow survivors with an beat our chests and admit our sins. We me the bitter sea of tear-stung eyes. All of incredible conversation: must ask the Almighty to restore our the children were screaming and crying faith and trust in Him. ‘Trust in God terribly with burning tears and raised After Kol Nidrei, the Rebbe went to stand forever.’ ‘Trust in Him at all times, voices that ascended up to the heart of next to the open ark and began to speak, nation! Pour your hearts out before heaven. And they all pressed forward to directing his words toward Heaven. Him.’”17 kiss my hand, my clothing, and any place Crying bitterly, the Rebbe spoke not from It is difficult to even imagine the that they could touch me. They cried out the machzor in his hands but straight level of emunah with which the these simple, but heart wrenching words: from his heart. In a wholly unorthodox manner he called out the words of Vidui: Klausenberger lived, after having lost “Rebbe, Rebbe! Oh! Mercy, have mercy!” “Ashamnu, bagadnu (we have sinned, we his wife and eleven children during Many of them I knew; they had been have rebelled)...” Each word was inflected the war. my students or my congregants. When I not as a statement but as a question: Tragically, the scars of the war did began reciting the verse Min Hameitzar, “Did we sin? Did we rebel?” not heal thereafter, and for some “From the straits did I call upon G-d,” Almost accusatorily, the Rebbe asked, survivors it would never come in their they interrupted and begged me to say a “Did we really sin? Did we really rebel? lifetime. A halachic expression of this few words before the shofar service. Too Did we, chas veshalom, rebel against You reality is found in a letter of Rabbi agitated by their overwhelming sorrow and fail to remain faithful? Gazalnu — Yaakov Mordechai Breisch zt”l (1896- to speak, I was unable to move my lips did we steal? From whom did we steal 1976), a leading halachic authority, or force my tongue to speak. In addition, in Auschwitz and Muldorf? Was there who escaped to Switzerland after he I was afraid of the delay. It was getting anybody to steal from?”… had been arrested and beaten in his late, the sun was setting, and the SS men 16 Word by word, the Rebbe dismissed each community in Desburg, Germany could arrive at any moment.

32 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5778 in 1933. In this responsum Rabbi Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Their love Germany before the war. During the war Breisch is responding to the inquiry for Hashem, evident through their he was in Belgium, and was subsequently of a rabbi in New York, who turned devotion and commitment, can transported to Auschwitz, where he was murdered in 1942. to him for guidance in the following inspire us to deepen our connection heartbreaking case: and love of Hashem and our 5 After the murder of his wife and seven children the Veitzener Rav survived connection with Him. A G-d fearing man cries before [the Auschwitz and emigrated to America, where rabbi] about when he was walking While the Holocaust and its attendant he established a Torah community in Chicago. [on a death march] with his younger theological questions remain 6 Rabbi Shimon Huberband zt”l Hy”d, the brother Hy”d. When they sat down he unanswered in this world, Rabbi chronicler of religious life in the Warsaw told his [younger] brother that he [the Yehuda Amital zt”l (1924-2010), a ghetto, remarked that with the creation of the ghetto, a new kosher eruv was in place. younger brother] could sleep a little Romanian teenager who survived the bit and he [the older brother] would war in a labor camp and later became 7 “A Diary of the Nazi Ghetto in Vilna,” YIVO watch over him to wake him. Yet as at Yeshivat Har Etzion, Annual of Jewish Social Science Vol. VIII, pp. 30- 31. The diary of Herman Kruk also survived the respite lasted longer, he [the older reminds us to continue to remain the war, and it is fascinating to compare the brother] also nodded off. Suddenly, he connected to Hashem: entries of Kruk, a secular leader of the Vilna heard the shout of “laus, laus” meaning community, with those of Kalmanovitch, a I turn to the Master of the world and religious personality. it was time to continue moving. Yet the plead: Look upon Your children; after all older brother was still not clear-headed this, they still continue to pray! Believe me, 8 Kiddush Hashem p. 232. and amidst the confusion he ran to the on the Yamim Nora’im it was difficult for 9 Dvar Sinai, pp. 12-13. place in line he had previously held. me to say, “You have chosen us from all 10 The Warsaw Ghetto Diaries, pp. 346- 349. When he remembered his brother it the nations; You have loved us and desired 11 Rabbi Shapira zt”l Hy”d survived the was impossible to return to him without us.” But I said it, and I continue to say it.19 endangering his life, and from then on Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and was murdered near the Trawniki labor camp in November his brother’s memory has been lost, as it 1943. is clear to him that they [the Germans] Endnotes 12 Aish Kodesh, Parshat Chukat 5701/ July 5, killed him. And now it is close to thirteen 1 The initial Knesset proclamation that 1941. years that he has pains of guilt over this, created Yom Hashoah in 1951 acknowledged 13 https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article. and his soul is troubled, so he turned to the heroism of active resistance, while its php?ModuleId=10007872. the rabbi asking if he requires atonement current formal name includes the second type for this or not.18 of heroism, hence the title: Yom Hazikaron 14 Rabbi Yerucham zt”l Hy”d was the Av Beit Lashoah V’ligvurah. Din of Altestat before his death in the Sambor ghetto on Sukkot 1942. This question is an example of how 2 After Kristallnacht, Rabbi Wohlgemuth was even those who were broken by sent to Dachau. After his release he escaped to 15 Shu”t Mimamakim, vol. 1 #26. the Holocaust continued to seek a the United States, where he settled in Boston, 16 Introduction to Shaar Machmadim. connection to Hashem in coming to teaching Biur Tefillah in Day terms with their experiences. School. 17 The Klausenberger Rebbe: The War Years, pp. 185-189. 3 Introduction to A Guide to Jewish Prayer, Rabbi Wohlgemuth’s published insights into 18 Sheelot UTeshuvot Chelkat Yaakov 143. Coda Tefillah. 19 Based on a Sicha of Rav Amital zt”l on These spiritual heroes inspire each 4 Rabbi Kirschbaum zt”l Hy”d was born in Asara B’tevet 2012, translated by Karen Fish. of us to strengthen our bond with Poland and served as a rabbi in Frankfurt, http://etzion.org.il/en/you-have-loved-us- and-desired-us.

Find more shiurim and articles from Rabbi Reuven Brand at https://www.yutorah.org/Rabbi-Reuven-Brand

33 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Tisha B’av 5778