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Bechukosei

"But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their enemies, I will not have been revolted by them nor will I have rejected them to obliterate them, to annul My covenant with them -- for I am Hashem, their G-d" (Vayikra 26:44). Hashem promised that even when we are sent into Exile because of our sins, He will never reject us completely. There will always be some of us who will be privileged to experience Divine Supervision and protection; and the Nation of Israel will survive forever.

In Barechi Nafshi, Rabbi Zilberstein shlita relates an amazing Holocaust story.

It was 1945. The terrible war was almost over. The accursed Germans were being bombarded by the Americans and the Russians, and they knew that the end was nigh. The spirits of the Jewish prisoners were being lifted as they began to smell liberation in the air. But the Nazis were still determined to eradicate as many Jews as possible while they still had the chance. In one camp, the inmates were surprised that they were served fresh rolls for supper. They asked no questions and stood patiently in a long line to receive this rare delicacy. One Jew decided to hide the roll he had received, and get back in line in order to get another one.

When he returned to his barracks, a non-Jew, who was also starving, noticed that this Jew had two rolls instead of one. Furious, he grabbed both rolls from the Jew and left him empty handed. However, rather than be broken and distressed, the Jew tapped into his Trust in Hashem and reminded himself that everything Hashem does is for the best.

The next morning, the hungry Jew woke up later than usual and was surprised that the Nazis hadn't awakened them early as usual. He was also surprised that the barracks was unusually quiet. He looked around the room, and noticed that everyone was still asleep. The whole scene seemed very strange.

Upon closer observation, he realized that all of his roommates were lying dead in their "beds." He then realized that all of the rolls had contained poison and that all those who had eaten them had died in their sleep. Only he, whose rolls had been stolen from him, survived until Liberation.


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