That Time the Nazis Went on a Quest to Save a Major Jewish Leader

During World War II, the Nazi regime, in a surprising turn of events, orchestrated the rescue of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, a prominent Jewish leader, from the Warsaw Ghetto. This rescue was facilitated by Admiral Wilhelm Canaris of the German Army Intelligence, who saw it as a way to maintain good relations with the United States, and executed by Major Ernst Bloch, who despite his partial Jewish heritage, successfully smuggled the Rabbi to Latvia and then to the United States, ensuring the survival of the Lubavitch Hasidic movement and its future role in Orthodox Judaism.

Nazi Germany's Invasion of Poland

• 00:00:00 In 1939, Nazi Germany launched a devastating invasion of Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. This invasion, followed by the Soviet invasion from the east, led to the Polish government's capitulation and the deaths of thousands of Poles, Jews, and others deemed undesirable by the Nazis. The Einzatsgruppen, special SS units, were responsible for carrying out the atrocities and executing those deemed enemies of the Nazi regime.

Habad Lubavitch Movement

• 00:01:23 The Habad Lubavitch movement, rooted in Jewish mysticism, emphasizes intellectual inquiry and the continuous inner struggle between good and evil. It originated in the 18th century and spread across Russia and the world through the influence of successive rebbes or spiritual leaders. The movement focuses on ten core mitzvot or commandments, which include Torah study, charity, and observing Jewish traditions.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn

• 00:02:54 Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn was the sixth Lubavitch Rebbe and played a pivotal role in preserving Jewish culture and education during Soviet persecution. Despite facing arrests and imprisonment for his religious activities, he continued to maintain underground Yeshivas and dispatched representatives to strengthen Jewish communities across the Soviet Union. Following his release and exile, he traveled to the United States, but ultimately returned to Europe before the outbreak of war.

Schneersohn's Rescue

• 00:07:53 Following the German invasion of Poland, Rabbi Schneersohn found himself trapped in the Warsaw Ghetto. A group of Habad followers in America successfully petitioned the US government to intervene and save him. Through diplomatic efforts and a surprising cooperation with Nazi officials, Major Ernst Bloch, an Abwehr operative, located Schneersohn in the ghetto and rescued him. Despite numerous obstacles and the dangers posed by the SS, Schneersohn was safely transported to Latvia and later to the United States.

Post-Rescue and Legacy

• 00:19:01 After arriving in New York in 1940, Rabbi Schneersohn worked diligently to establish and expand the Habad Lubavitch movement in America. He founded the first Lubavitch Yeshiva in New York and established printing houses to distribute his and his predecessors' writings. He also played a key role in the establishment of Kfar Chabad in Israel. Following his death in 1950, his son-in-law, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, became the next Rebbe and further expanded the movement globally.