Jews For The Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Inc.
P.O. Box 270143
Hartford, WI 53027
Phone (800) 869-1884
Fax (425) 451-3959
Holocaust Miracle: Candles on the Train
December 25, 1938 was a day for celebration around the world.For many it was Christmas, for some it was Chanukah -- and for the Geier family it was the day they would escape the murderous clutches of the Germans. Shortly after Kristallnacht, the Geier's had received their passports and visas to leave Germany for the United States.
It was a sunny but cold day as their train bound for Hollandpulled out of the Berlin station. The Geier's shared their second-class compartment with two very stern-looking Germans. Arnold Geier, age 12, and his sister, 15, sat quietly with their parents. In a whisper, Arnold overheard his mother reassure his father that God would forgive him for not lighting his menorah that night. Mr. Geier was a cantor and a devout Jew and had packed a small menorah and some candles in his briefcase.
"Not long after darkness," recalls Arnold, "the train slowedand puffed its way into a special railway station at the German-Dutch border. We braced ourselves for our final encounter with the German police, Nazis and Gestapo. Just a few more miles and our old lives would be behind us."
The train sat in the station and the Geier's watched as theBorder Police and the Gestapo carefully compared lists and prepared to check everyone's passports and papers.
"Finally, small groups of officers boarded the train for theirinspection. Papa looked tense and broke out in a sweat. I was afraid.
Suddenly, without any warning, all the lights in the station and on the train went out. A number of people lit matches for light and the glow on their faces was an eerie sight. I felt like screaming."
In the confusion, Mr. Geier stood up, managed to find his overcoat, and pulled eight small candles out of his coat pocket. He struck a match and lit one candle. Using that candle he warmed the bottoms of the other candles and lined up all eight candles on the window sill of our compartment. He quietly recited the Chanukah blessings, and lit the candles.
"For the first time in a long time, I saw a smile appear onPapa's face. Then someone shouted, 'There's light over there!' The Border Police and the Gestapo men soon came to our compartment and used the light of the candles to conduct their checking of the passports and papers. One of the officers commended Papa on his resourcefulness for thinking ahead and packing 'travel candles.'
"About a half hour passed and then, as suddenly as they hadgone off, the lights flickered on again. The officers thanked Papa and left our compartment to finish their work throughout the train."
"'Remember this moment,' Papa said to me, 'like in the time of the Maccabees, a great miracle happened here.'"
Addendum, July 1, 2000:
We have just discovered the source of this story. It comes from the bookHeroes of the Holocaust by Arnold Geier. JPFO recommends this book highly,and you can purchase it from Amazon.com by clicking on the link representedby the title.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-MAIL ALERTS:
To subscribe via e-mail to JPFO Alerts: send a blank e-mail to:
jpfo_alerts-subscribe@topica.com
To Un-subscribe to JPFO Alerts: send a blank e-mail to:
jpfo_alerts-unsubscribe@topica.com
In either case, respond to the confirmation message you will get back.
[ JPFO Home > Alerts > Holocaust Miracle: Candles on the Train ]
© 1999 JPFO < webmaster@jpfo.org >