There are fewer and fewer people who have experienced firsthand the heroic struggle that the Jewish people were forced to wage against the communist empire. This struggle was waged for decades, under difficult and impossible conditions. Never in Jewish history have religious edicts been so harshly enforced over such a long period of time.
This struggle lasted for about seventy years, and ended in a brilliant victory for the Jewish faith. The iron fist of the communist regime failed to extinguish the embers of Judaism. Even in the most difficult days, this flame burned and warmed, albeit underground and in secret. In time, it flared up again, and today Judaism flourishes and prospers throughout what was once the Soviet Union.
Against the predatory boot
This battle was actually decided ninety-nine years ago, on the 12th-13th of Tammuz, 1927 (1927). The communist regime gritted its teeth and set free its greatest fighter – the Rebbe Rayatz (Yosef-Yitzhak Schneerson) of Lubavitch, the sixth Rebbe of Chabad Hasidism.
Looking back, it is very difficult to understand how Jews dared to embark on such a struggle. In those dark days, hundreds of thousands of 'enemies of the revolution' were arrested and eliminated. There was no need for courts and complicated investigations. The investigations were intended for one and only purpose - to track down other activists. The members of the secret service were granted enormous authority, and they did not hesitate to arrest and eliminate ministers and prominent public figures, rabbis, and even priests, generals, and prominent scientists.
This was also their goal when they arrested the Rebbe. "In 24 hours, Tom will be shot dead," one of the interrogators blurted out. The Rebbe responded to a similar threat with coolness: "A gun can scare a person who has many gods and one world. I have one God and two worlds, and a gun does not scare me.".
The Rebbe's arrest came after the authorities became aware of the scope and determination of the underground activity he was conducting. His emissaries and followers reached every corner of the country. They opened secret synagogues, established 'chadres' and yeshivahs, built mikvahs, introduced kosher slaughter, and swaddled babies. The secret police arrested the activists, but others immediately took their place. The students were thrown into prison, but upon release they escaped to another place and continued to study Torah. Nothing deterred them – not imprisonment, not exile to Siberia, not even death. Then the decision was made in the heart of the government to strike at the head of the underground – the Rebbe.
Determination wins.
So what happened? Why was the tyrannical government forced to retreat, until the order was given to release the Rebbe? There was some international pressure, there was diplomatic activity, and after all there is no explanation for it. It was a clear miracle from God.
This struggle proved that when a Jew stands resolutely on the observance of the Torah and the commandments, he can ultimately defeat even a mighty empire. Here was sown the victory of the Jewish people, as expressed in the continuation of underground activity throughout the years of communism, until its final collapse.
Even in our day, there are constant struggles and tests. Sometimes it seems like we have to surrender and bow our heads. The holiday of redemption teaches that it is determination and absolute devotion to God and His Torah that are victorious and will bring us true and complete redemption.
