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October 2, 2014

One of the great leaders of the Jewish Nation once movingly declared, “There is no nation like the Jewish People.” Throughout the ages, in times of joy and sorrow, rich or poor, free or enslaved, they remain faithful and loyal to G-d’s Mitzvot!

When I was a teenager, our local Rabbi spoke at our Shul’s Sukkot party. He quoted the above and then told a story to illustrate the point. The Rabbi has long since moved to a better world but the words that he spoke then with such conviction remain indelibly printed on my heart. I share them with you.

Warsaw, Poland. Erev Sukkot, 1939. After only a few weeks of bombing and bitter fighting, the Poles surrendered – hopelessly outnumbered by the heavily armed Nazi war machine. Throughout the city, there was an air of hopeless desperation, laden with worry for the future. In their worst nightmares, the Jews could not imagine what lay ahead. Yet, although they were starving, destitute and mourning the loss of loved ones, the Jews of Warsaw were preoccupied with only one concern – how to build a sukkah for the Chag to be celebrated that evening. Many did not have a home but they searched amongst the rubble for flimsy pieces of wood to erect a temporary sukkah dwelling. Who dreamt of a Lulav or Etrog? That was an impossible thought in war-torn Poland.

One of the thousands of Jews who had fled to Warsaw for refuge was the world-famous saintly Rav of Brisk, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik. Somehow, a few hours before the Chag, he miraculously procured a Lulav and Etrog. In the early hours of the following morning, the holy Rav was startled by a noise outside. From his window, he looked and saw a long line of people stretching into the distance as far as the eye could see. News of his Lulav and Etrog had spread like wildfire. Oblivious to their deprivation and personal suffering, the Jews of Warsaw had broken the curfew and were risking their lives, standing all night in order to be sure that they would have the opportunity to shake the precious dalet minim (Four Species).

The entire day, they streamed to the building and patiently stood for hours until it was their turn to enter and fervently hold the Lulav and Etrog. Many had given up waiting for their daily bread ration in order to join the line outside the house of the Rav. This mitzvah was food for the soul and would give them sustenance long after the bread was consumed and forgotten.

“Remember,” our Rabbi said to us with tears in his eyes, “Deep within every Jew there is a hidden flame. In Warsaw on that fateful morning, it was glowing. There is no People like the Jewish nation!”

Chag Samayach to you all!

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