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A
MODERN MIRACLE OF CHANUKAH
Source: Chanukah: Season of Valor by Rabbi Zechariah Fendel.
Hashkafah Publications. New York.
The following Holocaust narrative is an example of the
death-defying courage of the Maccabees, in our own
generation: At the same time, it is an example, too, of the
extraordinary Divine Providence which the Almighty extends
to those who love Him.
Niedrarshel, Germany. As Chanukah approached, some of the
inmates of the Niedrarshel slave labor camp in the heart of
Germany, decided to kindle Chanukah lights in their cell
block. By lottery, one camp inmate was selected to steal
some oil, a second, to hide the oil until the eve of
Chanukah, and a third, to kindle the lights. Greenwald, who
was selected to acquire the oil, approached the despised
Nazi in charge of the labor contingent, and convinced him
that the machinery would work more efficiently if oil were
kept on hand, with which it might be oiled daily. The ruse
worked, and the oil was no longer a problem. Matches were
"borrowed" from the kitchen, and a discarded shoe polish tin
was used as the menorah. I was selected to kindle our
menorah, beneath my bunk bed.
I recited all three blessings and kindled the menorah.
Many of the non-religious inmates joined us as we sang
Chanukah songs. All was going well.
Suddenly, the camp commandant, with his vicious guard dog at
his side, appeared at the door of our cellblock for one of
his unannounced inspections. "I smell oil," he barked, as he
began to search each bunk for the burning oil. I stood
rooted in my place, petrified. l dared not budge, even to
step upon and extinguish my menorah, lest the vicious
dog might pounce upon me. I glanced at the white faces of my
fellow inmates, which were frozen with fear. In but another
moment or two, the commandant would arrive at my row of
bunks and then - all is lost....
Suddenly, the shriek of air raid sirens pierced the
stillness, and the entire camp was instantly engulfed in a
total blackout. In the ensuing confusion, I quickly
extinguished the menorah with my foot. We were saved.
Even in this forsaken camp, we were saved by the Almighty.
It was truly a "miracle" of Chanukah.*
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* S.B. Unsdorfer, The Yellow Star (London, 1961), as cited
by Eliav, Ani Ma'amin, op. cit., pp. 207-209.
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