On March 23, the eighth grade graduating class of Yavneh Academy performed its annual Holocaust dramatic presentation titled “The Sacred Link,” based on the inspiring memoir of Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, “Out of The Depths.” Under the outstanding direction of professional playwright Dominique Cieri, the students researched the story of Rav Lau and then created a manuscript for the performance. Rabbi Knapp, principal of Yavneh Academy, offered opening remarks, noting that while it has been more than 70 years since the Holocaust occurred, anti-Semitism and bigotry is still very much alive in our communities and we must work hard on a regular basis to obliterate it. Rabbi Knapp shared with the audience his personal connection with Rav Lau’s story through his wife’s ancestry. It was his wife’s grandfather, Rabbi Herschel Schacter, who had the honor of liberating Rav Lau when the war ended. The audience was also honored to hear from Rabbi J.J. Schacter about his father’s experience.
The story begins with the famous Eichmann trial in the Israel of 1961. Gatherers come to hear testimony from a journalist named Yehiel Dinur, who was a prisoner of the Auschwitz death camp. Dinur explains that he needs to testify as he deeply believes the reason he survived was so that he can tell others what happened. This trial paved the way for many survivors who for a long time questioned whether or not to share their dreadful accounts of the Holocaust. Among those who spoke out was Naphtali Lau, older brother of Yisrael Meir Lau.
The story returns to 1942 in Poland, where terrible things were taking place in the town of Piotrkow where Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau was chief rabbi. Worried about the future, Yisrael Meir, or Lulek’s, parents understood what must be done to secure the sacred chain of rabbinic leadership spanning more than 35 generations in their family. As it became obvious that the situation was only getting worse, Lulek’s parents, first his father and later his mother, implored upon their oldest son Naphtali to save Lulek at any cost. Throughout the story, Naphtali takes what at times seem like insane measures to protect Lulek as promised to his determined parents.
The brothers are deported to Buchenwald where a soldier offers Naphtali some cautious advice. He explains that Naphtali is designated to block 52, which will be too difficult for a small child like Lulek. If Lulek can somehow make it to block 8, his chances of survival will be much greater. At block 8 he will pretend to be a Polish child who accidentally ended up on the transport to Buchenwald after his parents were killed in the bombing of Warsaw. At first Lulek protests and refuses to separate from Naphtali. However, Naphtali succeeds in convincing Lulek to comply, explaining to him that it is his best chance to survive. Naphtali tells Lulek that “nothing happens by chance.” In block 8 Lulek is protected, and there he remained until he was liberated. During one of the last conversations the two brothers shared at Buchenwald, Naphtali tells Lulek about a place called Eretz Yisrael. He explains to him that he must find his way there where he will continue the rabbinical legacy his parents fought so hard to preserve.
As the American Army enters the camp, Rabbi Hershel Schacter, chaplain of the 6th Division of the U.S. Army, announces loudly in Yiddish, “Shalom Aleichem Yidden—Jews Are Free!” Lulek explains his story to Rabbi Schacter and together they find Naphtali, weathered and battling typhus. Naphtali suffered tremendously in his plight to protect Lulek. The commitment Naphtali made to his parents is essentially what kept him alive. Saving Lulek was his mission.
Rabbi Shmuel Burstein, producer and Holocaust studies coordinator at Yavneh Academy, expressed how deeply moved he is by the students and their performance in this production. “It is a great privilege, a zechut, for all of us at Yavneh to stage the story of one of the great families of the Jewish people, The Lau and Frankel-Teomim families. Rav Lau, the miraculous child survivor, is the 37th generation of great Torah scholars. The students have been humbled for the chance to bring back to life some of the kedoshim who perished, even for several hours of our time,” articulated Burstein.
Nava Plaut, who had the honor of portraying the young Lulek, said, “It was great to learn about the story and an incredible experience to reenact his life on stage.” In preparation for this performance, students were involved in an intense Holocaust education curriculum that included a screening of “Schindler’s List.” “The past few months of our Jewish history curriculum has been focused on Holocaust stories. When you are given an opportunity to bring one of those stories to life on stage, you feel like you owe the person an accurate performance,” commented Sammy Markowitz, who played Lulek’s father, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lau. When asked how he was affected by his role, Devin Scharf, who played Lulek’s brother Naphtali, explained, “After playing this role, I feel like I have a better understanding of what the Holocaust was and what the Jews went through.” Many students remarked that this story clearly helped them realize how fortunate they are to be living the lives they do. “It was amazing to present this remarkable story and bring these people to life, if only for a few hours,” remarked Abby Newman, who played Lulek’s mother, Chaya Lau.
Rav Lau himself sent a recorded video message to the students during which he praised their efforts in learning his story and retelling it to others. “For me it’s not a matter of honor but one of a great merit and a fulfillment of the last will and testament of the holy soul… My mother and father’s final words were to remember you are a Jew and if there is a miracle and you survive, tell what happened here… Do not forget!”
By Andrea Nissel
