Escaping The Holocaust

This month marks the 70^th anniversary of the arrival of the Kastner train in Switzerland. During the Holocaust, Rudolph Kastner, a Jewish-Hungarian journalist negotiated a deal with Nazi SS Colonel Adolf Eichmann. Kastner arranged for a train to rescue nearly 1,700 Jews from Nazi persecution. In exchange, Eichmann demanded Kastner supply about $1,000 per passenger. The journey, which included a five-month stop at the infamous Bergen-Bensen concentration camp in Germany, was finally completed in December of 1944. Rabbi DovZviSlanger, founder of the BaisHaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore, a Jewish high school, was one of the passengers on that train. He was just 10 years old. He joins Sheilah to talk about his journey from Budapest to Baltimore. 

Rabbi Slanger's high school and Rabbinical college will be holding a Gala of Gratitude this Sunday at Beth Tfiloh in Baltimore to commemorate the 70^th anniversary of Rabbi  Slanger’s arrival in Switzerland. Reception begins at 5 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 6 p.m. Click here for more information about the event.