The Anonymous Woman Approached the Miserable Jews, Said 2 Sentences and Disappeared

The following story was published in one of the Shabbat newsletters, by a Holocaust survivor named Yehuda Chaim Nuizetz, and these are his words: "It was during the terrible Holocaust in Europe, in the winter of 1944. I was together with a group of people near the train station in the town of Rakhov, when an anonymous woman approached us and said: 'Jews, do you know why you are suffering so much? Because you engage in mundane conversations during prayer and you arrange all your business matters in the synagogue.' That was all she said, and within seconds she disappeared, and no one knew who she was, where she came from or where she went."

On this matter, it is worth noting the words of the Viznitz Rebbe, who delivered an emotional speech at the closing of the Sukkot holiday, and urged the thousands of listeners to be careful about respecting prayer and to turn off their cellphones before entering the synagogue.

"There is one issue that unfortunately many stumble on due to lack of attention. When standing for prayer, one needs to come with a clear heart to stand before Hashem, and when the cellular device is operating in one's pocket, it clearly contradicts this. One sets the device to vibrate so as not to make noise, but in the midst of prayer feels the vibration and looks to see who is seeking them - this is not proper prayer," the Rebbe proclaimed.

"How much more disgraceful it is if during prayer one actually uses their phone, manages their business affairs and directs their workers in their business matters, and it is an even greater sin if one is wearing tefillin and pays no attention. How can this be? Can this be called prayer?!"

The Rebbe added that it is most appropriate to leave the cellular device at home, and not even bring it to the synagogue. The Rebbe said: "I know many who do not take their phones with them at all when they go to pray, even when it is completely turned off, so as not to be tempted, and there are synagogues that do not allow mobile phones at all, but at the very least one must silence it completely so that it is not felt at all, so that one's thoughts are not distracted during prayer."

"There are those who justify that they cannot disconnect from the telephone for a full hour, but this is a false notion," the Rebbe urged his disciples, "One should imagine that they are immersing in the mikveh or even on a long flight of several hours, and they are disconnected from their surroundings without any possibility of communication."