Rabbi Taub passed away on Sunday at the age of 96, just days before Israel will mark Yom HaShoah, its national Holocaust remembrance day.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his “deep sorrow” over Rabbi Taub’s passing
“The Hasidic Admor (Rebbe) survived the horrors of the Holocaust and dedicated himself to rebuilding the world of Torah in the State of Israel and among the Jewish Diaspora. At the same time, he was tirelessly engaged in enshrining the memory of the Holocaust, especially the triumph of the impressive spirit in the ghettos and camps,” the Israeli premier stated.
“The passing of the Admor of Kaliv close to Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day strengthens our eternal commitment – to remember and not forget,” he added.
President Reuven Rivlin said that he “received with deep sadness” the news of Rabbi Taub’s passing, the “Holocaust Admor who suffered terribly as an inmate at Auschwitz and dedicated his life to the memory of the victims, inspired by a true love of Israel.”
“The Admor gave voice the spiritual heroism of Jews during the Holocaust and did all he could to honor the memory of its victims. His work has particular resonance at present as we redouble our commitment to remember and never to forget,” he added.
Rabbi Taub, born in 1921 a scion of several Hassidic dynasties, was sent to the Auschwitz death camp in 1944 together with his five siblings. He was the only survivor.
While in Auschwitz, he underwent experiments by the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele. The experiments left him unable to grow a beard. He never had children.
He and his wife, whom he married before the Holocaust, immigrated to Israel in 1962.
He was active in speaking about the Holocaust and frequently invoked the memory of the Jewish martyrs and their strong belief until their last moments.
He promoted the knowledge of the history of the Holocaust among the Ultra-Orthodox community and introduced several initiatives, including the unique Shema Yisrael Holocaust encyclopedia, to encourage this objective of remembering rabbis and yeshiva students who clung to the religious commandments until the end.
(TPS)
