A SUKKAH IN EXILE

At a Russian synagogue (in Boston), Rabbi Chaim Prus told us the story of a particular Kiddush. In the wartime, his father was exiled as a prisoner to Kazakhstan. Once there was the start of Sukkoth. His father and father's friend (they were Chassidic), dreamed to construct a Sukkoth and have a Kiddush there. They were saddened. An untrustworthy prison official, also a Jew, approached them, "What is the problem, Jews?" They told him their problem. He directed some of the prisoners to construct a simple Sukkoth and provided some drinks.

In the prisoner's concentration camp the chief approached them, "What is it?" They told him about their problem. He thought about it and then made Kiddush: recited some brooches from the Talmud (in Hebrew), and drank vodka. After that he told them, "I don't see what you're doing", and went out.

So for a short time, though they were irreconcilable enemies, they were all Jews and they were united under one Sukkoth.

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