A Young Girl's Shabbat Miracle During the Holocaust

During World War II, life for Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe was filled with unimaginable horrors. But amidst this darkness, there were moments of light — where courage, faith, and the observance of Shabbat saved lives.

One such story revolves around a young Jewish girl, barely 19, from the Beckerman family. After the Nazis invaded Lithuania and destroyed the lives of so many Jews, she found herself alone and vulnerable, hiding in the villages to escape the murderous regime.

At first, she kept her Jewish identity a secret. For three years, she lived under the false pretense of being a Lithuanian refugee. She wandered from one house to another, always hiding her true self, and always trying to keep her faith intact in a world turned upside down.

One day, a kind non-Jewish family took her in. They knew she was Jewish, but they agreed to hide her, knowing the consequences if they were discovered. The girl worked hard for the family, sewing clothes, knitting sweaters, and making coats. But there was one thing she refused to compromise on: Shabbat. No matter how difficult her situation, she would not break the commandment of resting on Shabbat.

So, she devised a clever plan. She would work on Thursday nights to complete all the sewing for Friday. On Shabbat, she would show her progress to the family, making sure no one noticed her secret.

For years, she kept this up, surviving in a hostile world while maintaining her Jewish observance. But one Saturday morning, the girl was faced with the ultimate test.

The lady of the house needed her help. Her coat had a tear, and she needed to go out into the market. She demanded that the girl sew it immediately. But the girl, despite the danger, stood firm.

"I cannot work on Shabbat," she said. "I’m Jewish. It’s against my faith to work today."

The woman was furious. She threatened the girl, saying, “If you don’t sew it now, you’ll have to leave!” The girl still refused, and the woman, unable to understand her commitment, threw her out of the house. Alone and penniless, the girl wandered outside, feeling broken and lost.

But then, something incredible happened.

As she hid in a wheat field, trying to find strength in the Shabbat songs she loved, she saw the woman coming toward her, in tears.

"Do you know what happened?" the woman asked through sobs. "Just after you left, Nazis came to the house. They searched everywhere, even stabbing the rugs with knives. But they couldn’t find you. They left, and I was safe. If you had sewn that coat, they would have found you, and both of us would have been killed. Your refusal to break Shabbat saved us!"

The woman marveled at the strength of the Jewish people, who, even in the darkest times, held onto their faith, knowing that Shabbat was a shield, protecting them in ways they could not understand.

This story reminds us that, even in the most difficult times, Shabbat can be a source of strength and protection. In today’s busy world, keeping Shabbat isn’t always simple, but when we hear about this young girl’s courage and deep faith, we’re inspired to hold on just a little tighter. Her bravery didn’t just save her life — it brought her closer to Hashem in the most profound way.