Rabbi
Doniel Staum, LMSW
Doniel Staum, LMSW
Rabbi,
Kehillat NewHempstead
Kehillat New
Rebbe/Guidance
Counselor – ASHAR
Counselor – ASHAR
Principal
– Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
– Ohr Naftoli- New Windsor
STAM
TORAH
TORAH
PARSHAS BECHUKOSAI
5776
5776
“LETTERS
OF FIRE”
OF FIRE”
The Torah That Went From the
Depths to the Heavens Lost With the Space Shuttle, a Holocaust Memento
Wednesday, Febuary19, 2003
The bar mitzvah took place before dawn on a
Monday in March, 1944, inside a barracks at the Bergen Belsen concentration
camp.
Monday in March, 1944, inside a barracks at the Bergen Belsen concentration
camp.
Those men who were strong enough covered the
windows and doors with blankets and stood watch to make sure that no SS guards
were coming.
windows and doors with blankets and stood watch to make sure that no SS guards
were coming.
Four candles, scrounged from somewhere, gave off
enough flickering light for Rabbi Samuel Dasberg to unfurl this tiny Sefer
Torah–the five books of Moses, handwritten by a scribe, on a parchment scroll
that was just four and a half inches tall.
enough flickering light for Rabbi Samuel Dasberg to unfurl this tiny Sefer
Torah–the five books of Moses, handwritten by a scribe, on a parchment scroll
that was just four and a half inches tall.
Thirteen year old Joachim Joseph chanted the
blessings just as the rabbi had taught him, and then he chanted aloud from the
ancient scroll in the singsong Hebrew melody that has been passed down for
hundreds of years.
blessings just as the rabbi had taught him, and then he chanted aloud from the
ancient scroll in the singsong Hebrew melody that has been passed down for
hundreds of years.
“There were people listening in the beds all
around,” Joachim Joseph, who is now a 71 year old Israeli physicist,
recalls, describing the narrow triple-decker bunks where the Jewish men and
boys slept. “Afterwards everybody congratulated me. Somebody fished
out a piece of a chocolate bar that he had been saving and gave it to me.
And somebody else fished out a deck of playing cards for me too. Everybody told
me, “Now you are a bar mitzvah, now you are an adult. We are so very proud
of you. Mazel tov!” And I felt very good.
around,” Joachim Joseph, who is now a 71 year old Israeli physicist,
recalls, describing the narrow triple-decker bunks where the Jewish men and
boys slept. “Afterwards everybody congratulated me. Somebody fished
out a piece of a chocolate bar that he had been saving and gave it to me.
And somebody else fished out a deck of playing cards for me too. Everybody told
me, “Now you are a bar mitzvah, now you are an adult. We are so very proud
of you. Mazel tov!” And I felt very good.
“And then everything was quickly taken down,
and we went out to roll call.”
and we went out to roll call.”
Rabbi Dasberg also gave Joseph a gift that
day. He gave him the miniature Torah scroll that they had used, covered
in a red velvet wrapper and tucked into a small green box.
day. He gave him the miniature Torah scroll that they had used, covered
in a red velvet wrapper and tucked into a small green box.
He said: “This little Sefer Torah is yours
to keep now, because I am pretty sure that I will not get out of this place
alive, but maybe you will.” “And you know how children
are,” Joachim Joseph said when the Washington Post interviewed him by long
distance phone. “At first, I didn’t want to take it, but he
insisted. He convinced me. And the condition was; I had to promise that
if I ever got out of there, that I must tell the story, the story of my bar
mitzvah.”
to keep now, because I am pretty sure that I will not get out of this place
alive, but maybe you will.” “And you know how children
are,” Joachim Joseph said when the Washington Post interviewed him by long
distance phone. “At first, I didn’t want to take it, but he
insisted. He convinced me. And the condition was; I had to promise that
if I ever got out of there, that I must tell the story, the story of my bar
mitzvah.”
The story of that Sefer Torah was told to the
world on January 2lst, when Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, held
the scroll aloft during a live teleconference from aboard the space shuttleColumbia
world on January 2lst, when Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, held
the scroll aloft during a live teleconference from aboard the space shuttle
“This Torah scroll was given by a rabbi to a
young, scared, thin, thirteen year old boy in Bergen Belson,” Ramon said
from inside the space shuttle. “It represents more than anything the
ability of the Jewish people to survive. It represents their ability to go from
black days, from periods of darkness, to reach periods of hope and faith in the
future.”
young, scared, thin, thirteen year old boy in Bergen Belson,” Ramon said
from inside the space shuttle. “It represents more than anything the
ability of the Jewish people to survive. It represents their ability to go from
black days, from periods of darkness, to reach periods of hope and faith in the
future.”
When the shuttle
disintegrated as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere 11 days later, Ramon and the
six other astronauts were killed, and the Torah was almost definitely
destroyed. But the story of the tiny scroll was reborn.
disintegrated as it reentered Earth’s atmosphere 11 days later, Ramon and the
six other astronauts were killed, and the Torah was almost definitely
destroyed. But the story of the tiny scroll was reborn.
It is the story of a
generation that experienced the worst humanity has to offer, a generation that,
60 years later, is rapidly dying off, leaving only its youngest survivors,
museum exhibits and history books to give witness…
generation that experienced the worst humanity has to offer, a generation that,
60 years later, is rapidly dying off, leaving only its youngest survivors,
museum exhibits and history books to give witness…
Joseph says he has no
regrets about sending the Torah into space.
“I’m not sorry that it is gone,” he
says. “It did what it, perhaps, was destined to do.”
regrets about sending the Torah into space.
“I’m not sorry that it is gone,” he
says. “It did what it, perhaps, was destined to do.”
A number of years
ago, Rabbi Chaim Stein zt”l, the late Rosh Yeshiva of the Telshe Yeshiva inCleveland , Ohio , went to
visit the original yeshiva building in the city ofTelshe
inLithuania
Rabbi Stein himself had studied in that building before he escaped the Nazi
onslaught in October 1940. As he stood with a few others in the abandoned
dilapidated building where the passionate discourse of Torah study once
resounded and the sounds of Talmudic debate once erupted from its hallowed
walls, the eerie silence was palpable and painful.
ago, Rabbi Chaim Stein zt”l, the late Rosh Yeshiva of the Telshe Yeshiva in
visit the original yeshiva building in the city of
in
Rabbi Stein himself had studied in that building before he escaped the Nazi
onslaught in October 1940. As he stood with a few others in the abandoned
dilapidated building where the passionate discourse of Torah study once
resounded and the sounds of Talmudic debate once erupted from its hallowed
walls, the eerie silence was palpable and painful.
Rabbi Stein recounted
the tragic story of the great sage, Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon. After the Roman
conquest of Yerushalayim and the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdash, the
Romans forbid the study and teaching of Torah.
the tragic story of the great sage, Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon. After the Roman
conquest of Yerushalayim and the destruction of the second Bais Hamikdash, the
Romans forbid the study and teaching of Torah.
The gemara[2]
relates, “They found Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon who was sitting engaged in Torah
study, and convening gatherings in public, and a Torah scroll was resting on
his lap. They brought him and wrapped him in a Torah scroll, encircled him with
bundles of vine shoots and set them on fire. The Romans then brought tufts of
wool, soaked them in water, and placed them over his heart, so that his soul
would not depart quickly…
relates, “They found Rabbi Chanina ben Tradyon who was sitting engaged in Torah
study, and convening gatherings in public, and a Torah scroll was resting on
his lap. They brought him and wrapped him in a Torah scroll, encircled him with
bundles of vine shoots and set them on fire. The Romans then brought tufts of
wool, soaked them in water, and placed them over his heart, so that his soul
would not depart quickly…
[As the fire raged]
his students asked him, “Rebbe, what do you see?” He answered them, “גוילין נשרפין ואותיות פורחות – the blank parchment is burning and the letters are taking flight.”
his students asked him, “Rebbe, what do you see?” He answered them, “גוילין נשרפין ואותיות פורחות – the blank parchment is burning and the letters are taking flight.”
Rabbi Stein explained
that Rabbi Chanina’s words are legendary. The Nazis burned the building and
decimated its students. But it was only the parchment that burned. ‘The
letters’ of all the Torah that was studied and taught in the Telshe yeshiva
‘took flight’ and crossed the world until it was replanted inAmerica
that Rabbi Chanina’s words are legendary. The Nazis burned the building and
decimated its students. But it was only the parchment that burned. ‘The
letters’ of all the Torah that was studied and taught in the Telshe yeshiva
‘took flight’ and crossed the world until it was replanted in
So it is throughout
the generations of our persecution in exile. Our enemies have destroyed us and
burned numerous Torahs throughout the millennia. But it’s only the physical
scroll, the parchment, that could be burned. The Torah itself however, is
indestructible. As the parchment caught fire and began to burn, its
letters ascended to heaven, many times returning in new scrolls in new
locations.
the generations of our persecution in exile. Our enemies have destroyed us and
burned numerous Torahs throughout the millennia. But it’s only the physical
scroll, the parchment, that could be burned. The Torah itself however, is
indestructible. As the parchment caught fire and began to burn, its
letters ascended to heaven, many times returning in new scrolls in new
locations.
Klal Yisroel must never
forget its exalted status. For along with the great privilege of being G-d’s
Chosen Nation, comes tremendous responsibility. In its description of the
Tochacha[4], the
Torah warns that if we fail to live up to our responsibilities we will suffer
dire punishments.
forget its exalted status. For along with the great privilege of being G-d’s
Chosen Nation, comes tremendous responsibility. In its description of the
Tochacha[4], the
Torah warns that if we fail to live up to our responsibilities we will suffer
dire punishments.
The Torah describes
the retribution that will befall us in explicitly unbearable detail. We have
witnessed the veracity and tragic fruition of every word of those painfully foreboding
predictions.
the retribution that will befall us in explicitly unbearable detail. We have
witnessed the veracity and tragic fruition of every word of those painfully foreboding
predictions.
Towards the end of
the Torah’s account of the Tochacha G-d promises that despite all the horrors
and travails that Klal Yisroel will be forced to endure they will never be
destroyed. “But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their
enemies, I will not have been revolted by them nor will I have rejected them to
obliterate them, to annul My covenant with them – for I am Hashem, their G-d[5].”
the Torah’s account of the Tochacha G-d promises that despite all the horrors
and travails that Klal Yisroel will be forced to endure they will never be
destroyed. “But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their
enemies, I will not have been revolted by them nor will I have rejected them to
obliterate them, to annul My covenant with them – for I am Hashem, their G-d[5].”
The Meshech Chochma
writes at length about the repeated pattern of the Jewish People in exile. He
also prophetically forewarns that the time was ripe for a great tempest to brew
in the Jewish world that would uproot their very roots because of, ‘those who
thinkBerlin is Jerusalem
writes at length about the repeated pattern of the Jewish People in exile. He
also prophetically forewarns that the time was ripe for a great tempest to brew
in the Jewish world that would uproot their very roots because of, ‘those who
think
He begins however, by
declaring the miracle of our survival. “Behold from whenIsrael
nation, throughout the many years, the multitudes of those who dwell on earth
could not believe that they (the Jewish people) would endure in such wondrous
fashion. It cannot be fathomed by any rational intelligent person who
understands history and the patterns of thousands of years in regards to any
weak and vulnerable nation. This alone is an incredible and great wonder, that
a nation could endure for a Divinely ordained lofty purpose, which was
prophesized about thousands of years before it occurred.”
declaring the miracle of our survival. “Behold from when
nation, throughout the many years, the multitudes of those who dwell on earth
could not believe that they (the Jewish people) would endure in such wondrous
fashion. It cannot be fathomed by any rational intelligent person who
understands history and the patterns of thousands of years in regards to any
weak and vulnerable nation. This alone is an incredible and great wonder, that
a nation could endure for a Divinely ordained lofty purpose, which was
prophesized about thousands of years before it occurred.”
Our very existence is
the greatest miracle of all. The fact that Torah is still being taught and that
we still proudly adhere to its mitzvos and way of life, despite all we have survived
and prospered defies logical explanation.
the greatest miracle of all. The fact that Torah is still being taught and that
we still proudly adhere to its mitzvos and way of life, despite all we have survived
and prospered defies logical explanation.
The Torah scrolls of
many communities have been consumed by the nefarious fires of our most heinous
and implacable enemies. The scrolls ofBabylonia ,
Spain , France , Germany ,
Poland , and Russia
have been almost completely consumed. But the fires could not singe even one
letter. The letters were transported to new lands and a new generation where it
continues to be studied and promulgated in eternally cyclic tradition.
many communities have been consumed by the nefarious fires of our most heinous
and implacable enemies. The scrolls of
have been almost completely consumed. But the fires could not singe even one
letter. The letters were transported to new lands and a new generation where it
continues to be studied and promulgated in eternally cyclic tradition.
The holiday of Lag
Baomer celebrates the cessation of the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s twenty-four
thousand disciples. Pri Chodosh questions why that is reason for celebration.
The Gemara states that as a result of their deaths, “the world became
spiritually desolate”[6]. Why
should the fact that they ceased to die be reason to celebrate?
Baomer celebrates the cessation of the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s twenty-four
thousand disciples. Pri Chodosh questions why that is reason for celebration.
The Gemara states that as a result of their deaths, “the world became
spiritually desolate”[6]. Why
should the fact that they ceased to die be reason to celebrate?
He therefore suggests
that the real cause for celebration is for what occurred after all of Rabbi
Akiva’s students had died out. The gemara recounts[7],
“Rabbi Akiva came to our Sages in the south and taught them: Rabbi Meir, Rabbi
Yehuda, Rabbi Yosi, Rabbi Shimon [Bar Yochai], and Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua. It
was they who preserved the Torah at that time.” There is a tradition[8] that
Rabbi Akiva began teaching the five students on Lag Baomer.
that the real cause for celebration is for what occurred after all of Rabbi
Akiva’s students had died out. The gemara recounts[7],
“Rabbi Akiva came to our Sages in the south and taught them: Rabbi Meir, Rabbi
Yehuda, Rabbi Yosi, Rabbi Shimon [Bar Yochai], and Rabbi Elazar ben Shamua. It
was they who preserved the Torah at that time.” There is a tradition[8] that
Rabbi Akiva began teaching the five students on Lag Baomer.
After Rabbi Akiva’s
twenty-four thousand students died he was already an old man. Their tragic and
untimely deaths surely weighed heavily on him and caused him untold pain and
sorrow. A lesser man would have succumbed to despair. Yet Rabbi Akiva plunged
ahead. With indomitable heart and spirit he cast aside his personal grief to
ensure the continued dissemination of Torah to subsequent generations.
twenty-four thousand students died he was already an old man. Their tragic and
untimely deaths surely weighed heavily on him and caused him untold pain and
sorrow. A lesser man would have succumbed to despair. Yet Rabbi Akiva plunged
ahead. With indomitable heart and spirit he cast aside his personal grief to
ensure the continued dissemination of Torah to subsequent generations.
Rabbi Gedalia Schorr
zt’l explained[9], “Lag Baomer is a day on
which one should strengthen himself in Torah study. Even if one has not learned
properly, and has had periods of failure, on Lag Baomer he should strengthen
himself and take a lesson from Rabbi Akiva… Just as Rabbi Akiva did not
despair, so too, a Jew should not allow past failures and difficult situations
to lead him to despair; rather, he should immerse himself in Torah with renewed
strength.”
zt’l explained[9], “Lag Baomer is a day on
which one should strengthen himself in Torah study. Even if one has not learned
properly, and has had periods of failure, on Lag Baomer he should strengthen
himself and take a lesson from Rabbi Akiva… Just as Rabbi Akiva did not
despair, so too, a Jew should not allow past failures and difficult situations
to lead him to despair; rather, he should immerse himself in Torah with renewed
strength.”
The fires of Lag
Baomer symbolize the eternal fire of Torah[10]. In
those flames also represents the fact that we are to be the light unto the
nations, a guiding light in the morally depraved darkness. The fires of Lag Baomer
stands in stark contradistinction with the fires our enemies have ignited to
destroy and eradicate every scintilla of our being. Their fires have consumed
nothing but parchment while our fires burn heavenward with the eternal light of
the letters.
Baomer symbolize the eternal fire of Torah[10]. In
those flames also represents the fact that we are to be the light unto the
nations, a guiding light in the morally depraved darkness. The fires of Lag Baomer
stands in stark contradistinction with the fires our enemies have ignited to
destroy and eradicate every scintilla of our being. Their fires have consumed
nothing but parchment while our fires burn heavenward with the eternal light of
the letters.
The parchment may be
destroyed—-but the story will go on. The story will continue. The story will
live on.
destroyed—-but the story will go on. The story will continue. The story will
live on.
“Despite all this, I will not annul My
covenant with them.”
covenant with them.”
“The blank parchment
is burning and the letters are taking flight.”
is burning and the letters are taking flight.”
[1] I had seen part of this article
referenced in another article. When I contacted the author this week to ask her
for the full article, she replied: “Sure —
here it is. I will never forget that story. Just yesterday, someone asked me
what is my favorite story I ever wrote, and I cited this one. Thanks for
writing, Debbi Wilgoren”
referenced in another article. When I contacted the author this week to ask her
for the full article, she replied: “Sure —
here it is. I will never forget that story. Just yesterday, someone asked me
what is my favorite story I ever wrote, and I cited this one. Thanks for
writing, Debbi Wilgoren”
[2] Avoda Zara 18a
[3] Today there is a branch of the
Telshe yeshiva in Cleveland, Chicago, and Riverdale.
Telshe yeshiva in Cleveland, Chicago, and Riverdale.
[4] Literally – rebuke; the Torah
writes the Tochacha twice – in Parshas Bechukosai (Vayikra 26:14-46) and in
Parshas Ki Savo (Devorim, chapter 28)
writes the Tochacha twice – in Parshas Bechukosai (Vayikra 26:14-46) and in
Parshas Ki Savo (Devorim, chapter 28)
[5] Vayikra 26:44
[6] Yevamos 62b
[7] Ibid.
[8] Kaf HaChaim (Oh’c 493:26)
[9] Ohr Gedalyahu (Lag Baomer)
[10] As personified by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his illustrious
teacher Rabbi Akiva who studied Torah despite the personal peril involved in
doing so.
teacher Rabbi Akiva who studied Torah despite the personal peril involved in
doing so.