Imagine the scene, when in the days just after the end of the Second World War, a young Jewish man who was a member of the Hitler Youth (through a crazy series of events) and was still wearing his uniform, comes across a gaunt, thin, and pale Holocaust survivor, just out of the Death Camps, by the name of Manfred Frankel.
Solomon Perel, who had used a German name throughout the war to conceal his identity, and had to play the part and be a part of the Hitler Youth, was suddenly facing a Holocaust Survivor from Auschwitz for the first time. He was in complete shock and disbelief and he froze, and so did Manfred Frankel as they stood there on the street.
They faced each other for a few moments, and then Solly Perel asked him "are you a Jew?" Manfred, just stood there looking up and down at this young Nazi, with a blank stare.
Solly really wanted to connect with this survivor, and suddenly found himself blurting out the words from the deepest recesses of his soul "Shema Yisrael Ad-Nai...." and then said I too am a Jew.
Manfred believed him and then Solly fell on his shoulders and let out buckets of pent up tears and emotions from the terrible experiences of the war years.
This is a story in the book Europa in which the author Solomon Perel describes his own terrible and crazy Holocaust story of survival. He struggled with living his fake German identity "Jupp" and remembering what his core was "Solomon Perel".
Solly passed away just four weeks ago.
It is a powerful story on so many levels, yet this little anecdote connects to a deeper message and element of our shared identity, which is not always so apparent, but is always truly there.
All too often, the outer veneers of how we dress, act and live, seem to separate us and create unnatural boundaries between us. Yet the truth is, that beneath the external layers lies the essence of our soul and Jewish identity, which enables us to connect and unite, even when the outer differences seem to speak differently.
As we celebrate the dramatic story of Purim next Monday & Tuesday, this same message takes center stage, as Mordechai the Jewish leader, gathers the Jewish people together as they face this terrible threat of annihilation. In doing so, he asks and inspires the Jewish people to strengthen their connection with their own inner core, with their fellows inner core, despite the outer elements of their personality having taken center stage in dominating and guiding their lives, only days before.
In doing so, Mordechai sought to turn the tables, and generate a different kind of sentiment and response, a more united and cohesive people, a people more in touch with their roots and their faith, and he knew that this would then trigger the blessings needed to overcome the terrible threat that they faced.
In a week of intense division, challenges and pain in Israel, let us remember, that beneath the external messaging and appearances of the different groups, lies something much deeper, which binds us and connects us together, and which will give us the strength needed to go forward in a positive, joyful and productive manner.
Please join us this Shabbat for our meaningful and fun Shabbat Services & Kiddush this evening for "First Fridays Kabbalat Shabbat" and tomorrow for our regular Shabbat Services, and of course please join us for our fun Purim Celebrations next week on Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos & a Happy Purim
Yisroel