Good Morning, Herr Müller

B”H

Near the city of Danzig lived a well – to – do chassidic Rabbi, scion of prominent chassidic dynasties. Dressed in tailored black suit, wearing a top hat, and carrying a silver walking cane, the Rabbi would take his daily morning stroll, accompanied by his tall, handsome son – in – law. During his morning walk it was the Rabbi’s custom to greet every man, woman, and child whom he met on his way with a warm smile and a cordial “Good Morning”. Over the years the Rabbi became acquainted with many of his fellow townspeople this way and would always greet them by their proper title and name.

Near the outskirts of the town, in the fields, he would exchange greetings with Herr Müller, a Polish Volksdeutsche (ethnic German). “Good Morning, Herr Müller !” The Rabbis would hasten to greet the man who worked in the fields. “Good Morning, Herr Rabbiner !”, would come the response with a good – natured smile.

Then the war began. The Rabbi’s strolls stopped abruptly. Herr Müller donned an SS – uniform and disappeared from the fields. The fate of the Rabbi was like that of much of the rest of Polish Jewry. He lost his family in the death camp of Treblinka, and after great suffering was deported to Auschwitz.

One day, during a selection in Auschwitz, the Rabbi stood on line with hundreds of other Jews awaiting the moment when their fates would be decided, for life or death. Dressed in a striped camp uniform, head and beard shaven and eyes feverish from starvation and disease, the Rabbi looked like a walking skeleton. “Right ! Left, left, left !” The voice in the distance drew nearer. Suddenly the Rabbi had a great urge to see the face of the man with the snow – white gloves, small baton and steely voice who played G – d and decided who should live and who should die. He lifted his eyes and heard his own voice speaking:

“Good Morning, Herr Müller !”

“Good Morning, Herr Rabbiner !”, 

responded a human voice beneath the SS cap adorned with skull and bones. “What are you doing here ?” A faint smile appeared on the Rabbi’s lips. The baton moved to the right – to life. The following day, the Rabbi was transported to a safer camp.

The rabbi, now in his 80ies, told me in his gentle voice, “This is the power of a good morning greeting. A man must always greet his fellow man.

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Source:

“Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust”

By Yaffa Eliach