A new book describing the history of the last years of the
Mir Yeshiva in Europe has recently been published. The book
describes the Mir's rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and
mashgichim. It spans the period of the yeshiva's exile
during both the First and Second World Wars, when it wandered
to Vilna and later to Kaidan and other Lithuanian cities.
The book describes the miraculous rescue of the yeshiva
students and rabbonim along with other refugees in World War
II as they fled Russia via Japan and settled in Shanghai. It
pays tribute to those who played a role in saving this
incomparable Torah institution. On its title page the book
announces that it covers: The great flowering in the
difficult years 5678 (1918)-5699 (1939); The nissim
and niflo'os in the years of destruction 5700 (1940)-
5746 (1946); The shining from the East in the years
following the destruction.
The four hundred pages of the book's first volume contain
factual information and historical documents along with
numerous photographs from all periods of the yeshiva's
existence. Excerpts from the book have been previously cited
in articles in Yated Ne'eman. Mishor Publishers of
Bnei Brak published this fascinating work.
Previously unpublished first-person accounts are included, as
well as extensive documentation and original letters. There
is a complete list of the students of Mir in Shanghai, as
well a list of talmidim in the mechina
established in Shanghai and the 34 students of Yeshivas
Chachmei Lublin and the 27 of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim of
Lubavitch. Many pictures from Europe and Shanghai, some
familiar and some new, are included, and all the
talmidim in the pictures are identified, where this
was possible.
The publisher asks that whoever wishes to add to the book or
to offer constructive criticism prior to the release of the
next two volumes should address his comments to Rabbi A.
Bernstein, 10 Admor of Belz Street, Bnei Brak, telephone: 03-
6193467.
