Professional Documents
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Pıety&
A Portrait of
Heroısm
How the Skulener Rebbe, zt”l,
saved thousands of Romania’s Jews
By Dovid Zaklikowski
Cover Feature A Portrait of Piety & Heroism
The Skulener
Rebbe in
conversation
One of the great chasidic Starting in 1945, the Skulener Rebbe and the United States. This was not the
began adopting war orphans when Skulener Rebbe’s first incarceration under
Rebbes who immigrated to their parents were deported to German the Communists. His first confinement
the United States from the concentration camps. When he was occurred in 1949, for which the
Socialist Republic of Romania able to move from the Bessarabian town authorities offered no explanation. Two
of Sculeni to Bucharest, Romania, he months later he was released. In 1953 he
was Rav Eliezer Zusia smuggled his “family” into the city and was again imprisoned and released.
Portugal, zt”l, the Skulener proceeded to adopt even more children, In 1959, however, the news of the
establishing an orphanage for their Skulener Rebbe’s latest arrest made
Rebbe. Revered throughout care. He later wrote in his will that they waves in Jewish communities around
the Jewish world for his should show their appreciation to him the world. As the London Jewish Chronicle
indescribable piety, as well as by remaining loyal to Yiddishkeit and reported, “The arrest by the Romanian
learning Torah as much as possible. authorities of Rabbi Zissu Purtogal
for having cared for hundreds In February 1959, the Skulener [sic] of Bucharest, the Skulener Rebbe,
of Jewish youth and orphans, Rebbe was imprisoned together with his has been confirmed here by Orthodox
he passed away on 29 Av only son, the present Skulener Rebbe, Jewish sources.” The article went on to
Rav Yisroel Avrohom Portugal, on describe the efforts being made to obtain
5742 (August 18, 1982). trumped-up charges of spying for Israel his release. “Mr. Harry Goodman [vice
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A letter
from the
Skulener
Rebbe to
Rabbi
Binyomin
Gorodetsky,
the director-
general of
the European
Bureau of
Chabad-
Lubavitch,
who assisted
Graduates maintain
the Skulener
Rebbe in his highest first time pass
rescue efforts.
rates on NJ CPA
15
confidential JDC (American Jewish Joint the chief rabbi of Romania, Romanian
Distribution Committee) memorandum
from April 1959. “Everybody who knows
Prime Minister Ion Gheorghe Maurer said
that he knew exactly who the Skulener
15
Rabbi Portugal feels certain that he was Rebbe was. “We have thought the whole
never involved in anything illegal. He is thing through. The fact that we took the
a pure and clean gentleman, close to 70 decision to arrest him also means that we
years of age. He is an extremely sick man. have considered the risks.”
He cannot take any food in prison.” For years Rabbi Rosen had cooperated
Hopes for the Rebbe’s release were with the government in his quest to aid
not high among Jewish activists. There the country’s Jews, although as he later
were, however, some loopholes they admitted to a reporter, his success came
OF
hoped could be exploited. “It is perfectly at the cost of legitimizing the brutal
clear that the Romanian government has Communist regime. “This was my sin:
reopened emigration on the basis of family I saved the synagogues. I brought food
reunion,” a JDC official wrote in a “highly so that Jews wouldn’t starve. I brought
Taanis 23
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Pa r k E a s t s y n a g o g u E
for going over to the United Kingdom.” understood that the confirmation was
One Friday afternoon in August, Rabbi reliant on the release of the rabbis.”
Eliezer Silver, president of the Union of A few months later, the Skulener Rebbe
Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and and his son left the country. JDC Assistant
Canada and the chief rabbi of Cincinnati, Director-General Charles Jordan wrote in
received a call from the secretariat of an internal memo, “Rabbi Portugal and his
the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Lubavitcher family…arrived in Brussels on Tuesday,
Rebbe was on the line, and he asked him March 29. There was a very large crowd
to go to Washington, DC, to advocate for of chasidim at the airport who took charge
the Skulener Rebbe and his family. of the family.”
This would not be the first time Rabbi In April, Goodman described the efforts
Silver had gone to Washington for that that had gone into securing the Skulener CantoR YitzChak MeiR helfgot
purpose, and although his previous Rebbe’s freedom. “Many are those who CantoR BennY RogosnitzkY
efforts had been fruitless, he decided concerned themselves with the problem of CantoR Daniel gilDaR
to do it anyway. There, he met with an the release of Rabbi Portugal: the Foreign
elected official from Cincinnati, who sent Office in London, the State Department A GuidE to thE SElECtioN of
a letter to the State Department. The in Washington, and the esteemed Rabbi CANtoriAl piECES duriNG dAvENiNG
State Department then sent a letter to the M.M. Schneerson of Lubavitch in New ComBiNiNG NuSACh ANd NiGGuN:
Romanian Embassy requesting that the York [by] whose wise guidance this action mAkiNG dAvENiNG mEANiNGful
Skulener Rebbe and his son be freed. finally achieved a successful conclusion.” ChooSiNG thE SElECtioN of
The two were released from prison The Skulener Rebbe eventually moved CANtoriAl piECES duriNG dAvENiNG
a short while later. It turned out that at to America, later explaining that he chose
thE NuSACh of muSSAf
the exact same time Rabbi Silver made to immigrate to the United States over
his trip, the Romanians were awaiting Eretz Yisrael so he could better help those sunDaY,
confirmation of a new ambassador to the who remained in Romania. septeMBeR 2, 2018 / 7:00 pM
United States, after three years without The Rebbe settled in Crown Heights, rEfrEShmENtS to follow
one. As Rabbi Silver recalled, when the a few short blocks away from where the
State Department’s request arrived, “They Lubavitcher Rebbe resided, where he
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Cover Feature A Portrait of Piety & Heroism
intelligence service,
the Directia Informatii
Externe (DIE), and
had connections to top
government officials.
At first, Jakober
balked at the proposal,
a rg u i n g that the
Romanian government
wouldn’t want to appear
inconsistent by releasing
people they claimed were
dangerous criminals.
Others present at the
meeting questioned
the logic, too, but the
Skulener Rebbe refused to
give up. “We cannot make
calculations. We need to
try.”
Eventually the
businessman agreed. The
plan was not inconsistent
with his existing ventures
The Skulener in the Communist
Rebbe in Romania continued his efforts to help Jewish families trapped country, which his employees later described as
with orphans he behind the Iron Curtain. In a letter he penned shortly more philanthropic than profitable.
saved. On the
extreme left is the after his release, he wrote that he was still not a free Even before Jakober had signed on, the Skulener
current Skulener man “because from the time I was saved, thank G-d, Rebbe turned to the Jewish humanitarian aid
Rebbe, Rav Yisroel and left prison and Romania, I haven’t rested much organization, the JDC, for assistance with funding.
Avrohom.
or had respite from my worries about the situation of “Since Rabbi Portugal arrived in Antwerp, we are
the Jews who remain there, especially the prisoners getting the business,” read an internal memo.
in the ruthless Communist jails.” “Attached is a list of names of 29 families in Romania
In June of 1960, he met with London Jewish that he suggests we do something about.”
businessman Henry Jakober and proposed a plan When Jakober broached the subject with Romanian
for Jakober to pay the Romanian government to officials, at first they resisted the idea. Inspired by
release Jewish political prisoners and allow them to the Skulener Rebbe, however, he persisted, and
leave the country. The money, the Skulener Rebbe eventually cut a deal whereby he would build an
promised, would be raised by him. Jakober, who had automated chicken farm in Romania in exchange for
business dealings in Romania, was known as a kind the release of 500 Jewish families.
GREATNESS
person and a philanthropist. Less well known was The Skulener Rebbe was overjoyed. When the
that he had been recruited by the Romanian foreign plan was finalized in the summer of 1960, he once
again turned to the JDC for help. They Rabbi Gorodetsky started to plead with
listened, but they were not convinced. him. “If there is even a small possibility, We meet or beat online fares!
Fares may expire at anytime
The Skulener Rebbe then reached out to we cannot let this chance fall through.”
the Lubavitcher Rebbe, who had been Finally, Leavitt pledged to allocate $50,000
Travel to
instrumental in securing his own release to the project.
from prison, to help pull strings at the Rabbi Gorodetsky then called the
Israel
JDC. Lubavitcher Rebbe from the hotel room
After their meeting, the Lubavitcher and relayed the conversation. The
Rebbe called Rabbi Binyamin Eliyahu Lubavitcher Rebbe asked him to come
Gorodetsky, the director-general of the to New York. “In the Rebbe’s office, I
European Bureau of Chabad-Lubavitch, reported back on many activities of our
who was in Israel at the time, and work in Europe and Israel, where there
YOM KIPPUR STOPOVER NONSTOP
Gorodesky that Jakober was sent the list of names to Jakober, who immediately
insisting on being given all the began his negotiations with the Romanian
money up front, and that despite government.
some efforts he hadn’t succeeded The chicken farm was built in the small village
in getting him to compromise. of Periş, some 20 miles from the Romanian capital,
Indeed, when Rabbi before the end of 1960. The leader of the country,
Gorodetsky finally met Jakober, Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, visited the site. “He
the businessman said that he liked it [and] approved 500 exit visas for Jews, and
would only go ahead with the ordered five more chicken farms,” recalled Ion Mihai
project when all the money had Pacepa, a Romanian general who defected to the
been deposited into his account United States in 1978.
in Lucerne. “I want you to That September, the initial results of the project
deposit $200,000, and only then were reported to Jordan at the Joint. “Almost all of
will I begin the first efforts to the prisoners have been released in R[omania] and
free the Romanian Jews. As long papers for some of them [to leave the country] are
as you do not deposit the money, already being prepared.”
I am not going to do anything.” Word soon got out that Jews were being rescued,
“My name is Rabbi Binyomin and people began to turn to Jakober directly to save
Gorodetsky,” he responded. “I their family members. The Skulener Rebbe and Reb
could work with you, but you Getzel Berger had their own list of names, and in
should know that before any order to facilitate an even larger number of rescues,
results, I am not going to deposit they raised their own money, some of it from the
a penny into your account. families themselves.
However, I assure you that the Unfortunately, as the numbers increased,
moment I receive a telegram miscommunications and missed deposits began
from one of our people, whom to plague the project. Rabbi Gorodetsky’s intense
Above: The we have everywhere, that an travel schedule added to the confusion, as letters
Skulener Rebbe
giving a brachah
imprisoned Jew is freed and arrives in Vienna or and telegrams often missed him or reached him late.
to a chasan and another country, I will deposit the money that same The difficulties they faced can be seen in a 1963
kallah. day. I am assuring you that I have the cash ready, and letter to Rabbi Gorodetsky, in which the Skulener
Right: The
matzeivah of the
I will keep my word. If you agree to this condition, Rebbe refers to the prisoners by the numbers they
Skulener Rebbe in good; otherwise the deal is over.” were assigned: He met #49 while in Israel, #105 was
the Vizhnitzer beis Jakober sat silently thinking for some time. in Toronto, #13 was in Vienna, and #112’s family
hachayim in
Monsey.
Finally he said, “I’ve heard about you, and I agree. had left without him. “I am conflicted about whether
Remember to keep your word.” to pay [Jakober], since [the family was brought out]
As they were leaving Jakober’s home, Reb Getzel while this person was sentenced to 20 years in jail…
Berger asked Rabbi Gorodetsky how he had done it. but we still need him to save other Jews. …I feel that
“I did not do it,” Rabbi Gorodetsky replied. “This is we should not withhold the money.”
all Hashem’s doing.” The freed prisoners’ accounts of the brutal
Thus began one of the most controversial post- conditions in the Romanian jails spurred them to
war rescue missions: the ransoming of Romania’s redouble their efforts. “We heard from them about
Jews. the men and women who are in captivity in the
Rabbi Gorodetsky reported the details of the hands of known barbarians,” the Skulener Rebbe
meeting, including the contract he had signed with wrote. “Some have tragically died in prison because
Jakober, to the Skulener Rebbe, who thanked him of the merciless beatings…how can we look away
for all of his efforts. “Hashem should help that it from these painful outcries? Can we be heartless to
should result in the best outcome.” these hapless individuals?”
He included a list of 100 Jews currently imprisoned Perhaps as a reflection of the operation’s success,
in Romania, adding, “It wasn’t difficult to find these the Arab countries soon began to complain that
100, for there are thousands imprisoned. We need the Romanians were supporting the State of Israel.
to work on reducing the number.” Rabbi Gorodetsky “[Egyptian President] Nasser’s ambassador came to
78 A M I M A G A Z I N E / / A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 1 8 / / 2 7 AV 5 7 7 8
us and protested the departure of the Romanian Jews, claiming
that we are sending soldiers to Israel,” Romanian officials told
Rabbi Rosen.
The project also faced internal opposition from JDC officials
who felt that if they stopped paying ransom, the Romanians
would let the Jews emigrate for free. Based on his intimate
knowledge of the country, the Skulener Rebbe disagreed. “It
is hard to believe that if we do not ransom them this way,” he
wrote to Rabbi Gorodetsky, “the Romanians will open up the
gates to emigration.”
Tragically, there were many Jews who died in prison before
their numbers reached the top of the list. The Skulener Rebbe
expressed the pain he felt when this happened, due to delays
that he believed were caused by politics. “You know, my friend,
that I am not active in politics,” he wrote, again to Rabbi
Gorodetsky. “Not for honor or livelihood do I do this. It is only
for the saving of Jewish lives that are in the hands of the cruel.”
Rabbi Gorodetsky responded that everyone was doing their
best. Jakober, he wrote, knew that he wouldn’t receive money
before a family emigrated, so he surely wanted them to leave
as soon as possible. “We all know that the situation is serious.”
Although the JDC had only promised a fixed amount at the
beginning of the project, Rabbi Gorodetsky noted that whenever
he called upon Jordan for help, he agreed to increase the Joint’s
contribution. This continued until the list of prisoners was
exhausted. “Hundreds of prisoners and thousands of family
members were saved.”
At that point, the task of helping the rest of Romanian Jewry
to emigrate was handed over to the Israeli government. Rabbi
Gorodetsky wrote, “I traveled to Zurich and provided all of
the details of our rescue
activities over the years.”
That is how a project that
started with an automated
chicken farm became
a major controversial
operation, bringing
300,000 Jews to Israel over
the course of two decades
and turning the Romanian
government, as Nobel
laureate Elie Wiesel wrote,
“into an extraordinary
merchant of human beings
during the postwar years…
In other words, certain
Romanian Jews were
able to obtain visas to go
abroad, especially to Israel,
in return for payments in
dollars.” l