Jerusalem – Thousands of trees line Yad Vashem’s Garden of the Righteous Among the Nations, honoring the people who saved Jews during World War II. On Monday, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial honored its first “righteous tree,” a hollow 33-foot high birch that hid Jakob Silberstein as he escaped Auschwitz.
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Polish-born Silberstein, 83, recently returned to the Czech countryside to recover the tree and had two segments shipped to Yad Vashem, where they are now on permanent display in the garden overlooking the Jerusalem forest.
“This tree, for me, is life. It saved my life,” said Silberstein, whose shaking left arm still bears the concentration camp number branded into his skin.
Silberstein was deported with his family to Auschwitz in late 1942. His entire family — his parents and three brothers — were murdered, but he survived for more than two years. On a death march in early 1945 he escaped and fled to Czechoslovakia, where he found refuge inside the attic of Jana Sudova, in the village of Sunychl.
Silberstein stumbled upon the hollow tree in her backyard when he noticed a rabbit burrowing into a hole at its stump. Silberstein — who worked as a chimney cleaner in Auschwitz — expanded the hole, slithered inside the tree and stuffed the opening shut with leaves. He would repeat the drill each time German troops approached the town, spending frequent, extended stints inside the hollow.
“Once, I was inside the tree for nine hours and I heard the Nazis walking just outside,” he said, swallowing tears. “I was terrified, emotionally drained and my heart was pounding strongly. I was sure that if they heard me they would saw through the tree, or burn it with me inside.” [ap]
By the fact that the chachamim were mesaken the beracha “sheh asah li nes b’makom hazeh” (shu”a O.C. sim. 218 sif 4).I think that alone signifies something.
Now for the rightous part,how do you know that there weren’t any nishamos and gilgulim in that tree waiting to be able to be mesaken themselves by saving a Jewish life?If Hakadosh B”H took the time to make that specific tree and that it should be rooted right over there (not across that village where this yid wouldn’t have been able to hide for whatever reason),trust me,it’s not just a hunk of wood.And rightous indeed it could be.It’s possible the ribono shel olam made this tree and saved it solely for this purpose.(Like the Rambam -please correct me if I’m wrong,if I recall correctly he says so in the beginning of the shemoneh prakim- already taught us of an extremely similar concept).Now you don’t call that “righteous” to be able to do only the will of the melech malchei hamlachim?
Hakoras hatov applies not just to people but to objects too. We learn that from the story of Yetzias Mitzrayim when Ahron had to hit the water rather than Moshe. Why? Because the water saved Moshe and therefore Moshe had to show Hakoras Hatov and deferred to Ahron.
If this person wants to show Hakaras Hatov to the tree, KOL HAKOVOD. I think if it were any of us, we would want to do the same. Rather than criticizing we should all thank Hashem and rejoice over this miracle.
Folks, Anon 4:27 6:26 is the same frustrated N’K wannabe who has been haunting this blog lately. Go away.
You’re only marginally more literate and entertaining than the dude a few weeks ago who was shrieking and moaning “Rachumona L’tzlan” this and “nebach” that, and citing and twisting chapter and verse for his own sad, perverse agenda. Get a life.
Better yet, go to Oktoberfest with your buddies, hoist a few beers, and chill out.
What about when Moshe Rabbeinu didn’t raise his stick over the Yam Suf because he was saved by it?
RE:Hey Out of Towner. When you get worked up about what Zionist ethnic cleansing did to Palestinians, we can move on to Darfur. In any case, a “righteous tree” is a joke. What’s next? The “righteous car”? Or maybe the righteous telephone? Give me a break.
YOU’RE NOT JEWISH. YOU’RE A piece of STINKING ANTI-SEMITIC VERMIN.
Obviously you didn’t learn the story about Yonah. Remember how Hashem chastizes him for criticizing the big plant that cooled him and gave him shade?
You were obviously lucky enough not to have survived an horrific holocaust. My family visits their “righteous shack” yearly to remember that Hashem saved them within this hovel. Not only is there nothing wrong with it, it is only right!
Hey Out of Towner. When you get worked up about what Zionist ethnic cleansing did to Palestinians, we can move on to Darfur. In any case, a “righteous tree” is a joke. What’s next? The “righteous car”? Or maybe the righteous telephone? Give me a break.
Dear First Commentor,
It is obvious why you responded as anonymous, because you are a coward and I hope not a Jew. Why is this an insult, a man, or a young boy, was saved by being able to hide in the hollow trunk of a tree, it saved his life and what is wrong with that. What is wrong by making it a memorial to those who perished and those who survived the cruelty of humanity. Do you also deny the monstrocities in Darfar how about the cruelty of the Spanish Inquistion, or the other such horrific events of the past. Those who forget the lessons of the past are deemed to repeat them. Zachor, and NEVER Forget!
That hollow tree did more than the millions of Poles, Hungarians, Ukranians, Czechs etc. who either aided the Germans or looked the other way.
This is an insult to the memory of every Jew. This is a joke. A righteous tree. And they call Holocaust “deniers” crazy. This takes the cake…….