Everything in Its Own Time

Rabbi Dov Eliach: “Each person is a world unto himself. Each person came from a totally different background. To me that’s exactly what makes each of their stories so interesting. After all is said and done it comes down to personal responsibility — how much a person takes upon himself —that rises above all.” (Photos: Ouria Tadmor)

Ileft the house undercover of darkness climbing over fences and cutting through yards until I had left the town behind. My plan was to enter the nearby forest and find somewhere to hide but just then a young Jewish man who collaborated with the Russian police apprehended me and ordered me to accompany him. Showing me his pistol he threatened to shoot me if I resisted.

“When I recall this incident and think about it I assume he must have been a Heaven-sent messenger — perhaps Eliyahu Hanavi himself — otherwise how does one explain what a young man was doing outside the town all alone at three o’clock in the morning? Just imagine what would have happened had I managed to reach the forest as I intended! I would have been exposed to any number of life-threatening dangers: first wild animals; second any Lithuanian gentile could and probably would have shot me; and third I had no food or drink with me. Besides all these hazards the Germans invaded three days later and slaughtered the Jews… so my arrest by that young man was literally a Heavenly miracle!

“The young man led me to my lodgings and instructed me to pack my belongings. I crammed all my things into two bundles and we left for the police station. The NKVD officers ordered me to empty out my pockets. They found my Polish passport my visas and a letter from home written in German. I heard one of them telling another ‘Looks like we’ve managed to capture a spy.…’ Then in a voice heavy with sarcasm he began singing a Russian song whose message I only understood later: ‘I’m not afraid of Siberia ’cause Siberia is alsoRussia…’”