The Silent Hero of Siberia: Rabbi Yaakov Galinsky’s Unshakable Integrity

A Loaf of Bread, A Test of Faith

During his time in a Siberian labor camp, the late Rabbi Yaakov Galinsky purchased a food voucher from a fellow Jewish prisoner, hoping to buy a small piece of bread to sustain himself. Unbeknownst to him, the voucher had been stolen from the camp office.

When the authorities discovered a voucher was missing, suspicion fell on Rabbi Galinsky. He explained that he had bought it honestly and paid in full. But when asked to reveal the seller’s name, he refused.

Torture and Resolve

The interrogators threatened him: if he didn’t disclose the man’s identity, they would crush his fingers in the door. Still, Rabbi Galinsky stood firm. They carried out their threat. For the rest of his life, he bore the scars of that day, physical reminders of his moral courage.

Frustrated by his silence, one of the investigators screamed, “Everyone breaks under me. Why won’t you?” In a fit of rage, he hurled an inkwell at Rabbi Galinsky’s head. Rabbi Galinsky ducked, and the ink splattered across the wall. The officer, enraged, threw him to the ground and beat him mercilessly, but Rabbi Galinsky did not speak.

A Reunion and Forgiveness

Years later, after his release and immigration to Israel, Rabbi Galinsky was walking through Tel Aviv when he saw the very man who had sold him the voucher. The man approached him, filled with guilt, and admitted his wrongdoing. He asked for forgiveness.

Rabbi Galinsky’s response was immediate and sincere: “I forgive you with all my heart.”

In the face of unimaginable pressure, Rabbi Yaakov Galinsky upheld his values with quiet bravery. His silence in Siberia echoed louder than any confession, and his forgiveness, decades later, was a testament to the greatness of his spirit.