Many eyes have not yet seen the documents nor the precious treasures that tell the rich and deeply-rooted history of English Jewry. These are matters that are archived and handled professionally and dedicatedly. However, in preparation for the visit of the British ambassador, the treasure troves were opened and ancient documents were spread before the eyes of Ambassador Mr. Simon Walters, and his staff. Even Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Shapira, who hosted the staff, one of the veterans and leaders of Ganzach Kiddush Hashem, who knows its treasures well, could not contain his surprise and excitement at the sight of the ancient books, rare photographs, ancient manuscripts, and the wonderful presentation which were shown during the important visit.
Indeed, the history of English Jewry is rich, and spans many years, from the days of the Tosafot (biblical commentators), and even earlier, to the present day.
English Jewry – Torah and greatness were united at her tables; In a presentation by the senior genealogy researcher, one of Ganzach Kiddush Hashem’s best writers and researchers, Rabbi Yitzchak Shmuel Shapira, he recounted English Jewry’s acts of charity and kindness, which far exceeded its borders. Photos and documents about the world-wide construction, support, and kindness initiatives of Sir Moses Montefiore z”l were shown, as well as more initiatives.
Not many people know and mark the fact that exactly two hundred years ago, in the year 5584 (1824), when Montefiore z”l turned forty years old, he stopped all his trade and work and decided to invest his whole life for the benefit of both the Jewish community and individuals. For sixty-one years, Montefiore devoted himself to the Jewish cause in good health and unusual power of influence, until his death, at the age of one hundred and one. Ganzach Kiddush Hashem remembers, records, and documents his efforts.
The visit was graced by a special guest from Ra’anana, an ember saved from the flames, attorney Paul Alexander, a man of many actions and pleasant demeanor, a Holocaust survivor who was part of a Kindertransport, and he recounted at length the story of his amazing life.
The words of Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Shapira left a strong impression. Among his words, he explained the following to the Ambassador and his staff in clear and pleasant manner: Three things happened during the years of the Holocaust. One of them we will never be able to be fixed, while the other two we must and can, with G-d’s help, correct.
We will not be able to bring back the six million who were murdered, until God resurrects the dead. In addition, there are thousands of cemeteries that have been deserted and trampled upon since the Holocaust; this must be corrected, and we are indeed making great efforts to preserve and save as many as possible. In his words, he told those present that now the 304th cemetery will be saved. It is a great achievement, as it is easy to describe the difficulty inherent in the saving of a cemetery, its preservation, development, and fencing, and the work is still long and difficult. However, another thing happened in the Holocaust, Rabbi Shapira continued and explained: an entire generation perished and is gone. A two-thousand-year-old chain of pure Jewish existence throughout Europe was broken, and a new generation arose that thirsted and longed to know what it had before. What it lost.
And this is where the role of the veteran institution Ganzach Kiddush Hashem comes into play. We are here to tell about the Torah and mitzvah observant Jews who continued to live a life of Torah and mitzvahs and worshiped G-d in secret as if there was no war, until the last moment; about the Jews who sanctified the Name of G-d there in a heroic way; about kindness and mutual assistance in the valley of the shadow of death; and about the miraculous life that was restored after the terrible destruction.
Ganzach Kiddush Hashem tells hundreds of thousands of youth about the beautiful life the Jews lived in the Jewish towns, about the wonderful tradition passed down from generation to generation, and about a magical ancestral heritage that was destroyed with malice and cruelty. The new generation deserves to know its roots and to learn about them.
The guests watched a wonderful and moving presentation about Jewish life in Europe before, during, and after the Holocaust.
After lunch, the Ambassador delivered emotional remarks and declared that he would stand with Ganzach Kiddush Hashem as much as is required and to the best of his ability. Later, he met with the management for a professional meeting where they discussed methods of fruitful mutual cooperation, for the benefit of the lofty goals of Ganzach Kiddush Hashem, for the years to come.
The CEO and COO thanked the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Ganzach Kiddush Hashem in Europe, the chassid, Rabbi Yitzchak Yehuda Shapira, for devoting his time to the noble and holy goals of Ganzach Kiddush Hashem.
