T he cold was more than Rav Eliezer could bear. Every particle in his body screamed in pain as the icy waters turned his blood cold. Every time he resurfaced from beneath the waves he could hear the wild howls of laughter from the hooligans above.
In the throes of a horrible death Rav Eliezer struggled to remember the words of Vidui. He slid below the surface eyes wide in shock the last seconds of his life slipping away.…
“AAAAAAaaaaahhhh!” He heard a scream that sounded closer and closer until a lifeless body crashed into the water inches from him. It was one of the German thugs! A moment later a dagger and a wooden club splashed into the water. Someone on deck was battling the ruffians. There was hope yet!
A surge of adrenalin flooded Rav Eliezer’s body and he kicked himself to the surface with renewed strength.
