Rabbi Yosef Wallis, director of Arachim of Israel, talks to Project Witness about his father, Judah Wallis, who was born and raised in Pavenitz, Poland.
While he was in Dachau, a Jew who was being taken to his death suddenly flung a small bag at my father, Judah Wallis. He caught it, thinking it might contain a piece of bread. Upon opening it, however, he was disturbed to discover a pair of tefillin. Judah was very frightened because he knew that were he to be caught carrying tefillin, he would be put to death instantly. So he hid the tefillin under his shirt and headed for his bunkhouse.
In the morning, just before the appel [roll call], while still in his bunkhouse, he put on the tefillin. Unexpectedly, a German officer appeared. He ordered him to remove the tefillin, noted the number on Judah’s arm.
At the appel, in front of thousands of silent Jews, the officer called out Judah’s number and he had no choice but to step forward. The German officer waved the tefillin in the air and said, "Dog! I sentence you to death by public hanging for wearing these."
Judah was placed on a stool and a noose was placed around his neck. Before he was hanged, the officer said in a mocking tone, "Dog, what is your last wish?"
“To wear my tefillin one last time," Judah replied.
“The officer was dumbfounded. He handed Judah the tefillin. As Judah put them on, he recited the verse that is said while the tefillin are being wound around the fingers: "Ve’eirastich li le’olam, ve’eirastich li b’tzedek uvemishpat, ub’chessed, uv’rachamim, ve’eirastich li b’emunah, v’yodaat es Hashem – I will betroth you to me forever and I will betroth you to me with righteousness and with justice and with kindness and with mercy and I will betroth you to me with fidelity, and you shall know God."
It is hard for us to picture this Jew with a noose around his neck, wearing tefillin on his head and arm – but that was the scene that the entire camp was forced to watch, as they awaited the impending hanging of the Jew who had dared to break the rule against wearing tefillin.
Even women from the adjoining camp were lined up at the barbed wire fence that separated them from the men’s camp, forced to watch this horrible sight.
"Yidden, I am the victor. Don’t you understand, I am the winner!"
As Judah turned to watch the silent crowd, he saw tears in many people’s eyes. Even at that moment, as he was about to be hanged, he was shocked. Jews were crying! How was it possible that they still had tears left to shed? And for a stranger? Where were those tears coming from? Impulsively, in Yiddish, he called out, "Yidden, I am the victor. Don’t you understand, I am the winner!"
The German officer understood the Yiddish and was infuriated. He said to Judah, "You dog, you think you are the winner? Hanging is too good for you. You are going to get another kind of death."
“Judah, my father, was taken from the stool and the noose was removed from his neck. He was forced into a squatting position and two huge rocks were placed under his arms. Then he was told that he would be receiving 25 lashes to his head – the head on which he had dared to position his tefillin. The officer told him that if he dropped even one of the rocks, he would be shot immediately. In fact, because this was such an extremely painful form of death, the officer advised him, "Drop the rocks now. You will never survive the 25 lashes to the head. Nobody ever does."
Judah’s response was, "No, I won’t give you the pleasure."
At the 25th lash, Judah lost consciousness and was left for dead. He was about to be dragged to a pile of corpses , after which he would have been burned in a ditch, when another Jew saw him, shoved him to the side, and covered his head with a rag so people didn’t realize he was alive. Eventually, after he recovered consciousness fully, he crawled to the nearest bunkhouse that was on raised piles and hid under it until he was strong enough to come out under his own power. Two months later he was liberated.
"I saw what you did that day when the officer wanted to hang you. Will you marry me?”
During the hanging and beating episode, a 17-year-old girl had been watching the events from the women’s side of the fence. After liberation, she made her way to Judah. She walked over to him and said, "I’ve lost everyone. I don’t want to be alone any more. I saw what you did that day when the officer wanted to hang you. Will you marry me?”
My parents walked over to the Klausenberger Rebbe and requested that he perform the marriage ceremony. The Klausenberger Rebbe, whose Kiddush Hashem is legendary, wrote out a kesubah [marriage contract] by hand from memory and married the couple. I have that handwritten kesubah in my possession to this day.
(28) Leo Sandau, February 7, 2021 9:48 PM
What a fantastic story
Thank you Aish for bringing this story.
I believe I was the first Jewish kid to be born in Poland to survivors of the Holocost.
I wear this honor proudly being a spearhead
of the Phoenix that arose in Poland.
(27) Isaac Geld, December 15, 2020 2:57 AM
The most romantic love story I have ever read..
Love is indeed stronger than death. Love of GD, Love of faith in the face of the cruelest nihilism. Love and the courage to live and carry on in spite of everything
(26) Josef Travis Collins, August 12, 2020 11:56 AM
Inspiration
As I place tefillin on I hear in my mind every hatefull, heartbreaking, demeaning words in my life. Those thrown at me by my mother, stepfather, and blood brothers. I feel the hurt of all their betrayals! But I still place my tefillin on at least once a week. I love HaShem and everything He has given me. I love this story truly inspirational! Thank You for sharing! Shalom
(25) Raymond, October 5, 2019 12:41 PM
Far Worse than Any Dog
Ironically, the nazis calling Jews dogs were infinitely worse than any dog could ever be. Given the utter depravity of human nature, I have come to realize that the nazis were what human beings would be, if they were not somehow influenced by our Torah. And it is precisely the civilizing influence of our Torah, that made the nazis (and all other antisemites) hate us Jews so much.
(24) Anonymous, May 27, 2019 10:33 PM
the name of thess who found the rabbi with tefilin
was that naz persecuted? in need to know for some peace.
(23) Anonymous, May 26, 2019 10:46 PM
name of that "nazi"
i remember reading that the nazi who handed out the lashes was really a Jew trying to save Judah's life.
does anyone remember his name?
(22) VALERIE BARTLEY, May 14, 2019 7:03 AM
EVERY ONE OF THESE ACCOUNTS OF THE HOLOCAUST IS SO PRECIOUS, LIKE JEWELS IN THE HAND OF HA'SHEM. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO TRULY EXPRESS SUCH AWESOME COURAGE IN THE FACE OF SUCH UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY. MAY THE GREATEST BLESSINGS OF HA'SHEM BE UPON ALL THESE DEAR SOULS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS FOREVER!
(21) Rene Omar Ramos Alonso Santiago Valls, February 15, 2019 12:13 AM
I think my ancestor is Rafael Valls know as the first rabbi at Palma de Mallorca the son of Joseph Wallis
My family told me about this historic event many years ago and I still wonder if we Are truly related.
(20) Anonymous, January 30, 2019 12:11 AM
An astounding and brave man, full of Jewish spirit. I would love to see that katuba
(19) Anonymous, April 16, 2018 8:51 PM
What a great story.
You are so fortunate to have been born to such parents as yours. I can't express how much I admire these two whom I've never met, but whose story has moved me. Thank you for writing it.
(18) Richard, April 12, 2018 1:57 PM
WOW!
All the survivors I have known and know are my heroes!
(17) Denise, December 24, 2017 4:25 PM
The best love story ever although what horrendous way for it to happen. Shalom Yerushalayim ???
(16) James Hubbard, May 7, 2017 1:44 AM
Very powerful and moving!
(15) Anonymous, August 8, 2016 9:01 PM
Question:
Isn't Rabbi Wallis the grandson of a holocaust victim who was killed at the end of the war for his refusal to eat pork? I clearly remember that story. If anyone knows, please enlighten me. TAL!
Anonymous, September 26, 2016 4:19 PM
Answer
Indeed, his mother's father was Rav Shraga Feivel Winkler, and Rabbi Yossi Wallis describes how he was standing in line at a restaurant about to order pork when he recalled this story about his grandfather. I highly suggest reading "incredible" by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer - a biography of Rabbi Yossi Wallis and his family- with amazing incredible stories, miracles, and the incredible life he leads.
(14) Anonymous, August 8, 2016 1:42 AM
Holocaust Survivor
As the infant Holocaust survivor portrayed in my Mother's Historical Saga, "The Scent of Snowflowers" by R. L Klein, any documentary, film, or testimony pertaining to the Holocaust is of the utmost interest to me.
(13) Bobby5000, February 4, 2016 9:02 PM
How I can ignore the people dying
Probably in the minority, but how I can spend time thinking about 75 years ago, when women and children are starving and dying today in Syria. And how do I condemn the German and Polish civilians who did nothing because they didn't like Jews and say those dying today, are strange, their language seems different, their religion is bad, people don't like them, and its not my problem. How I condemn those who adopted a standard that reflects what I do today.
Laila, March 3, 2016 12:13 PM
Are you a Holocoast survivor?
Richard, May 8, 2016 9:07 AM
The past is related to the current
I think Bobby5000 you are missing the point sadly. Jews can and should bring these stories to life for it is our history. What is going on in Syria, perhaps, would not be going on now if others truly understood such stories not only those who are Jewish, but those who are not. We have to think about what went on 75 years ago to people, some, who still survive today if we have a chance in hell to change what is going on in Syria.
Vicky, August 7, 2016 4:22 PM
Is it necessary to wreck the story for everyone?
I certainly understand that you think about these things but how about if everyone just gets to enjoy this wonderful story of resilience that led to generations of goodness and blessings?
Raymond, October 5, 2019 12:44 PM
No Love Lost
Vicky, to answer your question, I strongly suspect that he doesn't like us Jews too much.
(12) Léa, February 4, 2016 9:04 AM
Incredible
It's the most incredible story I've ever heard about the Holocaust.
(11) Kristine WIllems, February 3, 2016 10:58 AM
Thank you Israel, thank you...
(10) Pagit Schreiber, February 3, 2016 9:40 AM
No wonder they have such a special wonderful son!
(9) Linda Rivera, February 2, 2016 10:06 PM
Inspiring and Beautiful Story
A testament to the Faith, Strength and Courage of the Jewish People; their LOVE for Hashem and God's Power and Faithfulness for thousands of years
(8) Michah, February 2, 2016 9:29 PM
That's all?
I just did a search for this man's amazing story. Don't let just his parents' story amaze you - search up about his wife's parents, and his wife's great-great grandfather in Spain, and then his own personal teshuva.
You can change the world, but the hardest thing to do is to change yourself.
(7) Leah Blumenfeld, February 2, 2016 5:38 PM
A Miracle from Hahem
There are so many Holocaust stories that touched my crying heart. This is truly a miracle from Hashem.
(6) Rena Groot, February 2, 2016 2:26 PM
What a beautiful story!
Anna, February 3, 2016 6:46 AM
It is ! What more can I say ? I hope that the rest of their life together was beautiful. too.
(5) Roz, February 1, 2016 10:52 PM
I am crying as I read the Holocaust Love Story.
May G-d continue to bless you and your family.
Roz
(4) Jeff Hirsch, February 1, 2016 7:08 PM
incredible
Thanks for that amazing uplifting story Rabbi.I had the honour of hearing this story from you personally in Johannesburg ,as well as your own incredible story. Perhaps you could relate it to us sometime. It is the most inspiring journey I have ever heard.
(3) Rachel, February 1, 2016 4:50 PM
Wow.
Chills. Beautiful story.
(2) Raphy Garson, January 28, 2016 12:54 PM
The Eternal Jewish Flame
What a heart rendering, yet remarkable story of courage, faith and hope.
Your parents & other survivors are the true heroes of our generation.
(1) Anonymous, January 27, 2016 7:53 PM
Wow.
Wow, thank you for sharing this amazing story. I just read it at work and have tears in my eyes.