The history of the formation of Israel after the Second World War, its recognition by other states and the recognition of the Jewish people as an ethnic group with its own rights, is not particularly rich in prominent figures. As a rule, few people sympathized with the Jews, and even fewer those who tried to help them. The Jews themselves, who tried to correct the situation during the Second World War, are few at all. It was during this period that such a figure as Duke Yitzhak Aizik appeared.
His contribution to the formation of Israel and the Jewish people as a single independent whole, the Israelis appreciate to this day. Duke Yitzhak, not fearing for his life, crossed the ring, covering Japan, the USA, the USSR, Ireland and many other states on the map, in order to save and withdraw his fellow tribesmen from the fascist threat.
Origin
Duke Itzhak (1888 - year of birth) - the son of Rav Yoel Herzog - was born in the Russian Empire in a city called Lomzha, later ceded to Poland. Ten years later, the family moved to England, as his father was appointed Rabbi of Leeds. In his twenties, Yitzhak received a Jewish letter - smicha. Even in his early years, young Yitzhak Aizik Herzog discovered various talents in himself. The biography of the future rabbi is full of numeroustrips to England and France, where, in parallel with the study of the Torah, he graduated from London and Paris universities. After graduating from them, he perfectly mastered such sciences as mathematics, philosophy, as well as the Semitic language.
Becoming a rabbi
After researching the tkhelet, permission for which Duke Yitzhak received in 1914, he is appointed to the post of rabbi in the Irish city of Belfast. From here began his ascent up the career ladder in the religious world. Already in 1919, Izik became the rabbi of Dublin, and even later, in 1925, he was appointed rabbi of all independent Ireland.
While in this post, Yitzhak Aizik receives a lot of knowledge by communicating with his fellow tribesmen. In a short time, he wins the respect of both Jews and non-Jews. His first prominent act is the lifting of the ban on Jewish slaughter, which has been held in the lands of Ireland for so long.
"White Paper" of the British
During the Second World War, the British government introduces a decree, later called the "White Book", which states (in short) that more than 75,000 Jews are not allowed to stay in British-controlled Palestine for five years. Further entry of Jews is possible only with the consent of the local population (Arabs).
Thus, the White Paper is nothing more than a refusal to help the Jews, perceived by the Jewish people themselves as the indifference of the British authorities to them. In other words, the doors of salvation were closed and the Jews were left for the Nazi slaughter.
Of course, other countries also supported England. So, for example, in a Turkish port, Jewish refugees from the Struma ship, who managed to escape from the clutches of the fascist holocaust, were denied landing. After keeping the ship in the port for a long time, the Turkish authorities gave the order to tow it away, which promised death for all its passengers.
The ship was very battered and was not able to move in the waters, which contributed to its sinking. Of the eight hundred, only two survived. According to some reports, it is alleged that the Struma was sunk by a Russian submarine, which mistook the ship for a fascist warship.
Yitzhak's protest
With the advent of Churchill to the presidency, the question of canceling the White Paper was raised at a meeting, but there were no people willing to cancel this decree, with the exception of one insignificant politician.
However, not all Jews were left to wait for their death. Formations arose that fought against the English ruling, such as the Lehi. Their plan was to expel the British from Eretz Israel in order to open a passage for the Jews to Palestine. But their actions were never successful. Although many historians argue that these were futile actions. After all, with the departure of the British, the only thing that shone for Eretz-Israel was the arrival of the Germans.
Duke Yitzhak took an active part in saving the Jewish people in this situation, starting with numerous conversations with leaders of states, including a reception at Churchill's, and ending with the White Paper being torn in half byentrance to Yeshurun synagogue.
Helping the Jewish people through the Holocaust
There was not a single European anti-Hitler state that Yitzhak Aizik would not visit in an attempt to save his people. His biography also includes various trips to the USA and southern Africa. He demanded that the American authorities start bombing the "death camps", in the USSR he achieved a corridor for refugees to Japan and Eretz-Israel. Yitzhak visited Palestine, ignoring numerous excuses when the Nazi units were about to enter it. After the end of the war, he traveled around Europe for a long time, helping Jews immigrate to Israel, collecting Jewish children from the monasteries that sheltered them during the Holocaust.
To this day, many synagogues sing prayers composed by Yitzhak Aizik Herzog.
