Poland was closed in on all sides, and independent Lithuania had been seized by the Soviets. As Europe teetered on the brink of war and destruction, an unexpected rescue possibility developed for the Torah leaders who knew that while the Nazis would destroy their bodies, the Soviets would destroy their souls. They came from Kletzk, Baranovich, and Bialystok — scurrying for passage on the last ship out of Russia. Personal memories from a forgotten era.
To their right was the sea, and on the left — sand, as far as the eye could see. Only in their mind’s eye could they see beyond the sand to the land in which nothing is lacking. To Eretz Yisrael.
These men and boys, scholars of the European Torah world, had come from Kletzk, Baranovitch, and Bialystok, scurrying for passage on the last ship out of Odessa before the port — the last escape route out of Russia — was sealed. From Istanbul they trekked by land, through Syria and Lebanon, south to Haifa.
It was seventy years ago, Erev Pesach 1941. The journey was finally over — the survivors on the “Rabbanim Ship” had reached the Promised Land to fulfill the promise that Torah will never be lost.
No one waited to welcome them, no photographers or reporters recorded the event, and there were no exuberant bochurim to sing “Yamim al yemei melech tosif.”
Create a free account to keep reading.
