By Ruth Benjamin
 | The soldier stared at the boy, fighting back tears. "Over these four terrible years, this is the first live Jewish child I have seen..."
24 Comments Posted
There is a similar song on "Journeys 4" where the holocaust survivors lift up the 2 surivivng children as a replacement for Torah. This story might have inspired that song! Heartwarming!
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Thank you for this story--
In a time when our society loses its moral codes
we need to remember
that only when ideas--
things we need deep inside our souls come to light
(though we may forget how much we need them)--
when resurfaced they become
a stone of remembrance.
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The father was very wise when he decided to introduce his child to his own people first instead of to any written words. And what an introduction on Simchat Torah! I enjoyed this story very very much.
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Ruth always has a way with words... Beautiful!
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Thank you, Mrs. Benjamin, for sharing this with us. This is the first thing I've ever read from Chabad. And I thought, what a wonderful introduction!
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This story says nothing about the little boy who sounds like he could be mighty confused about "what" he is. First and foremost, if you have love in your heart (for whatever it is (whether it be for Jesus, Mohamad or whomever - as long as it is not hurting another) then this is where God lies - not in which religion you claim to be.
There is so much fear about Jewish survival that it turns me off as being Jewish doesn't mean one has a relationship with God, just a belief in religion. God is much more than a religion and exists regardless of how many Jews there are in the world.
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I've printed this article days ago and have read it a number of times. During my first reading I couldn't get past the soldier's words and the story they told: " 'Is this child... Jewish?' he asked, a touch of awe (AWE) in his voice."
I couldn't get past that part in an emotional sense, I mean.
After that, every time I read this story, I heard and saw, inside my head, all kind of things. I heard: 'Is this child... Jewish?' I saw hands raised and voices saying, 'Heil Hitler.' The Austrian side of my family said it, day after day after day.
Today I prayed a long time before reading this story. And then, as I read it, it changed into a story of triumph. For a little boy, his father, a soldier, and the entire Jewish people.
And for me.
Thank you, Mrs. Benjamin, for writing this for Simchat Torah.
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This is a sad story, but an inspiration. For the Jewish people that because his father was still alive the jewish people will survive. But what about the orphans that were converted so small they only know christianity. We have to be grateful, for the people who helped our children, but also sad that these children will not send the legacy on in Judaism. But this story does give hope at the end of the tunnel.
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I just wanted to say what an amazing beautiful story. I am divorced with 2 children and find it hard to go to places bymyself all the time, but after reading this I will be sure to take my children to Simchas Torah tonight.
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I was so inspired by this story that I went to the ADL website and found Abe's version of this story in Abe's own words. How puzzled and saddened I was to see that his version is not as Ruth reports it. This is what Abe says at "http://www.adl.org/education/holocaust/life.asp":
"The first time I went to shul (synagogue) was in Vilnius on Simchat Torah (Jewish holiday celebration), because my father figured I'd like it since it's a joyous festival full of singing and dancing. A Soviet Jewish officer came up to my father and asked if he could include me in the dancing. He put me on his shoulders and began to dance saying, "This is the Jewish flag." The Jewish children picked me up and danced with me and I came home and told my mother, "Hey, I like the Jewish church!" "
Why is the story so different? Why does Abe's own version of events not mesh with what Ruth said? Is a good story more important than what really happened? Do we care about historical accuracy at all?
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With all due respect, I think you're nitpicking. There are indeed a few minor factual discrepancies between Mr Foxman's literal account and Ms Benjamin's more literary rendition, but the gist of the story (especially to anyone who follows the link you gave and reads the whole thing) is the same. Perhaps Ms Benjamin heard Mr Foxman tell the story in a speech, or from a third party, and wrote it based on the oral story, not knowing that a written account exists. Granted, you have a point re "historical accuracy" and you've done us all a service by digging up the autobiographical material, but I think that most of the readers would a agree that Ms Benjamin's rendition is quite faithful to the story, in both substance and spirit. Certainly, your exaggerated, antagonistic caption is neither called for nor warranted.
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I've now read Mr. Foxman's story. It's interesting and I also found some things in it that truly surprised me.
He said, quote:
"Even once I was reunited with my parents, I was a good practicing Catholic. As a child, I went to church, I said my prayers and I wore a crucifix."
Quote 2: "Christianity was my means of survival and it is because of this that I have always had great respect for it."
Mr. Foxman, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League, has asked the Pope to pray for the soul of his nanny. I thought, "his nanny would have liked that. A lot."
In that web site I got a peek of a very big person.
As for Mrs. Benjamin's story, I see a few minor factual discrepancies, yes. But I was downright grateful that they exist, because otherwise there would have been no Lee to show me a web page so rich in so very many ways.
So, thank you to 3 people: Mrs. Benjamin, Mr. Foxman, Lee - each of you have given me something I value.
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I think, you're missing the point.
Most important in Judaism is indeed to have a relationship with G-d but this relationship doesn't have the same worth as other relationships (that means religions) for Jews.
This relationship is specially designed for the Jewish soul and it's the only relationship a Jew is supposed to have with G-d. Others can maybe bring Non- Jews nearer to Hashem but not a Jew.
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This story makes me cry every time I read it (I've saved it since it was first printed and have re-read it over time). I was so moved by this story and its message that I chose to have another child after reading it the first time. I felt, "we are not living in such hard times [as they were then]; it is upon us to replenish the Jewish people. Let us rejoice at the sight of every Jewish child that we see, and may each one branch out to build a dynasty for generations to come."
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A heartwarming story!! Thanks so much for inspiring me with it.
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I told this story at our shabbat table and my children and husband are enjoying it immensly!! We all cried afterwards and I now read diffrent articals from chabad.org at our shabbat table.
thank you so much Mrs. Benjiman!!
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That was incredibly beautiful!
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was a fantastic story, if you are a jew your are a jew always
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This story should remind all Jew, especially secular and non-affiliated that our children our the most precious gift to Judaism, and we must instruct them in Torah, so that they may become living, practicing, Jews, and thereby carry on our great tradition.
as it is said, "you shall teach it diligently onto your children"
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This is a beautiful story, one with a happy ending. I am happy for Abe Foxman that he was able to reclaim his Jewish identity and way of life.
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This story has been put to song by Abie Rotenberg on Journeys 4. The song is very powerful and I recommend it to all.
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do you know what the song is called?
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My heart breaks every time I think about the injustice done to Jews in the Holocost and in Russia. Fathers love their daughters greatly but there is something between a father and his son that cannot be replaced by any other feeling. How proud, happy, greatful, honored, thankful to G-d for providing an escape route for his son. This should be the response no mater what religeon one is.
It appears by some of the comments above that some folks need to re-read their Torah from a different perspective. Yes, Jews have a religeon, but so do Muslims, Christians, Budhist, etc., but there should be a difference. Most of these other religions are willing to share their beliefs freely. When I read the Torah, I feel like G-d is blessing me personally. I see a bond between the Jews of Moses, David, and Solomons time I don't see now. Why is that?
Let's stop beating each other up about a very fortunate child, his dad, and an obviously greatful soldier and start living the Torah.
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the song is called The Man from Vilna
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