Burial On Har Hazeysim

It happened one year that the Chevre Kaddishe were not available as usual, due to unexpected funerals, occupying most of their day. Since they knew I traveled from the USA, specially for this occassion, they went out of their way to try and accommodate me. I would have to meet them at the Shamgar Funeral Chapel in Geula. Go up with them to Har Hazeysim late in the afternoon for their last burial, to be followed by a visit to my parents kevorim. So it happened, I met them at Shamgar together with a nephew. Upon our arrival they told us to get into their van. So we sat down opposite each other on the benches running alongside the van and waited. All of a sudden they arrived with a stretcher and  without notice, pushed the nifter right in between the two rows where we were sitting. The Yerusalmie Chevre Kaddishe members then piled in alongside of us. This was surely not what we Americans were used to or prepared for. During the drive up to Har Hazeysim the members discussed how special the elderly nifter from Russia was.They said he had been confined to a labor camp and miraculously survived, although he was forced to work seven days a week. That one Shabbos he decided, come what may, he would not allow anyone to force him to desecrate the Shabbos. To insure he would follow through on his commitment, he intentionally poured hot water over his hands. With this Meseras Nefesh he disqualified himself from working. My nephew and I were beyond ourselves upon listening to this story. It sent chills up our spines. Hashem had put us in this place, at this specific time, in order for us to hear the story about this great humble Jew. He actually fullfilled the commandment of serving Hashem בכל נפשך, with his entire being, in the fullest sense of the word, sacrificing his health and welfare for Hashem. What a privilege it was for us to have had the opportunity to partake in his burial and to be part of the minyin that gave him his last deserved honored rights. Truthfully speaking, this hidden great should have had thousands of people at his funeral. Sometimes Hashem’s beloved are out of sight and mind. It is this type of sacrifice that has sustained the Jewish People throughout the  generations.

Weeks later, after returning to the states, my wife and I dined at a Flatbush restaurant one evening. There by chance we

met Rabbi Zecharye Wallerstein and shared this experience with him. He was very moved by that Russian Jews מסירת נפש to keep Shabbos and went on to share a similar story, that he personally experienced.

He was asked to attend the funeral of a מת מצוה, an elderly Russian Jew who had passed away, without leaving family behind, besides his wife. Just a little more then a minyin showed up to his funeral. Looking around the crowd it became clear that there was no one to eulogize the departed man. No children in sight. Seeing this, the wife stood up and said, “I wish to eulogize my husband myself”. She started out, by relating the following story. “Shortly after our marriage in Russia we were separated due to communist turmoil and persecution. When we were finally reunited, we were impoverished. There was  no means of purification and nowhere to go”. She then raised her voice and tearfully said, “I can testify on this man that lies here before us, that he never  put a finger on me all the years we lived together. Only after we were liberated, were we able to resume normal family life. At that point however it was too late to have children”. Hard enough to imagine, let alone believe, that is what he shared, and actully witnessed. There was no way to ever know about this righteous Jew. It was a secret, that only his righteous wife knew, now revealed by her for the first time.

How fortunate are we to belong to such a great exalted nation, that contains such hidden Tzadikim. Their great sacrifices, purely for Hashem’s sake, no doubt create great merits for our nation, that helps us survive.

After looking back and reviewing the sequence of events, it all makes sense. First, winding up in a Chevre Kaddishe van, under very uncomfortable circumstances.Then to merit  hearing first hand the unbelievable story of the intentional hand burning sacrifice and to unexpectedly take part in this great Jew’s funeral. Then to hear another incredible story about the funeral of another holy Russian Jew. It can be said, that the

days hardships were all worth it, just to be able to experience and later share their encouraging unknown stories. May we find the added strength, to also serve Hashem uncompromisingly, even when it isn’t so convenient and in trying circumstances.

Was thinking, if they could pass their tests with flying colors and do the things they did, then what excuse do we have, not to do Hashem’s will with all our might and conviction, even when it’s hard and perhaps unpleasant.

May we all merit to really serve Hashem with all our hearts and soul.