Location: Chamber of the Holocaust on Mount Zion, Jerusalem
Subject: Song of Ha’azinu is the history of God’s chosen people
Reference: Sefer Devarim Perek 32 Posuk 43
Written by: David Magence
The theme of the Song of Ha’azinu is the history of God’s chosen people, “from the creation of the world until the arrival of Messiah.” [Rabbeinu Beḥayye, Sefer Devarim Perek 32 Posuk 1]
Among the artifacts on display in the Chamber of the Holocaust on Mount Zion is a vest made of parchment from a Torah scroll.0
The commandant of one of the concentration camps ordered a Jewish tailor to make a vest for him, cut out of a Torah scroll. The tailor, who was a religiously observant Jew, understood that to refuse would be suicidal, but he chose verses which curse the enemies of Israel.0
The verses across the right collar bone are taken from the Song of Ha’azinu, which concludes with God’s promise of redemption: “Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance on His adversaries, and will cleanse His Land and His people.” (Sefer Devarim Perek 32 Posuk 43)
In the hell of a concentration camp, a Jewish tailor, who experienced perhaps the greatest suffering ever inflicted on God’s nation, was able to express his sincere belief in God’s promise of redemption of His people and vengeance upon those who caused Israel to suffer.0
