והיה המחנה הנשאר לפליטה (וישלח לב:ט)

Yaakov prepared his family for Eisav’s approach and he divided them into two camps, just in case one stays behind.

During WWII, the Modzitzer Rebbe, Reb Shaul Yedidya Taub zt’’l, escaped from Poland to Vilna which was then under Stalin’s regime, with a plan to leave Europe from there.  Once in Vilna, he decided to approach the government officials to obtain an exit visa to America.

His friends and family tried holding him back, saying he was entering a lion’s den with such a request.

When he arrived to the government office and requested exit visas for himself and his family, they looked at him ludicrously.  “Why would you want to leave our motherland, with its righteous ruling and correct lifestyle?” Obviously, they were implying on the Communist regime.  The Modzitzer Rebbe wasn’t fazed and replied: “That’s exactly the reason why I want to leave, so I can spread the Communist ideology worldwide!”

The officials were naively impressed and dutifully handed him the necessary documentation for his family to leave Vilna.

Upon arriving to America, all the journalists pounced on the Modzitzer Rebbe to learn about the travails of Soviet Russia.  The Modzitzer Rebbe, with his wisdom, shared how well the Jews are treated by the Russians, and that Communism ensures they lack nothing.

Obviously, the reports reached Stalin y’’s, who was very pleased, and as a result commanded that the Jews of Vilna should be treated well.  The Soviets also issued exit visas for many prominent Rabbanim so they can ‘spread’ the good word.

The Chazon Ish zt’’l said that thanks to the Modzitzer Rebbe’s brilliance, today’s Torah world thrives due to the escape of many Vilna Yidden.

Filed under Parshas Vayishlach |