Upon arriving in Bochnia, the Bobover Rebbe met Rav Shloma Strauch, a Bobover chossid who shared the story behind this miracle. Reb Shloma Strauch had maintained friendships with a number of Polish police officers, friendships that evolved into key connections that enabled him to save many Jews. He had even forged a connection with the deputy commander of the Gestapo in Bochnia. In an incredible stroke of Hashgacha Pratis, Reb Shloma had been in the room when the deputy commander received a call from Neumark with a request for information about the ‘Rabbiner Shlomo Halberstam.’ Reb Shloma immediately became alarmed and said to the deputy, “That is our rebbe! Tell them that he is a citizen in Bochnia and that he should be sent here.”
It sounds simple enough in retrospect, but it took unimaginable courage for Reb Shloma to deliver this ultimatum. The German official could easily have found a simple solution to the threat. He could have killed Reb Shloma and no one would have ever questioned him. After all, how much was a Jew’s life worth to any German officer? But a miracle took place: Reb Shloma pushed the officer towards the phone and he picked up the receiver and said: “Halberstam and his son are Hungarian citizens who received permits to travel to Neumark. Please release them and have them return to Bochnia.”
Reb Shloma Strauch thanked the official profusely, apologizing for his audacity!
