Overcoming the Gas Chambers

[In Auschwitz], the Nazis designated 50 boys and led them to the gas chambers. Upon their arrival they were ordered to enter the "bath house," a familiar ruse, providing the illusion that they were merely asked to shower. By now, however, the youngsters knew the fate of the millions who had been led along that route. They were not prepared to die routinely, choosing instead to die defiantly declaring their faith.

 

One youngster took the lead and turned to the rest: "Today is Simchat Torah when Jews rejoice, having concluded the reading of the Torah and following directly with the commencement of the new cycle of Torah reading. As God's children, we have attempted to uphold the Torah while we had the opportunity to do so. At the present moment, we shall also celebrate the 'conclusion,' followed immediately by the beginning. While the 'conclusion' will mark the end of our lives on this sinful earth, our new beginning will take place in Heaven…

 

"Since we presently possess nothing, not even clothing to cover our bodies, and surely not the customary Torah scroll with which to dance, let us instead dance with God, Who is here with us, as the verse states, 'I [God] am with [every Jew] in distress.' Let us therefore dance with God prior to returning our souls to Him."

 

The youths began dancing with enthusiasm, singing the famous tune found in the morning prayers: "How fortunate we are and how wonderful is our portion; how pleasant is our lot and how beautiful is our heritage." They continued with, "Cleanse our hearts so that we may serve You in truth."

 

The voices of those wonderful youngsters, prepared to depart this world in a state of joy because they are members of the Jewish nation, and whose only concern during their last moments was the purity of their hearts, must have split the heavens, evoking an outpouring of Heavenly benevolence.

 

The Nazi guards standing outside became enraged upon hearing the sounds of singing and dancing within the gas chamber. The commandant in charge became crazed with fury when he heard from one of the boys the reason for their outpouring of joy. The youngster told him sardonically that the mere anticipation of leaving a world where Nazi beasts reign is sufficient cause for elation. In addition, he said, they were exhilarated at the prospect of uniting shortly with their brutally murdered parents.

 

"I will teach you a lesson," the Nazi barked with fury. "You thought that the gas chamber was your last station. You'll find out otherwise. I will torture you with indescribable suffering. I will slice your flesh till you will expire."

 

The youngsters disregarded the Nazi's threats and continued their singing and dancing with added fervor. The response was swift and immediate. All the youngsters were removed from the gas chambers and transferred to a holding block so that by next day the torture regimen could commence.

 

At this juncture, an apparent miracle took place, which can only be attributed to the spiritual power of joy. The following morning a high-ranking Nazi commander arrived at Auschwitz and chanced to pass by that barracks. He had come to the camp to choose several hundred young, able-bodied men and send them to a work camp that was short of manpower. Peering into the barracks he saw a group of energetic youngsters full of life, a profile that fit perfectly with his requirements. The local commandant did not dare mention the circumstances surrounding the placement of the boys in the barracks, for fear of being demoted or put on trial for dereliction of duty.

 

Knowledgeable observers have confirmed that every one of those 50 youngsters survived the war, and all raised exemplary families, a true source of pride to the Jewish people. Indeed, how appropriately that one popular Simchat Torah hymn articulates the power of joy, with the phrase, "No joy equals that of Torah, and no nation seeks it out as does the Jewish people."

 

 

(Reproduced from "NOBLE LIVES, NOBLE DEEDS III" by Rabbi Dovid Silber with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Ltd. www.artscroll.com)