In Judaism, there is the concept of a 'captured baby'. Originally, it referred to a Jewish baby who was captured by Gentiles and raised by them without knowing the meaning of being Jewish. This definition has lenient halachic implications regarding the status of such a Jew. In subsequent generations, this definition was also applied to someone who grew up among Jews, but did not receive a Jewish education, and therefore deserves compassion.<\/p>\r\n
In our era, this original definition is completely consistent with the tragedy of the Jews of the Soviet Union. These are millions of Jews who were captured by the communist regime, forcibly separated from their Jewishness, and forced to be educated in institutions that attempted to uproot their faith from their hearts.<\/p>\r\n
Many nations have tried to decree annihilation upon the people of Israel, but never have such focused efforts been made, and unfortunately with such great success. An entire department, operated by Jews - the infamous 'Jewish Section' - fought fiercely against everything that smelled of Judaism.<\/p>\r\n
The FBI followed<\/strong><\/p>\r\n The government sought to erase all elements of Jewish identity, and to assimilate the Jewish people into the general population. But the years passed and it became clear that despite all the persecution, a Jewish ember continued to whisper in hearts. Jews secretly circumcised their sons. They obtained matzahs \u200b\u200bby any means necessary. They lit Hanukkah candles behind closed windows. And when the Iron Curtain began to loosen, they began to come in droves to the synagogues and strive to leave the state that had robbed them of their identity.<\/p>\r\n How did this happen? Why did the terrifying regime fail to achieve its goals? Because even in the most difficult and terrible years, a Hasidic underground operated throughout the Soviet Union, fanning the Jewish embers and ensuring that the light of Israel would not be extinguished.<\/p>\r\n It was headed by the sixth Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism, the Rayatz (Rabbi Yosef-Yitzhak Schneerson) of Lubavitch. He called on his followers to give their lives for the preservation of Judaism. Inspired and on his mission, they established Torah talmudic schools and yeshivot that operated secretly; mikvahs for purification were set up in private homes. They ensured kosher slaughter, performed circumcision ceremonies, and provided employment solutions for Sabbath-keepers.<\/p>\r\n The Soviet intelligence service tracked them. The activists were caught and imprisoned. Some were executed. Others were sent to Siberia and did not always return. Some were sentenced to hard labor in labor camps.<\/p>\r\n But other followers continued the struggle, even though they knew it was only a matter of time before they too would be captured.<\/p>\r\n The strength to overcome difficulties<\/strong><\/p>\r\n In the end, the government decided to strike a blow. On the 15th of Sivan 1927 (1927), the Rebbe was arrested and imprisoned. "In 24 hours he will be shot dead," one of the investigators blurted out. Here a chain of miracles took place. First, the death sentence was commuted to ten years of 're-education' on the Solovetsky Islands. Then the Rebbe was sent into three-year exile in a distant city. By the grace of God, a few days later, on the 12th-13th of Tammuz 1927, he was completely released.<\/p>\r\n These days express the victory of the Jewish spirit over those who try to stifle it. The power of self-sacrifice, which is capable of overcoming even a tyrannical regime. The strength given to each and every one of us to overcome difficulties and challenges and remain faithful to our Judaism.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u05db\u05d9\u05e6\u05d3 \u05e7\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d6\u05d4? \u05de\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05e9\u05d2\u05dd \u05d1\u05e9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e7\u05e9\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d4\u05e0\u05d5\u05e8\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05d5\u05ea\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e2\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d7\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05ea-\u05d4\u05de\u05d5\u05e2\u05e6\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05d7\u05ea\u05e8\u05ea \u05d7\u05e1\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u05ea, \u05e9\u05dc\u05d9\u05d1\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d2\u05d7\u05dc\u05ea \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d3\u05d9\u05ea \u05d5\u05d3\u05d0\u05d2\u05d4 \u05e9\u05e0\u05e8 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05dc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05db\u05d1\u05d4","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":680328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[693,32336],"class_list":["post-830330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-138","tag-693","tag-32336"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n