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Belief in G‑d After the Holocaust

A child survivor of Auschwitz

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Belief in G-d After the Holocaust: A child survivor of Auschwitz

Rabbi Nissen Mangel was a 10-year-old child when he came to the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. There he witnessed unspeakable atrocities, but he also witnessed amazing acts of faith. In this moving and powerful talk, Rabbi Mangel tells his firsthand account of what he saw. (Many viewers may find details described to be extremely disturbing. Viewer discretion advised.)
Audio: Listen to Audio | Download this MP3
Topics: Faith; Belief in G-d, Auschwitz, Holocaust Survivors, Holocaust
Faith; Belief in G-d Auschwitz Holocaust Survivors Holocaust
Rabbi Nissen Mangel is a renowned scholar, author and speaker, and serves as rabbi of congregation Ksav Sofer in Brooklyn, NY.
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María de Lourdes Fontao Espino México May 28, 2026

Que maravilloso es El Eterno por la vida del Rabino Mangel, quien tuvo que pasar con tan grande dolor y sufrimiento, y como también vio las grandes maravillas que solo HaSHém pudo mostrarle en ese lugar horrendo, pero su poder como se vio en la salida de Misrayim y el pudo ver sus grandes bondades aun en medio del dolor gracias al Eterno por todo lo que vio y pudo transmitir de todo lo que vivió ayudándonos a soportar, todo dolo, y creer más en HaShém gracias por todas éstas enseñanzas Reply

Susan Dworin December 16, 2024

What an incredible story! The question raised at the end is one we all wrestle with, very very difficult. In my experience it helps when I am able to focus on the fact that Hashem’s purpose is not one I am able to see, but, yes, His purpose will be accomplished. Is it not that fact and knowledge is what makes us celebrate, regardless….SS officers or not? What a marvelous story that was! Reply

Pierre Erville August 24, 2024

Thank you for sharing your story. I had many family members who were murdered in Auschwitz, and also in several other camps, including Stutthof, Chelmno, Belzec, Trostenets, Treblinka, Sobibór, and Mittelbau-Dora, as well as in Rabka's school of torture and murder. Reply

Gary Joseph Los Angeles via JewishTV iOS September 3, 2024
in response to Pierre Erville:

Through the years I have known people who have lost family members and dear friends and all I can say is I pray for God’s complete healing for everyone that this evil has touched….God will restore….be at rest Reply

Pierre Erville DC December 16, 2024
in response to Gary Joseph:

I appreciate your response, thank you. Reply

Gary Joseph Los Angeles via JewishTV iOS August 15, 2024

Can this ever happen in a country like this? Most certainly…….ALWAYS VIGILANCE!! Reply

Pierre Erville DC December 16, 2024
in response to Gary Joseph:

Exactly right, it can happen anywhere, and we are nowadays coming closer than ever before to that horrible kind of country where hatred and prejudice and antisemitism are at the fore and being amplified more than ever before in my lifetime. Scary times. And of course, this is occurring elsewhere in the world as well these days. An age-old problem of the human race, it seems... Reply

Jarred New Orleans August 15, 2024

Shalom Yisrael it is now that A lot of Israelis say due to the conflict in the Holy Land we are suffering a modern Holocaust
I feel we are suffering great perils also and I pray for all Jews Muslims Christian’s gentiles what have for we all need God Reply

Nissan January 23, 2024

This is a really inspiring story and really heartbreaking and emotional. I was literally crying!
I feel like people don’t know enough about the Holocaust these days.
Kol Hakovad! Reply

Rhonda Downey May 18, 2022

Encouraging, after loosing a son, it was hard to keep my faith but I held on a little bit, and G-D is healing and restoring he has never left. Reply

Gabriel Schecter Houston Texas March 23, 2021

Shalom Rabbi Tauber

After reading your article, “the Rebbe and the Holocaust” and the search for the answer to his statement, “Echoing his father-in-law, the Rebbe would say: It is not my task to justify G‑d on this. Only G‑d Himself can answer for what He allowed to happen.” It appears Hashem actually answered this question very succinctly (omek peshuto)

Deuteronomy 31:16-21

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה הִנְּךָ֥ שֹׁכֵ֖ב עִם־אֲבֹתֶ֑יךָ וְקָם֩ הָעָ֨ם הַזֶּ֜ה וְזָנָ֣ה ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י ׀ אֱלֹהֵ֣י נֵֽכַר־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר ה֤וּא בָא־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ בְּקִרְבּ֔וֹ וַעֲזָבַ֕נִי וְהֵפֵר֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר כָּרַ֖תִּי אִתּֽוֹ׃ וְחָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֣י ב֣וֹ בַיּוֹם־הַ֠הוּא וַעֲזַבְתִּ֞ים וְהִסְתַּרְתִּ֨י פָנַ֤י מֵהֶם֙ וְהָיָ֣ה לֶֽאֱכֹ֔ל וּמְצָאֻ֛הוּ רָע֥וֹת רַבּ֖וֹת וְצָר֑וֹת וְאָמַר֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא הֲלֹ֗א עַ֣ל כִּֽי־אֵ֤ין אֱלֹהַי֙ בְּקִרְבִּ֔י מְצָא֖וּנִי הָרָע֥וֹת הָאֵֽלֶּה

The full answer requires more space and I cannot find your email address. Please provide Reply

Tom Reitano USA February 17, 2019

While looking for numbers of Jewish people liberated in 45, I come across this question; how can I believe in god after the Holocaust? The answer contained ' just as a child does not know why a life man would be cut up on a operating table, creation can not comprehend god. I say even a child knows when someone is trying to help vs someone trying to hurt. Reply

M January 7, 2022
in response to Tom Reitano:

You’re likening the holocaust to a surgery? That makes sense to you? Reply

Tovah Fl December 2, 2018

I fear the rise in Antisemitism in the country worldwide! The internet seems to be a hotbed of inflammatory information regarding The Jews! Most of these sites you cannot even comment on and refute what they say, and so it appears as a report or factual information.
G-d Bless this Rabbi....I cried so much during his stories!
Happy Hanukkah to all Jewish People and those who love them and celebrate along with them! Reply

Shawn Weisbart December 15, 2017

Thank you Reply

Christoph UK August 7, 2017

Thank you! Reply

Meira Shana San Diego September 9, 2016

response to: Something to think about "... Suppose that here in the United States, the government decided to restrict what we Jews could do? What would we do? ..."
You seem unaware of the history of Jews in the USA - we were restricted from schools, various clubs, and places of employment! Shiploads of Jews were not allowed to get off those ships and were forced back to Europe where most were met by Nazis.

I'm in my late 70s and remember!!
A great movie to rent and watch: "Gentleman's Agreement" starring Gregory Peck.

The USA did not protect people of Japanese heritage - even though they were born here and citizens the USA government pulled them out of their homes and businesses and into camps, much like what Hitler did in Europe.

The USA does not have clean hands, especially about Jews ... and certainly not about Blacks and Native Americans!
How the people who lived through and survived the Holocaust is beyond me. Those who I met at various Holocaust Museums were so positive and non-hating. A miracle from G-d. Reply

Cheryl USA July 14, 2016

Never again Never again can Jews &'Christians become complacent in regard to religious discrimination. It begins very subtly & then grows until it becomes out of control. I have personally witnessed horrific remarks from Muslims regarding Israel and decent people cannot allow this poison to grow anywhere in this world again. We must unite & be strong against those who wish destruction against Jews. Never again! Reply

Anonymous April 27, 2016

Luz Bone It's clear that the luz bone can be destroyed because I know many Jews who have been cremated (unfortunately). Sorry but this is just complete false whether he survived the holocaust or not. What an amazing story though!!! Reply

Patricia Kadoche thornhill November 21, 2015

Thank you Rabbi for sharing your life stories. They are truly inspiring...Baruch Hashem you were saved to show us and share with us the positive side. Reply

antonio sabella providence, r.i. March 23, 2015

It always amazes me how much faith some people can possess. During my life, my faith has wavered and at times been reduced to almost nothing. These stories make me feel ashamed at my lack of faith. Reply

anna alex Baltimore, aryland March 13, 2015

Rabbi, I am not Jewish but my heart aches with what the jewish people have gone through and what they are still going through. I agree with Pamela that you are an incredibele human being may you a nd your family's life always be blessed Reply

M. Ericson WI January 13, 2015

Listening to this heart wrenching story filled me with such pain and many, many tears for the indescribable atrocities this man suffered and endured as well as the unfathomable 6 million others. And yet when asked, "After the Holocaust how can you possibly believe in G-d?" He responds emphatically, "How can you not?" For, as he says, his very existence as a survivor is a miracle!
His faith in G-d after such unimaginable tragedy and horror remains untouched, perhaps even strengthened! For anyone who may momentarily experience doubts, his story and absolute conviction in the existence of G-d is awesomely inspiring.
May the Moshiach come soon and answer all of our questions. Reply

Doug January 19, 2014

Beverly Kurtin
I believe it can happen here when the economy collapses. Already many are blaming us. Our creator has already given a sign that the US is going to cease being the world's leading military and economic force and perhaps this is part of bringing us back to the promised land.
A beam from 9/11 hit the sycamore tree in front of the Church George Washington dedicated this country to God in, protecting the Church but uprooting the tree, on what is now called Ground Zero.

House speaker Tom Daschle as the US representative the day after 9/11 quoted Isaiah 9:10 “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.”
The hearers of the speech were unaware of the context it was spoken -
Isaiah 9: 9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join Reply

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