sjsprWriting

We arrive at the Lancut Synagogue in Poland. Before World War II, 2,000 Jews had been living there for 400 years. The synagogue was built in 1747. It has beautiful and colorful art, and writings all over the walls. Our educator, Leon, proceeds to tell us a story about a boy who used to come to this synagogue.

The Jewish people of the town were rounded up in the market square of Lancut…

“Father, Father where are we going? Tomorrow is Simchat Torah*!

“I don’t know. Quiet Shlomo!

“Father, but tomorrow is Simchat Torah!”

A Nazi officer hears the boy speaking about Simchat Torah and grabs him along with two other boys.

“Tanzen! (Dance!), Tanzen! (Dance!)” screamed the Nazi officer.

The three boys begin to dance together, frightened, and not really knowing what to do. The Nazi officer takes out his gun and kills one of the boys.

“Tanzen, Tanzen!” said the Nazi officer.

Again, the two boys begin to dance, frightened. The Nazi officer shoots the other boy in the head.

“Tanzen, Tanzen!” screamed the Nazi officer even louder.

Shlomo, the only one left, begins to dance alone as if he was in a circle with other people.

“Who are you dancing with?” asked the Nazi officer angrily

“I am dancing with the angels,” said Shlomo

The Nazi officer pushes him back to his father.

Shlomo survives the Holocaust and every Simchat Torah thereafter, he had his special “dance with the angels.”

Many years later, as he is breathing his last breath, he says, “I will be finally dancing with my angels.”

Shlomo was a survivor that told Leon his personal story. After Leon recounts it to us, we were feeling down, very sad and melancholic. Nobody spoke for thirty seconds until he told us “Let’s dance.” All of the sudden, he grabs my hand and we make a circle and begin to dance and sing “Ahm Yisrael Chai.” After the dancing and the singing we felt uplifted, very happy and joyful again. We remembered and honored Shlomo, and all the Jews from Lancut by bringing the synagogue back to life.

* Simchat Torah is the celebration, every year, for completing the reading of the Torah. We celebrate by dancing with it.