Holocaust Remembrance
Amid the horror of World War II for the Jews of Europe there was one shining ray of hope in the dark forest of Belorussia. Three brothers saved more than 1200 Jews from perishing in the Holocaust by launching guerilla attacks on the Nazi Army and sheparding Jews to a secret village known as “Jerusalem in the forest.”
Tuvia, Asael and Zeisal Bielski faced the prospect of unthinkable cruelty at the hands of the German Army. So they set off on a mission of survival, not only for themselves, but for as many of their fellow Jews as they could help. They built an elaborate village in the woods, which featured a synagogue, a communal bath, and even a theater company. The brothers actively stockpiled weapons and supplies there to kill and sabotage the enemy with surprise attacks by their Brigade of Survivors. But attacks and revenge were not the motivation; salvation was. “I’d rather save one old Jewish woman than kill 10 Nazis,” Tuvia was often heard to say.
By the time the Germans were defeated in the Summer of 1944, the Bielskis had managed to save more than 1,200 men, women, and children- the largest armed rescue of Jews by Jews in all of World War II. Aron (Bielski) Bell is the youngest Bielski Brother, who entered the woods at age 12. His son and daughter in law, Robin and Alan, are Bet Torah members. In September 2005, Bet Torah celebrated the Bar Mitzvah of Justin Bell (Aron’s grandson), Rabbi Winaker called Aron to the Bima as a Bar Mitzvah that day in Mount Kisco. The Bielski’s were too busy fighting the war, so Aron never had a Bar Mitzvah Prior to being called up at Bet Torah. Aron is credited with saving lives as a teenage scout in the forest, he brought Jews from the ghetto into safety in the woods. Fellow Bet Torah member, Martin Feldman is one of the Bielski survivors.
The Bielski Brothers story has been documented in Yad Vashem on the History Channel and in several books
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