Rav Boruch Brull writes a story. Louis Herman was a young Jew who lived in Canada during World War II. After hearing about the terrible things that were happening to the Jews in Europe, he decided to enlist in the army to fight against the Germans. When he finished his training, young Louis was transferred to Italy. As a sergeant in the army, he was assigned to the front, in the midst of heavy fighting. Throughout the difficult months of the war, Louis kept as many Mitzvos as he possibly could.
Desired to Say Kaddish on His Mother’s Yartzeit
On the day of his mother’s Yartzeit, despite being many miles away from any Shul, Louis wanted to say Kaddish for her. This prayer, however, would require a Minyan, and finding ten Jews in the middle of a battlefield in Italy was not going to be easy. Louis knew of only five other Jewish soldiers in his unit.
Louis approached the army chaplain, who was a priest, and explained his predicament. Louis asked the chaplain if he knew of any other Jewish soldiers in the area. To Louis’s surprise, the chaplain not only knew where he could find other Jewish soldiers, but he also understood the meaning of a Minyan.
“See that area over there?” The chaplain pointed to a tall observation tower. “That is where our soldiers guard our unit and watch for advancing German soldiers. When they see any activity, they radio the information back to the artillery unit to help us aim our bombs more precisely. There are four Jews who occupy positions in the observation tower. If you’d like, I can put in a call to them and ask that they come over to our area for your Minyan.”
Thanked Everyone for Helping Him to Say Kaddish
Louis was overjoyed. He would have exactly the ten men required to make up a Minyan! And to his great relief, the soldiers were happy to oblige. Louis was able to say Kaddish on his mother’s Yartzeit with a Minyan. After they finished Davening. Louis thanked everyone for joining him and enabling him to fulfill this meaningful personal obligation.
As the four soldiers turned to walk back to the observation tower, they suddenly heard a loud explosion and saw a most startling sight.
The entire observation tower and its contents had just been blown up! Only the four Jewish soldiers, who had just ‘happened’ to be busy doing a very important Mitzvah, had escaped certain death! Rav Brull adds, “The Gemara teaches us (Pesachim 8b) that messengers who go to do a Mitzvah are saved from harm. Not only do acts of Chesed help others, but those very acts can also save us!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Acharei Mos 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
