By COLlive reporter
For seven decades the Soviet Union spread its wings over fifteen countries, successfully obliterating organized Jewish life for most of the Jews living there. When Rabbi Michoel and Rebbetzin Naama Oishe arrived in Kaluga they were met with skepticism of their ability to build a functioning of the Jewish community there.
In their book, In the Trenches: Stories from the Frontlines of Jewish Life, the Chabad shluchim tell of their journey to uplift the community from sheer ignorance to a thriving Chabad center.
“Our life in Kaluga is never boring,” writes Rebbetzin Oishe, “There is always a surprise waiting around the corner. It depends how we choose to experience it.”
Told in prose, the book finds the humor and positive in their daily challenges as shluchim on the frontline.
One story tells of Tudrus, who after putting on tefillin for the first time in his life. When he was a child, his grandfather would each morning close the door to his room and do something that no one was permitted to observe. Once, his curiosity got the better of him. He opened the door and saw his grandfather with a blanket draped over his head and straps wrapped around his arm and hand.
The old man seemed frightened and shooed him away. When Tudrus told his mother what he had seen, she said his grandfather had high blood pressure that had to be monitored every day. “Grandpa is ashamed of his illness, so it is forbidden to tell anyone about it.”
Years later, Tudrus wrapped that same Jewish “monitor” around his own arm. Now, he said, he finally understood. “Our grandfather was healthy. It was we who were unhealthy.”
Another book from the Grab & Read series, it is perfect for Sukkos or a gift. It is available on HasidicArchives.com at a discount as many of the other books are for a pre-sukkos sale.
brilliant. it is an amazing read!