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[[ | [[File:גטו לודז.jpg|thumb|Lodz Ghetto]] | ||
'''The Holocaust''' was the genocide of the Jewish people carried out during World War II, in which approximately six million Jews were murdered Al [[Kiddush Hashem]] (sanctifying G-d's name). The Holocaust began in [[Elul]] [[5699]] (1939) and ended in early spring [[5705]] (1945) with the defeat of Nazi [[Germany]] in the war. Thousands of Chabad chassidim perished in the Holocaust, and afterward, most of the chassidim left the [[Soviet Union]] through Lvov and arrived at displaced persons camps throughout [[Europe]]. Most chassidim stayed in the [[Pocking camp]] in Germany, and from there, under the guidance of the [[Frierdiker Rebbe]], they continued on to [[Eretz HaKodesh]], the [[United States]], and other locations. | '''The Holocaust''' was the genocide of the Jewish people carried out during World War II, in which approximately six million Jews were murdered Al [[Kiddush Hashem]] (sanctifying G-d's name). The Holocaust began in [[Elul]] [[5699]] (1939) and ended in early spring [[5705]] (1945) with the defeat of Nazi [[Germany]] in the war. Thousands of Chabad chassidim perished in the Holocaust, and afterward, most of the chassidim left the [[Soviet Union]] through Lvov and arrived at displaced persons camps throughout [[Europe]]. Most chassidim stayed in the [[Pocking camp]] in Germany, and from there, under the guidance of the [[The Rebbe Rayatz|Frierdiker Rebbe]], they continued on to [[Eretz Yisroel|Eretz HaKodesh]], the [[United States]], and other locations. | ||
== The Holocaust Period == | == The Holocaust Period == | ||
[[ | [[File:שואה 1.png|thumb|A famous picture from the holocaust during the liquidation of the ghetto uprising [[Warsaw]]]] | ||
[[The Chabad Rebbes]], communities, and yeshivas were in Nazi-occupied areas and war zones. While many perished, there were also survivors. During and after the Holocaust, most Chabad chassidim relocated, completely changing the geographic map of Chabad communities: | [[The Chabad Rebbes]], communities, and yeshivas were in Nazi-occupied areas and war zones. While many perished, there were also survivors. During and after the Holocaust, most Chabad chassidim relocated, completely changing the geographic map of Chabad communities: | ||
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During this period, false reports circulated that the Nazis had captured and executed the Frierdiker Rebbe. When the mistake was discovered, retraction notices were published in the press announcing that "His Holy Honor the Rebbe of Lubavitch shlita is healthy and well." | During this period, false reports circulated that the Nazis had captured and executed the Frierdiker Rebbe. When the mistake was discovered, retraction notices were published in the press announcing that "His Holy Honor the Rebbe of Lubavitch shlita is healthy and well." | ||
== Saving Jews == | ==== The Rescue ==== | ||
At Agudas Chasidei Chabad in the United States, continuous creative and sophisticated attempts were made to smuggle the Rebbe Rayatz out of Poland. Members of Agudas Chasidei Chabad established contact with officials in the American government who approached the head of German military intelligence, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, who worked toward smuggling out the Rebbe Rayatz. Despite the dangerous situation, the Rebbe Rayatz requested that twenty additional people, besides his family members, leave with him. | |||
On the 2nd of Teves 5700 (December 1939), the Rebbe Rayatz and his family were smuggled out of Poland, together with twenty Jews, through Berlin to Riga. After three days, on the 5th of Teves, they arrived in Riga, and on the 24th of Adar 5700 (March 1940), they left Riga for Stockholm (Sweden). | |||
On the 25th of Adar 5700, they traveled from Stockholm by train to the city of Gothenburg, from where they sailed on the ship "Drottningholm" to the United States, where the Rebbe received an impressive and massive welcome reception, organized by Chabad chassidim in Stockholm led by Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Zuber. | |||
==== Saving Jews ==== | |||
After arriving in the United States, the Frierdiker Rebbe immediately began working to save Jews from all backgrounds and countries. This activity involved members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States and additional Chabad askanim worldwide. | After arriving in the United States, the Frierdiker Rebbe immediately began working to save Jews from all backgrounds and countries. This activity involved members of Agudas Chassidei Chabad in the United States and additional Chabad askanim worldwide. | ||
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* Attempted to rescue his son-in-law Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Horenstein]] and daughter Rebbetzin Sheina HY"D | * Attempted to rescue his son-in-law Rabbi [[Menachem Mendel Horenstein]] and daughter Rebbetzin Sheina HY"D | ||
* Made great efforts to rescue as many Tmimim and chassidim as possible from burning Europe | * Made great efforts to rescue as many Tmimim and chassidim as possible from burning Europe | ||
* Ensured the rescue of several important Jewish leaders of that period, including the Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz and the Imrei Emes of Ger | * Ensured the rescue of several important Jewish leaders of that period, including the [[Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz|Rebbe Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz]] and the Imrei Emes of Ger | ||
* Worked to provide assistance to many Jews who faced hardship due to the war, which caused distress, shortages, and severe economic problems worldwide | * Worked to provide assistance to many Jews who faced hardship due to the war, which caused distress, shortages, and severe economic problems worldwide | ||
* Conducted special rescue operations through Chabad Rabbanim and askanim in Sweden - Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Zuber and Rabbi Yisroel Chesdan. Documentation of these activities are scattered throughout the Frierdiker Rebbe's Igros Kodesh and some were collected in the book Chasdei Yisroel in chapters dealing with rescue during the Holocaust period | * Conducted special rescue operations through Chabad Rabbanim and askanim in Sweden - Rabbi Yaakov Yisroel Zuber and Rabbi Yisroel Chesdan. Documentation of these activities are scattered throughout the Frierdiker Rebbe's Igros Kodesh and some were collected in the book Chasdei Yisroel in chapters dealing with rescue during the Holocaust period | ||
* In addition to operational activities, the Frierdiker Rebbe worked to inspire American Jews to do teshuvah for the merit of their brothers suffering from Nazi persecution, and composed special prayers to arouse mercy for the Jewish people and for the merit of U.S. military personnel and leaders fighting for humanity | * In addition to operational activities, the Frierdiker Rebbe worked to inspire American Jews to do teshuvah for the merit of their brothers suffering from Nazi persecution, and composed special prayers to arouse mercy for the Jewish people and for the merit of U.S. military personnel and leaders fighting for humanity | ||
== The Rebbe During the Holocaust == | |||
When Hitler ימ"ש rose to power, the Rebbe spent several months in Germany. After antisemitism intensified, the Rebbe moved to Paris, France in 1933. | |||
At the beginning of the war, the Rebbe cared for the city's Jews as well as refugees who arrived from other places, and worked to lift the spirits of the local Jews. From the known stories about the Rebbe's activities in the area, we know about his assistance to refugees entering hotels. Hotel managers did not want to admit refugees to their hotels for fear they wouldn't pay, since the refugees had no money. Therefore, hotel managers decided not to admit anyone who didn't possess property worth one hundred dollars. The Rebbe would circulate with such a bill and bring it to Jews who needed to enter hotels, and after they succeeded in getting a room, he would take the bill and pass it to additional Jews. | |||
Additionally, it is known that the Rebbe was very particular about not being considered non-Jewish. As Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka related, during the registration conducted by the Nazis ימ"ש for French citizens, the Rebbe was not present at home. When he returned, she told him that she had answered the representative's question about the residents' religion with "Orthodox" (a response that could be interpreted as not necessarily referring to Jews). When the Rebbe heard this, he immediately went with mesiras nefesh to the office responsible for registration and ensured they would be registered specifically as Jews and not just as "Orthodox." All this during the height of the war. | |||
== The Military Service Department == | == The Military Service Department == | ||
The Department for Military Service Workers was founded during the Holocaust by Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch in partnership with the Machne Israel organization. This department worked in various ways to inspire Yiddishkeit among Jewish soldiers serving in the U.S. military by sending religious articles, study books, Jewish reading materials, letters of encouragement from the Frierdiker Rebbe, holiday information booklets and more. The Rebbe MH"M headed all these activities. | The Department for Military Service Workers was founded during the Holocaust by Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch in partnership with the Machne Israel organization. This department worked in various ways to inspire Yiddishkeit among Jewish soldiers serving in the U.S. military by sending religious articles, study books, Jewish reading materials, letters of encouragement from the Frierdiker Rebbe, holiday information booklets and more. The Rebbe MH"M headed all these activities. | ||
== Messages to Soldiers == | ==== Messages to Soldiers ==== | ||
The department, under the Rebbe's management, produced special "Message" booklets for soldiers and also sent them holiday booklets produced by [[Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch]]. These booklets contained messages that were igros from the Frierdiker Rebbe and content adapted from his words. The booklets also included igros and words from the Rebbe. The booklets received prominent publicity in the [[Kovetz Lubavitch]] publications. | The department, under the Rebbe's management, produced special "Message" booklets for soldiers and also sent them holiday booklets produced by [[Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch]]. These booklets contained messages that were igros from the Frierdiker Rebbe and content adapted from his words. The booklets also included igros and words from the Rebbe. The booklets received prominent publicity in the [[Kovetz Lubavitch]] publications. | ||
The booklet also contained the first paragraph of Krias Shema and several chapters of [[Tehillim]]. This booklet included a letter from the Rebbe containing his father-in-law the Frierdiker Rebbe's words about the obligation to put on tefillin. | The booklet also contained the first paragraph of Krias Shema and several chapters of [[Tehillim]]. This booklet included a letter from the Rebbe containing his father-in-law the Frierdiker Rebbe's words about the obligation to put on tefillin. | ||
== Reviews and Publication == | ==== Reviews and Publication ==== | ||
Special reviews of activities with soldiers and the booklets were published several times over the years, including in: Sefer Toldos Chabad in the United States and Yemei Melech. | Special reviews of activities with soldiers and the booklets were published several times over the years, including in: Sefer Toldos Chabad in the United States and Yemei Melech. | ||
The book Yemei Breishis presents photographs of the Message booklets and includes the Rebbe's words from 1950 to a soldier about the booklets for soldiers. | The book Yemei Breishis presents photographs of the Message booklets and includes the Rebbe's words from 1950 to a soldier about the booklets for soldiers. | ||
== Chabad Chassidim in the Holocaust == | == Chabad Chassidim in the Holocaust == | ||
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== After the Holocaust == | == After the Holocaust == | ||
== The Exodus from Russia == | ==== The Exodus from Russia ==== | ||
After the Holocaust, most Chabad chassidim who survived the war events and Holocaust left the Soviet Union for Poland, exiting Russia through Lvov. | After the Holocaust, most Chabad chassidim who survived the war events and Holocaust left the Soviet Union for Poland, exiting Russia through Lvov. | ||
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The activities spread across many areas, and many Jews' Judaism was saved thanks to these activities. | The activities spread across many areas, and many Jews' Judaism was saved thanks to these activities. | ||
== Encouragement to Holocaust Survivors == | ==== Encouragement to Holocaust Survivors ==== | ||
Following the Holocaust, the spirits of many survivors and people who lived through the Holocaust's pain fell, and some ceased observing Torah and mitzvos, lo aleinu. | Following the Holocaust, the spirits of many survivors and people who lived through the Holocaust's pain fell, and some ceased observing Torah and mitzvos, lo aleinu. | ||