Light in the Darkness - Monthly Gedolim Stories
As we approach the beloved Yom Tov of Chanukah, I wanted to take the time and share the Monthly Gadol Story for the month of Kislev with you. I originally heard this story on the Chanukah volume of Rabbi Paysach Krohns "Living Lessons" animated video series. I hope that this story, which embodies great commitment to Mitzvos and wonderfully heartwarming Divine Help from the one above, will uplift you and inspire you.
With blessings,
Yitzy Schweitzer
With blessings,
Yitzy Schweitzer
Light in the Darkness - Monthly Gedolim Stories
During the years of the Holocaust, in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, there was a Rav by the name of Rav Shraga Shmuel Schnitzler, who everyone knew as "Rav Shmelke". He was a beloved Chassidishe Yid, who always gave heartfelt and hopeful encouragement to people as he kept on telling them, "A Yid never gives up". His powerful, loving words brought a small ember of light into the dark and horror-filled lives of so many.
In 1944, during the month of Kislev, he told many of the Yidden in his barrack, "My brothers, this year, even in the camp, even under the watch of the cursed Nazis, we are going to light Chanukah candles, we will have a menorah, we are going to be able to celebrate Chanukah". Of course, as much as many of the Yidden loved him, they thought this was just ridiculous. How in the world would they be able to light the Menorah there? But Rav Shmelke was determined to get his hands on some oil and a makeshift Menorah.
Even as Chanukah got closer and closer, he still encouraged his Jewish brethren, telling them to keep believing, telling them to never give up. But, as far as anyone could tell, there was no oil and no way they would be able to light a Menorah there.
While imprisoned, Rav Shmelke was forced to do a job that had him going out to the fields which were alongside the camp. A couple of days before the first night of Chanukah, as he was walking in the field, something incredible happened. As he walked, his foot tripped on something sticking out of the ground and as he looked at it more carefully it seemed it was something buried in the earth. When nobody was looking he bent down to try and find out what this thing was. Well, it might be hard to believe, but he found a small bottle of oil, alongside woolen wicks and eight tiny oil cups! It had all been wrapped and re-wrapped and stored away in this little part of the field.
Now it was clear to him that some other Yid had buried these things to make a makeshift menorah for Chanukah, so after re-burying all those items carefully away, he went back to the barracks and asked everyone "Do you know about this menorah and oil out in the fields?" Well, nobody believed there could be a menorah in the camp. The whole of the next day, he watched to see if anyone would go and retrieve the oil and menorah but nobody did.
When nightfall of the first night of Chanukah approached, he secretly went back out to the field, dug up the oil and menorah and brought it in to the barracks. When the guards weren't looking, together with the other Yidden, he lit the menorah. You could imagine that many of the others there were crying, as they just could not believe a Chanukah miracle occurred there in Bergen-Belsen.
For the rest of Chanukah they were able to light the menorah.
After being liberated from the camp, Rav Shmelke went to Hungary to rebuild his life. There he became known as the Tchabe Rov, as he lead and encouraged other survivors.
A while later he came to America and met the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt'l, who had also been in Bergen-Belsen. As the two great Rebbes were talking about their days and difficulties in the camp Rav Yoel turned to Rav Shmelke and said "On the twenty-first day of Kislev in 1944, I was freed from the camp, but you want to know something? I always felt a little bad, as that year, I had bribed a guard who let me prepare some oil with a Menorah. I hid it in a field... but it was never used."
Rav Shmelkes mouth dropped open wide with surprise! "Rebbe, Rebbe," he exclaimed "your menorah and oil were used and you cannot imagine how much encouragement you gave to people without even realizing it".
Rav Shmelke then told him the entire story.
As he finished, the Satmar Rebbe, realizing that yet again, a miracle with oil was performed by Hashem in the holy month of Kislev, sat back and smiled.
May we soon see the light of the Menorah of Beis Hamikdash when Hashem brings upon us the ultimate freedom.
In 1944, during the month of Kislev, he told many of the Yidden in his barrack, "My brothers, this year, even in the camp, even under the watch of the cursed Nazis, we are going to light Chanukah candles, we will have a menorah, we are going to be able to celebrate Chanukah". Of course, as much as many of the Yidden loved him, they thought this was just ridiculous. How in the world would they be able to light the Menorah there? But Rav Shmelke was determined to get his hands on some oil and a makeshift Menorah.
Even as Chanukah got closer and closer, he still encouraged his Jewish brethren, telling them to keep believing, telling them to never give up. But, as far as anyone could tell, there was no oil and no way they would be able to light a Menorah there.
While imprisoned, Rav Shmelke was forced to do a job that had him going out to the fields which were alongside the camp. A couple of days before the first night of Chanukah, as he was walking in the field, something incredible happened. As he walked, his foot tripped on something sticking out of the ground and as he looked at it more carefully it seemed it was something buried in the earth. When nobody was looking he bent down to try and find out what this thing was. Well, it might be hard to believe, but he found a small bottle of oil, alongside woolen wicks and eight tiny oil cups! It had all been wrapped and re-wrapped and stored away in this little part of the field.
Now it was clear to him that some other Yid had buried these things to make a makeshift menorah for Chanukah, so after re-burying all those items carefully away, he went back to the barracks and asked everyone "Do you know about this menorah and oil out in the fields?" Well, nobody believed there could be a menorah in the camp. The whole of the next day, he watched to see if anyone would go and retrieve the oil and menorah but nobody did.
When nightfall of the first night of Chanukah approached, he secretly went back out to the field, dug up the oil and menorah and brought it in to the barracks. When the guards weren't looking, together with the other Yidden, he lit the menorah. You could imagine that many of the others there were crying, as they just could not believe a Chanukah miracle occurred there in Bergen-Belsen.
For the rest of Chanukah they were able to light the menorah.
After being liberated from the camp, Rav Shmelke went to Hungary to rebuild his life. There he became known as the Tchabe Rov, as he lead and encouraged other survivors.
A while later he came to America and met the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt'l, who had also been in Bergen-Belsen. As the two great Rebbes were talking about their days and difficulties in the camp Rav Yoel turned to Rav Shmelke and said "On the twenty-first day of Kislev in 1944, I was freed from the camp, but you want to know something? I always felt a little bad, as that year, I had bribed a guard who let me prepare some oil with a Menorah. I hid it in a field... but it was never used."
Rav Shmelkes mouth dropped open wide with surprise! "Rebbe, Rebbe," he exclaimed "your menorah and oil were used and you cannot imagine how much encouragement you gave to people without even realizing it".
Rav Shmelke then told him the entire story.
As he finished, the Satmar Rebbe, realizing that yet again, a miracle with oil was performed by Hashem in the holy month of Kislev, sat back and smiled.
May we soon see the light of the Menorah of Beis Hamikdash when Hashem brings upon us the ultimate freedom.
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