STUDYING THE STUDYING THE CHAPTER CHAPTER HOLOCAUST: HOLOCAUST: RESISTANCE, RESCUE AND SURVIVAL 12 RESISTANCE, RESCUE AND SURVIVAL 12

Rabbi Ephraim Oshry lived in the in during Ephraim Oshry lived in the Kovno ghetto in Lithuania during Spiritual Resistance the years of .There he served as spiritual leader.Many Spiritual Resistance the years of the Holocaust.There he served as spiritual leader.Many During the Holocaust came to him with both religious and practical questions as they During the Holocaust Jews came to him with both religious and practical questions as they struggled to live in the ghetto.Rabbi Oshry wrote down hundreds of struggled to live in the ghetto.Rabbi Oshry wrote down hundreds of Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Jewish Education Council, Jewish Federation these questions and their answers on scraps of paper that he buried Rivy Poupko Kletenik, Jewish Education Council, Jewish Federation these questions and their answers on scraps of paper that he buried of Greater Seattle and retrieved after the war.Questions arose regarding eating food that of Greater Seattle and retrieved after the war.Questions arose regarding eating food that is not kosher,about when to say prayers,endangering other peoples’ is not kosher,about when to say prayers,endangering other peoples’ Grenades,explosions and revolts tend to be noticed.Spiritual forms lives in order to save oneself,and what to do with holy objects such Grenades,explosions and revolts tend to be noticed.Spiritual forms lives in order to save oneself,and what to do with holy objects such of resistance are subtle and not easily seen.The way a person thinks, as prayer books. of resistance are subtle and not easily seen.The way a person thinks, as prayer books. their small acts of devotion and the respectful ways they treat their small acts of devotion and the respectful ways they treat other inmates,exemplify heroic Jews enslaved in the Kovno Ghetto worked other inmates,exemplify heroic Jews enslaved in the Kovno Ghetto worked spiritual resistance.How do you wake in brutal conditions with little food and no spiritual resistance.How do you wake in brutal conditions with little food and no up day after freezing day to slave pay,and yet many continued to pray up day after freezing day to slave pay,and yet many continued to pray labor? Is it possible to have any spirit everyday.In the regular daily prayers it is labor? Is it possible to have any spirit everyday.In the regular daily prayers it is left in you? Is it possible to retain customary to thank God for being alive and left in you? Is it possible to retain customary to thank God for being alive and any iota of religious commitment? well and free.A question emerged: any iota of religious commitment? well and free.A question emerged: Writings from the Holocaust have Writings from the Holocaust have shown us that,indeed,even during One morning during prayer,Reb Avrohom shown us that,indeed,even during One morning during prayer,Reb Avrohom the most horrific of human Yosef,who was leading the morning service, the most horrific of human Yosef,who was leading the morning service, conditions,spiritual resistance reached the blessing,"Blessed are You God conditions,spiritual resistance reached the blessing,"Blessed are You God is possible. Ruler of the universe who has not made me is possible. Ruler of the universe who has not made me a slave." He shouted bitterly … "How can I a slave." He shouted bitterly … "How can I Being a practicing Jew involves the recite the blessing of a free person?" Being a practicing Jew involves the recite the blessing of a free person?" adherence to a tremendous amount of adherence to a tremendous amount of rituals and practices.For example,a This question was brought to Rabbi Oshry. rituals and practices.For example,a This question was brought to Rabbi Oshry. Jew who is committed to following He explained — a human being’s freedom Jew who is committed to following He explained — a human being’s freedom traditional Jewish law must eat only goes beyond the physical.One can be traditional Jewish law must eat only goes beyond the physical.One can be kosher food,and pray three times a enslaved physically but be free spiritually. kosher food,and pray three times a enslaved physically but be free spiritually. day.When life is routine,observing all Silk “Tallit” (prayer shawl) bag “I therefore rule that we must not skip day.When life is routine,observing all Silk “Tallit” (prayer shawl) bag “I therefore rule that we must not skip the laws is a challenge.It is almost Marian Z. and his family were deported or alter this blessing under any the laws is a challenge.It is almost Marian Z. and his family were deported or alter this blessing under any unimaginable to picture people from the Lodz Ghetto in 1944. Just before circumstances.On the contrary,despite unimaginable to picture people from the Lodz Ghetto in 1944. Just before circumstances.On the contrary,despite concerned with their religious the deportation, he stuffed several photos our physical captivity,we are obligated concerned with their religious the deportation, he stuffed several photos our physical captivity,we are obligated in his Tallit bag and hid it under the in his Tallit bag and hid it under the practices even in situations where floorboards. After liberation in 1945, Mr. Z. more than ever to recite this blessing to practices even in situations where floorboards. After liberation in 1945, Mr. Z. more than ever to recite this blessing to survival depends on returned to the remains of the ghetto and show our enemies that as a people we are survival depends on returned to the remains of the ghetto and show our enemies that as a people we are the next morsel of bread. uncovered the Tallit bag, its contents still spiritually free.” the next morsel of bread. uncovered the Tallit bag, its contents still spiritually free.” intact. (On display at the Washington State intact. (On display at the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center) Holocaust Education Resource Center) Jews lit teaspoons of oil on Chanukah This question goes to the heart of spiritual Jews lit teaspoons of oil on Chanukah This question goes to the heart of spiritual in menorahs made of potatoes,they resistance.Praying through years of in menorahs made of potatoes,they resistance.Praying through years of hid passages of holy texts on their body to study secretly,and they subjugation is hard to believe.Caring enough about the words and hid passages of holy texts on their body to study secretly,and they subjugation is hard to believe.Caring enough about the words and died with the words of the prayer the Shema on their lips — Hear nuances to ask the rabbi is even more difficult to imagine.Imagine died with the words of the prayer the Shema on their lips — Hear nuances to ask the rabbi is even more difficult to imagine.Imagine O Israel the Lord you God the Lord is One.All of these acts put their hearing this response from the rabbi and visualize being a broken O Israel the Lord you God the Lord is One.All of these acts put their hearing this response from the rabbi and visualize being a broken lives at risk. slave hearing that though your body is controlled your soul can’t lives at risk. slave hearing that though your body is controlled your soul can’t ever be enslaved.That belief is behind every act of ever be enslaved.That belief is behind every act of spiritual resistance. spiritual resistance.

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23 23 THE SEATTLE TIMES newspapers in education • holocaust • PAGE 2 THE SEATTLE TIMES newspapers in education • holocaust • PAGE 2

activities activities

1. In a democracy, freedom comes in many forms 1. In a democracy, freedom comes in many forms — speech, religion, voting, education, thought, — speech, religion, voting, education, thought, etc. How does the newspaper represent our etc. How does the newspaper represent our freedom? Look through today’s Seattle Times freedom? Look through today’s Seattle Times and identify how it demonstrates our freedom. and identify how it demonstrates our freedom. Pay close attention to the opinion/editorial Pay close attention to the opinion/editorial section. How does this section support the idea section. How does this section support the idea of spiritual freedom as discussed in today’s of spiritual freedom as discussed in today’s Studying the Holocaust article? Studying the Holocaust article?

2. Do you believe that one can be physically 2. Do you believe that one can be physically enslaved but mentally, spiritually and enslaved but mentally, spiritually and emotionally free? Why or why not? How can emotionally free? Why or why not? How can humans maintain the other types of freedom humans maintain the other types of freedom while physically not free? What does this say while physically not free? What does this say about the importance of our physical about the importance of our physical surroundings? surroundings?

3. Today we learned that the Jewish religion 3. Today we learned that the Jewish religion involves a lot of rules. Why do cultures have involves a lot of rules. Why do cultures have rules? And what are the rules in our own rules? And what are the rules in our own nation/culture. Look for images and articles of nation/culture. Look for images and articles of people who demonstrate the rules of our people who demonstrate the rules of our nation/culture. nation/culture.

Published May 26, 2005 www.wsherc.org Published May 26, 2005 www.wsherc.org

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