Just before Purim, I received this incredible photo which portrays a turnabout reminiscent of what we experienced in the time of Mordechai and Esther.
The photo was taken on Purim, in March, 1945, during the Holocaust. A group of Jewish American soldiers arrived at the grand, ancient castle where Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi regime’s Minister of Propaganda, would vacation with his family. The place was filled with swastikas, and a giant portrait of Hitler.
And in this very location, a scene that no director could have invented took place: Jewish American soldiers, who were fighting against absolute evil, took a break to read Megillat Esther and celebrate Purim — the holiday that marks the Jewish victory over complete evil.
Goebbels was the minister who manipulated public opinion to accept the Final Solution. Just as Haman in the megillah convinced King Achashverosh, Goebbels whispered into Hitler’s ear, persuading the Nazi leadership of the need to exterminate all Jews. It didn’t work — not in the megillah, not during the Holocaust, and not in our time.
The soldiers brought an Aron Kodesh (Ark) and a Torah scroll, spread a curtain embroidered with a Star of David over the table, lit two candles, and held two siddurs in their hands. And then, they sanctified this defiled space with the ancient words of Megillat Esther: “For the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and honor.”
A couple of weeks later, Hitler committed suicide. Goebbels succeeded him but took his own life the very next day, along with his wife, after poisoning their six children with cyanide. Absolute evil was ultimately thrown into the trash heap of history.
And in Goebbels’ mansion? Hundreds of Jewish American soldiers turned that very hall into a dining room — and celebrated Pesach there.
May this soon be the fate of all the wicked in our time as well.
The Jew seeks meaning
<em>Man’s Search for Meaning is the name of the impressive work written by Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. In it, he explains how the divine image within humans, their soul, the meaning in their lives — gives them strength to face challenges. It seems that a new book is being written: The Jew’s Search for Meaning or perhaps Man’s Search for Judaism.
We have seen many “Viktor Frankls” returning from Gaza. They don’t write books; rather, they post stories and social media updates on the resilience of their Jewish spirit that has moved millions of Jews across the globe. I have begun collecting these modern-day legends, which embody the Jewish experience in our time. Here are a few:
Eliya Cohen offered to swap places with another hostage and remain captive in his place. (His father related: “When they informed him about his release, Eliya offered to switch with one of his friends who was physically and mentally weaker than him. The terrorists refused.”)
Omer Shem Tov found a way to observe Shabbat in Gaza. (His mother Shelly recounted: “He only had a flashlight, and he made sure not to turn it on during Shabbat so as to symbolize and honor Shabbat.”)
And of course, there is the story of Agam Berger which has already become known worldwide (the Wall Street Journal recently published an article by Rabbi Meir Soloveichik explaining to the American public the significance of her Shabbat observance in Gaza).
Social activist Shai Graucher became known during the war for his gifts and assistance to the bereaved families, the wounded and the hostages. He has recently observed an interesting phenomenon: he brings an iPad, and they ask for tefilin. He brings a cell phone, and they ask for Shabbat candlesticks.
Last week it happened with hostage Ohad Ben Ami from Kibbutz Be’eri. Ohad asked for tefilin, and then on Monday, he asked to do Havdalah. Havdalah is performed on Saturday night, but Ohad wanted to learn how to recite the blessing so that he would be ready for the following week.
Keith Siegel shared in a video that he tried to say a blessing over everything he ate in Gaza, but he didn’t know how. He simply said the generic blessing of “borei minei mezonot” over every food. When he returned home, his family asked what special food he wanted them to prepare for Friday night, which would be their first meal together. Keith said: “No need for special food. Bring me a kippah and cup for Kiddush.”
This is a very partial list that tells the story not only of each hostage individually, but about something much greater: the reawakening of the Jewish spirit.
A ‘Nishmat’ like never before
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Kesher Yehudi organization has been inviting families of hostages, bereaved families, and survivors of the Nova massacre to celebrate Shabbat and holidays together. This has turned into an incredible journey, one that will surely be told for years to come. I had the privilege of being there on several occasions for moments of profound spiritual empowerment and an extraordinary connection between souls as we shared prayers, dances, tears and also many Torah study sessions.
We must learn not only to ask but also to give thanks. And so, this Purim, hostages who returned from Gaza were invited along with their families to an event of gratitude for the past, and of course, a prayer for the future — for all who are still missing and for all that is still lacking.
At this event Agam Berger, Eliya Cohen, Karina Ariev, the family of Daniella Gilboa, and the family of Sasha Trufanov all said “Nishmat Kol Chai” together. Suddenly, every word of this famous, ancient prayer took on even deeper meaning.
Parashat Vayakhel: wisdom of the heart
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, the late Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, often spoke of women’s prominent role in building the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and, indeed, in building the world. The Torah mentions “every wise-hearted woman” and “all the women whose hearts lifted them up with wisdom,” who took part in building the Temple. This combination of the brain and the heart is emphasized by the Torah during this project. The Lubavitcher Rebbe brings two points:
The men brought the materials to the Tabernacle but did not actually produce anything. We should not deduce from this that “sewing is a woman’s job,” but rather the need to consider the spiritual suitability of men and women for this task. Most of the men participated in worshipping the Golden Calf and were considered less suited than the women, who did not sin. The women were considered to be on a higher spiritual level and performed the task leshem Shamayim, with holy intent.
Some of the skilled jobs in the Temple were initiated by the women of their own accord. They were talented artists who used their skills to benefit the Tabernacle. This lesson applies to both men and women. If you have been blessed with special skills or senses, you should use them for a good purpose, to plan and execute constructive projects, or in the rebbe’s words, “To make the whole world a Mishkan of goodness and faith.”
Translated by Yehoshua Siskin, Janine Muller Sherr
