By Rabbi Moshe Oelbaum
I heard a very powerful story from Rav Avi Weisenfeld. The period towards the end of World War II was one of the darkest and most challenging times for the Jewish people. Amidst the horrors of the Holocaust, there were still moments of incredible resilience and even small glimmers of light that emerged in the most unexpected ways. One such story is about a man who, despite the devastation around him, managed to summon the strength to uphold his commitment to Torah.
In a certain shul, a man made a very unusual invitation to a Siyum. He walked through the aisles, personally inviting each person to attend. The guests were curious, wondering what the significance of this Siyum was, especially since it wasn’t tied to a typical celebration. When the man began to speak, he shared a deeply moving story from his time in the concentration camp.
He recalled how one of the men who slept next to him would constantly mumble words. At first, he didn't understand what this man was doing, but one night, the man revealed a special request. He told him that he was reviewing the entire Shas by heart, but was missing only one Masechta: Nazir. He feared he would not survive the war, and asked that, if he did survive, he should complete the Masechta of Nazir on his behalf. The man was struck by the holiness of this request, especially in the middle of such unimaginable suffering. And the next day, the man was gone. The survivor promised himself that he would keep his word, and he survived the war. Though it took time, he eventually acquired Masechta Nazir, learned it, and mastered it by heart.
At the Siyum, he said, “This is not just a Siyum on Nazir. It’s not even a Siyum on the entire Shas. This is a Siyum on a Yid who never gave up, even in the darkest times. This is a Siyum on a Yid who showed us that no matter how much the world takes away from us, they can never take away our Torah. It’s this Torah that keeps us going, it’s what gives us life, no matter the circumstances."
Reprinted from the June 1, 2025 email of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha.
