Candles Behind Bars - נרות מאחורי סורגים
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Download this fileThe Rebbe asked: "And what about Chanukah? Can the inmates light Chanukah candles?" One must appreciate, the Rebbe said, how important it is for a person sitting alone in a cell to light a Chanukah menorah. One cannot fathom the warmth and hope this brings, and how this will uplift his spirits in such a dark environment.
Candles Behind Bars
Eli & Malka Touger
Rabbi Shabsi Katz, the Rabbi of Pretoria, the administrative capital of
In December of 1978, he came to visit the Rebbe for the third time. At a private audience with the Rebbe a few days before Chanukah, the Rebbe asked Rabbi Katz what was being done for Jewish prisoners in
The Rebbe asked: "And what about Chanukah? Can the inmates light Chanukah candles?" One must appreciate, the Rebbe said, how important it is for a person sitting alone in a cell to light a Chanukah menorah. One cannot fathom the warmth and hope this brings, and how this will uplift his spirits in such a dark environment.
Rabbi Katz promised that when he returned to
Rabbi Katz pointed out that Chanukah was only a few days off. Since he was in
Rabbi Katz then reminded the Rebbe that in
The Rebbe did not accept Rabbi Katz's reply, saying that, on the contrary, when the general saw that the matter was so important that he was called from overseas in the middle of the night, he would be impressed, and would appreciate the need for Jewish prisoners to light candles this year.
As soon as Rabbi Katz left the Rebbe's office, one of the secretaries led him to the small side office across the hall from the Rebbe's. He showed him the phones and told him to make himself at home.
Rabbi Katz first called his secretary in
Rabbi Katz explained that he had just completed a private meeting with one of the leaders of world Jewry, who had expressed concern about the Jewish inmates in South African prisons. The leader had explained how important it was for the prisoners to light Chanukah menorahs, and how this would bring them warmth, light and hope.
General Sephton was moved. In spite of the fact that his office was due to close that day -- it was December 24 -- he said that if Rabbi Katz was calling at that time of night from overseas, he could understand how urgent the matter was, and that as soon as he got to his office in the morning he would send a telex to all the prison facilities in South Africa telling them to make it possible for all Jewish prisoners in South Africa to light candles this Chanukah.
Next morning, when the Rebbe came to Lubavitch headquarters at
When Rabbi Katz entered the Rebbe's room, the Rebbe told him that there are 50 states in the
The Rebbe asked that Rabbi Katz see to it that the inmates of
Rabbi Katz did not know where to start; he told the Rebbe that he did not know whom to contact first.
"Rabbi J. J. Hecht has been working hard on this project, and will know whom to turn to," the Rebbe answered him.
When Rabbi Katz sought out Rabbi Hecht, it was Rabbi Hecht's turn to be astonished. He pointed out that it was December 24, and already past ; nobody would be at their desks at that time. Could officials be reached at their office parties?
But after Rabbi Katz told him about his audience with the Rebbe, and his personal call to General Sephton in
After a few calls, Rabbi Hecht was able to locate the director of the New York State Correctional System, and found him in a jovial mood. Rabbi Hecht then introduced Rabbi Katz, who informed the director that Jewish prisoners in
Rabbi Katz looked at his watch. It was several minutes before three, and the Rebbe would come out for the afternoon minchah prayers at . He hurried back to 770 and positioned himself outside the Rebbe's room. When the Rebbe came out for the afternoon prayers, he saw Rabbi Katz and motioned "Nu?" Rabbi Katz indicated that the mission had been accomplished. "I want to see you after minchah!" the Rebbe smiled.
Rabbi Katz was surprised. What mission would be waiting for him after minchah? When he entered the Rebbe's room, however, the Rebbe did not have another project for him. Instead, the Rebbe said that as he had done him a personal favor, he would like to do something in return.
Rabbi Katz was bewildered. He told the Rebbe that it had been a privilege and an honor to do what he had done. He had received so much in blessings and guidance from the Rebbe throughout the years that he certainly did not expect anything more.
The Rebbe did not accept this answer. So Rabbi Katz thought quickly, and asked the Rebbe for a Tanya (the book authored by the founder of Chabad, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, and regarded as the "bible of Chassidism") for his son, who would certainly appreciate it. The Rebbe told him that one would be in the outer office shortly. When Rabbi Katz returned to pick it up, he found a Hebrew Tanya waiting for Rabbi Katz himself, a leather-bound, deluxe Hebrew/English Tanya for his son, "Challenge" (a book on Chabad) for General Sephton in South Africa, and "Woman of Valor" (an anthology of Chassidic teachings on women) for the general's wife.
When Rabbi Katz returned to
Indeed, within an hour, the general was sitting in Rabbi Katz's living room. Asked why he had hurried so, he replied that when a person sitting in
"And if such a leader sends something for me, I want it as soon as possible," said the general.
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