Foreword ...... 7 Preface to the Hebrew Edition ...... 9 Preface ...... 11 Prologue ...... 16 Chapter 1: Jerusalem of Old ...... 19 Chapter 2: Early Years ...... 23 Chapter 3: War Breaks Out ...... 29 Chapter 4: The Zion War Orphanage Is Born ...... 36 Chapter 5: Off the Streets at Last ...... 40 Chapter 6: A Second Crop of Orphans ...... 43 Chapter 7: Funding Needed ...... 46 Chapter 8: Preparing for Passover ...... 52 Chapter 9: Typhus ...... 56 Chapter 10: The First Summer ...... 60 Chapter 11: Cut Off from the Consulate ...... 64 Chapter 12: War Encroaches ...... 68 Chapter 13: The City Surrenders ...... 72 Chapter 14: From Joy to Near Tragedy ...... 75 Chapter 15: The War Is Over ...... 80 Chapter 16: The Palace ...... 85 Chapter 17: Two Years of Calm ...... 90 Chapter 18: Adventures in the Orphanage ...... 98 Chapter 19: Travel to the United States ...... 105 Chapter 20: Business as Usual ...... 112 Chapter 21: Planning Futures ...... 119 Chapter 22: Training for Life ...... 124 Chapter 23: One Big Family ...... 131 Chapter 24: Household Duties ...... 135 Chapter 25: Earthquake! ...... 139 Chapter 26: Celebrations ...... 145 Chapter 27: Every Child Counts ...... 151 Chapter 28: Arab Uprisings ...... 155 Chapter 29: Meeting with the Bishop ...... 159 Chapter 30: Noble Visitors ...... 163 Chapter 31: The Farming Orphanage ...... 168 Chapter 32: Close Ties ...... 173 Chapter 33: Angel of Mercy ...... 178 Chapter 34: A Childhood in the Orphanage ...... 185 Chapter 35: World War II ...... 190 Chapter 36: New Life for the Needy ...... 196 Chapter 37: Another Heavenly Angel ...... 202 Chapter 38: Danger on the Horizon ...... 206 Chapter 39: War Refugees ...... 209 Chapter 40: Shalom’s Story ...... 213 Chapter 41: Life in the Orphanage, 1947–1952 ...... 218 Chapter 42: Battleground! ...... 224 Chapter 43: The Fight for Food ...... 233 Chapter 44: Communal Activities ...... 239 Chapter 45: The Home That Never Closed ...... 242 Chapter 46: Inner Nobility ...... 250 Chapter 47: Blessings, Prayers, and New Developments ...... 254 Chapter 48: A Permanent Home at Last ...... 259 Chapter 49: Final Days ...... 264 Chapter 50: A New Era ...... 269 Chapter 51: New Children, New Challenges ...... 274 Chapter 52: Bar Mitzvahs, Surgeries, and Holiday Plans ...... 279 Chapter 53: United in Its Cause ...... 285 Chapter 54: Love That Lasts a Lifetime ...... 292 Conclusion: The Orphanage Today ...... 301 Epilogue ...... 305 Glossary ...... 309 Index of Names ...... 311 Chapter 1 Jerusalem of Old

he Jewish community of Jerusalem in the mid-nineteenth century was largely religious, a mix of Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews who had returned to their homeland after centuries in exile. With the rise of Zionism and the resulting wave of immigration from Europe, referred to as the First Aliyah, in the late 1800s, this communityT became known as the “Old Yishuv.” Jews of the Old Yishuv lived for the most part in dire poverty, suffering from the overcrowded, primitive housing in the Old City and oppressive Ottoman rule. The majority of these Jews dedicated their time to Torah study, sub- sisting largely on the donations sent by their brethren in the Diaspora. Many pious individuals made aliyah during this period, with the intent of living out their remaining years in the Holy Land. Younger families came in an effort to protect their children from dangerous forces sweep- ing through Europe, believing that in Jerusalem their children could be raised in a safe Jewish environment. Into this latter category fell Yaakov and Leah Blumenthal, who in 1876 arrived in what was then known as Palestine with their three

19 20 Home of Miracles young sons, Simcha, Meir, and Hershel, leaving behind their native Hungary and its relative comforts in search of a brighter future. Yaakov was a community activist and Torah scholar. He and Leah were married in 1868. Fear of physical and spiritual dangers led them to the Holy Land, where they rented a tiny apartment that was a far cry from their former comfortable home. Although physical amenities were lacking, the family did not struggle for survival like many of its neigh- bors; in addition to a sizable inheritance from Yaakov’s parents, they supported themselves by selling textiles that Leah’s mother, Feigele Wosner, shipped from Hungary. Avraham Yochanan, born on June 18, 1877 (7 Tammuz 5637), was the couple’s fourth son and their first child born in Jerusalem. He was later followed by a daughter, Hindel.

Outside the Walls Ever the communal activist, Yaakov Blumenthal established a free- loan society and served as sexton (gabbai) of Yeshivat Torat Chaim in the Old City of Jerusalem. He forged close ties with many of Jerusalem’s leaders, including Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, a leading figure of the Old Yishuv, and Rabbi Shmuel Salant, Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem from 1840 to 1909. He was a close confidant of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, renowned leader of the Ashkenazic community during that period, accompanying him on visits to foreign dignitaries and consulates. The overcrowding of the Old Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, leader of the Ashkenazic Jews of the Old Yishuv City of Jerusalem during the Jerusalem of Old 21 mid-to-late nineteenth century necessitated the Blumenthals’ move outside of the city’s walls — an undertaking fraught with danger, as marauders and wild animals roamed the countryside. Yet a few brave pioneering spirits persisted, and over several decades, new neighborhoods were successfully established outside the walls. Yaakov Blumenthal played a key role in the development of one of these new neighborhoods, named “Beit Yaakov” in recognition of his efforts. (The neighborhood eventually merged with several others and became known as Machane Yehuda, home of the famous Jerusalem shuk.) Yaakov’s next project was the creation of the Jewish settlement of Petach Tikva in central Israel, about six miles east of Tel Aviv, purchas- ing a fifth of the land set aside for the town. The Blumenthals originally intended to settle in Petach Tikva themselves, but when many of the settlers were stricken with malaria, they reluctantly reconsidered their plans. Yaakov sold his land to the hardy pioneers who remained. Turning his sights back to Jerusalem, Yaakov joined Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld in petitioning a wealthy philanthropist for help in building another neighborhood outside of the Old City. With the sizable sum of money they received, they purchased a large plot adjacent to the newly built Meah Shearim. The homes in the new neighborhood, named Batei Ungarin (“Hungarian Houses”), were large, comfortable, and surrounded by spacious courtyards. The Blumenthal family moved into Batei Ungarin in the early 1890s, as soon as it was habitable. By this time, the older children had married, and Avraham Yochanan had blossomed from a sweet young boy into a fine Torah scholar. He spent many hours poring over the Talmud, studying long into the night. As he reached adulthood, it became clear that his passion in life was not only to learn but also to teach.

Battleground for Souls In addition to physical growth, the Jewish community of Jerusalem was experiencing growing pains of another sort. The First Aliyah, which brought approximately thirty thousand Jews to Palestine, was the first wave of mass immigration from Europe. Unlike the Jews of 22 Home of Miracles the Old Yishuv, the immigrants of the First Aliyah came for ideological reasons, feeling it was time for the Jewish people to have a homeland once again. While some of these immigrants were religious, the vast majority were not. The pioneers of the First Aliyah had an impassioned vision for the future, leading to the establishment of Tel Aviv, then called Achuzat Bayit (“Homestead”), and many other towns and cities. Swept away by the idealism of these newcomers, as well as the wave of modernity that had reached the Holy Land in the latter half of the nineteenth century, many young Jews abandoned their heritage and joined the pioneering efforts. Others, however, remained strong, upholding their traditions. One of these staunchly observant young men was Avraham Yochanan Blumenthal. Even as a youngster, he had stood out among his peers for his love of Torah study. Having been raised in a home that valued and supported community activism, he didn’t hesitate to reach out to others, encouraging them to follow his example. Slowly but surely, he drew others close to the Judaism he knew and loved, to the holy books he knew so well, setting the stage for a lifetime career in education. Chapter 2 Early Years

n 1896, at the age of eighteen, Avraham Yochanan celebrated his engagement to Chana Shaina Rosenberg, who had been born in Lomza, Poland, and had immigrat- Ied to Jerusalem as a child. The couple’s wedding took place several months later and was offici- ated by Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, Avraham Yochanan’s teacher and spiritual guide. Rabbi Diskin gifted the couple with a silver goblet, which remained a treasured possession of the young couple for years to come. Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, Avraham Yochanan’s mentor

23 24 Home of Miracles

By the time he married, Avraham Yochanan was already conducting regular study sessions with young boys. After several years, these sessions formalized into the Educational Home for Boys, founded in 1899 with the express goal of creating a warm educational environment for young boys. The fledgling institution had a small dormitory and at- tracted students from all over the country, from as far away as Tiberias and Safed. While the initial group was small, the bonds Avraham Yochanan formed with these boys remained strong for years to come. Some of them later assisted him in trans- forming the educational home into a full-fledged orphanage, serving as dorm counselors and helping with Avraham Yochanan as a young man fundraising.

Destination: Vienna On the home front, Avraham Yochanan and Chana Shaina were blessed with four children in quick succession, two daughters and two sons. The happy sounds of young children filled their home for several years, until tragedy struck. In those years of primitive medical care and high infant mortality rates, first a son, then a daughter, succumbed to illness, leaving the bereaved parents stunned at the suddenness of their loss. When Yisrael Chaim, the youngest, began burning with fever as well, Chana Shaina panicked. “Master of the Universe,” she wept, “You took two children from me, and now the third is ill. Please, have pity on me!” Miraculously, little Yisrael recovered, but the young family’s cup of sorrows had not yet been filled, as Chana Shaina suddenly lost her hearing. Early Years 25

The Blumenthals consulted several doctors, but no one could explain her deafness nor offer a viable means of treatment. Avraham Yochanan then fell ill too, the strain of his strenuous schedule along with his family’s suffering proving too much for his system. In the midst of this challenging time, the family was blessed with a small measure of consolation as they celebrated the birth of a baby girl whom they named Nechama, meaning “comfort.” “Travel to Vienna, home of the largest medical center in Europe,” the doctors advised the couple. “Perhaps you will both be cured of your illnesses.” Weary yet hopeful, Avraham Yochanan and his wife left the Holy Land and traveled to Vienna with their two younger children, Yisrael and Nechama, leaving their nine-year-old eldest, Chaya Sima, with her grand- parents in Jerusalem. After an extended stay at the world-renowned medical center, Avraham Yochanan recuperated, but Chana Shaina’s hearing, unfortunately, remained impaired until the end of her life.

Learning, Teaching, and Traveling In addition to his convalescence, Avraham Yochanan utilized his time in Europe to study in Satmar (Satu Mare), Transylvania, and to become acquainted with his extended family in Hungary and his wife’s family in Poland. When his wife and children returned to Jerusalem, Avraham Yochanan remained behind for several months to raise funds for his educational home and to meet with several Torah scholars in Europe, including Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, father of the renowned Brisker Rav, Rabbi Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik’s approbation for Yitzhak Zev (Velvel) Soloveitchik. the Educational Home 26 Home of Miracles

But the time had come to return home to his waiting family and to his young students who needed his steady hand and guidance. With his return to Palestine, Avraham Yochanan resumed his Torah studies with renowned scholars in the Holy Land, turning his attention to the study of Talmud and Kabbalah. Yet the Educational Home received the lion’s share of his attention, and the institution grew steadily, acquiring a building on Yoel Street in today’s Geulah neighborhood. Blessed with a keen pedagogical sense, Avraham Yochanan could always discern when his students needed to air out. He would take them by donkey — the main method of transport at the time — for a change of scenery. One memorable trip was to the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Teacher and students stood on the steps outside the building, as close as Jewish worshippers were allowed to approach. There they re- cited Psalms, while the Arab guard yelled at frequent intervals, “Yahla imshu (leave already)!” Once they had left, Chaim Spitzer, who served as the school’s dorm counselor, asked Avraham Yochanan what he had prayed for. “I asked that I succeed in educating the boys to study Torah and always live as proud Jews,” responded the ever-devoted teacher. Embarrassed, Chaim admitted that he had prayed solely for an improvement in the home’s financial situation so that it could survive. Despite financial woes and heavy debt, the Educational Home for Boys remained active A postcard from 1915, complete with stamps from the Turkish postal system, addressed to the as the years passed. Her handicap Educational Home notwithstanding, Chana Shaina stood at her husband’s side and assisted him in the institution’s upkeep. Meanwhile, the Blumenthal family grew; two more daughters, Naomi and Yocheved, and a son, Shmuel, were born in the succeeding years. Early Years 27

Malaria Life in the Holy Land at the time was precarious even in the good times. One morning, the teenage Chaya Sima awoke with a strange heaviness in her limbs, along with fever, dizziness, and shivers. The doctor was duly summoned. He examined Chaya Sima and then issued a verdict: malaria. He instructed Chana Shaina to give the girl quinine, the only known cure for the dreaded disease. For three turbulent days, Chaya Sima burned with fever, alternating between shivers and sweat. Finally, her fever began to subside, to the family’s great relief. But after two days of recovery, her fever returned. Again the doctor was summoned; again he prescribed quinine. Chaya Sima began to re- cover, but three days later, relapsed once again. The doctor prescribed yet more quinine. With each successive attack, Chaya Sima’s body grew weaker. The family feared for her health, yet the doctor had nothing else to suggest. Relief came at last from a most unexpected source. Every evening, after many hours at pasture, an old Arab shepherd named Abu Eref would lead his flock toward Batei Ungarin, where wom- en would emerge from their homes, metal pots in hand, to purchase fresh milk. It was usually the teenage Chaya Sima’s job to wait in line, toss the coins into Abu Eref’s tin can, and watch him milk one of the sheep. She would carefully carry the frothing milk home, to be placed over the coals and pasteurized. Now, however, Chana Shaina had to do the task herself. “Where is the girl who used to come?” Abu Eref asked one day. “She is ill,” her mother responded. “Still?” the Arab asked. “What ails her?” “Malaria,” Chana Shaina admitted. “Her fever comes and goes every few days.” Abu Eref’s eyes narrowed. “I have a cure for her,” he said. “In our village, the cure for this form of malaria is a snake. It’s not poison- ous, and if one wraps it around one’s neck, the illness disappears, never to return.” 28 Home of Miracles

“I’ll ask the girl if she wants to try it,” Chana Shaina said politely, with- out much faith in the Arab’s words. Upon her return home, she related Abu Eref’s strange proposal to the family only as a point of curiosity. Chaya Sima, however, whose face was yellow from the massive doses of quinine, announced that she was prepared to give it a try. “I’m sick of this disease! I have no energy left, and the quinine hasn’t helped! Let’s try Abu Eref’s snake. I just want to get better already!” With much reservation, Avraham Yochanan reluctantly agreed to al- low her to try it. “Perhaps G-d’s salvation will come through this strange treatment,” he reasoned. Abu Eref was duly summoned. When he arrived at the Blumenthal home, he wrapped the snake around his own neck to prove it was harm- less. Then, he gently placed it around Chaya Sima’s neck. The cool sen- sation of the scaly serpent nearly caused her to faint, but her mother held her upright. Several minutes later, the nightmare was over. The Arab was offered some food. Before he left, he announced, “In several days the girl will be completely well.” A day passed, then two. The feverish symptoms subsided. The Blumenthals waited with bated breath for the next attack, but it never came. Slowly the color returned to Chaya Sima’s cheeks. Only the mem- ory of the snake wrapped around her neck remained to haunt her.

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