Subject: In Memory of Shmuel Leib ben Zvi (Lewis Berkin) & Baruch Yitzchak ben Yirmiyahu (Barry Pessin) Toldos 5783 |
From: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
Date: 11/25/2022, 5:45 AM |
To: Heath Berkin <heath.berkin@gmail.com> |
BCC: menachem@alonsystems.com |
R' Elimelech Biderman related the following story that he heard from an older gentleman, a survivor of the concentration camps.
Towards the end of the war when it was apparent that the Nazis YM"S where on the verge of defeat they began to take steps to cover up all of the atrocities that they commited. They announced in the camp that whoever wanted a sandwich could come and receive one. People formed a line as they were ecstatic to finally receive some food. This man made a few "turns" so he was able to receive more than one sandwich by going through the line a few times. As he was finally returning to his bunk to eat the food he had, a number of Russian prisoners of war realized what he did and began to scream and curse at him. He didn't pay too much attention to them as they were prisoners just as he was. He continued on to his bunk, entered and took out his food to finally eat. The Russians though followed him and when they saw the food they began to beat him mercilessly. They stole his food and left severely beaten and bloodied, nearly dead. The man turned towards Hashem and said that Hashem obviously wants him to live as he survived 5 years in the camps. He could have been killed in an instant and if he was still alive it means that Hashem wanted him to live. He continued his plea, why now when he is almost free will Hashem let him die? He fell asleep amid his prayer and when he awoke he saw the sun shining, he knew that every morning the Nazis YM"S would wake them early before sunrise, and if was waking up now and the sun was alredy out that the camp must have been liberated. He then looked around and saw that all of the Russians were lying dead. He understood that the Nazis YM"S were not being nice by handing out sandwiches, but the food was actually poisened, the Russians that beat him up and stole his food actually saved his life.
We all face situations in life were we feel like someone else is "taking" from us, where we are not getting our fair share. We may look at others and not understand why we don't have and they do, but we must strengthen ourselves in faith, that Hashem is providing us with exactly what we need. The things we don't have are poison for us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Heath