Faith Over Fear: A Young Man’s Shabbat Choice

In his weekly column in Yated Ne’eman, Rabbi David Braverman shared a moving story filled with strength, faith, and a surprising twist. It’s the story of Rabbi Berel Gurvich, who once found himself imprisoned in a harsh Soviet labor camp. His “crime” was trying to cross the border from Lvov. He was caught and thrown into the camp, where the prisoners were made to sew wallets for the government.

When Shabbat came—the holy day of rest—Rabbi Berel’s foot began to tremble. How could he press the sewing machine’s pedal on Shabbat? That simple act would mean violating the Torah, something his heart couldn’t accept. As he was deliberating what to do, the camp’s work supervisor came over. “Gurvich,” he said, “I get it. You don’t want to work on Shabbat. But you don’t have a choice. If you keep dreaming, I’ll report you to the commander, and they’ll send you to a much worse camp—deep in the heart of Siberia.”

Rabbi Berel’s thoughts raced. A transfer like that could mean death. The conditions in those far-off camps were known to be unbearable. Still, despite the fear and pressure, he stood his ground. His emunah—his faith—would not allow him to give in. He refused to work on Shabbat.

On Sunday, he was called in to meet with the camp commander. Three high-ranking officers were waiting. They wanted to know why he was causing trouble. Rabbi Berel calmly explained: he couldn’t work on Shabbat, no matter the cost.

They raised their voices. They threatened to take away all his privileges. But he stayed calm. He stayed strong. He stood his ground.

Then something unexpected happened. The officers turned to one another and began discussing the matter among themselves. Finally, the commander spoke. “In the center of the camp,” he said, “there’s a warehouse. It holds all the raw materials used to sew the wallets. From now on, you’ll be the guard of that warehouse. You’ll be able to keep Shabbat without anyone disturbing you. You won’t have to do anything—just sit on a chair.”

Rabbi Berel was stunned. This couldn’t be real. Where was the catch? Why were they suddenly being kind?

The commander saw the look on his face and explained: “It’s simple. Every guard we’ve put in that warehouse so far ended up stealing. But you? You’re different. You’re someone who’s willing to lose everything for what you believe in. A person like that won’t steal even a single ruble.”

And so, in a place where cold, hunger, and fear filled every day, one young Jew’s quiet stand for Shabbat lit up the darkness. He didn’t just say “no” to work—he showed what it means to live with heart, with courage, and with a deep, unshakable faith.