The Denver Jewish news., 1919-01-02
SYNAGOG IN vERDCN STANDS
uNDAMAGED.
GOrfinkle's Letter to DIR. Israeli Tell
of Miraculous Escape.

in that city the Synagos of the jacob
ins unchanged. How this came to
pass is graphically told in the follow
ing letter dated Nov. LIST. received by
| Rev DIR. Phineas Israeli from Captain
Bernard J.. GOrfinkle, president of the
Y. VI. ii. \. of France
My Dear Rabbi:
Altho i have frequently inquired
from my folks as to your health. my
thoughts especially were Of you be
cause of my visit to the celebrated
city of Verdun. Since the beginning
of the war, this has been the gate
way to the lmconQuered section of
France. but it has been defended toe
braycly and costly to permit the Ger.
mans to enter. Consequently. it is
city Of ruins no house stands in
tact. and even TO this day the ter.
rible Huns pour in their destructive
shells.
In the communal centre of this city.
where formerly stood the Hotel de
Vile Getty HalD). Cour de Justice
Court Ho,ise) and other prominent
buildings, there is off to the right
short street with sign post, I'm
passe dies JacObins,' or private way or
blind alley "Of the JacObins." Fac
so that 1t clearly demonstrates the war
motto of this city. "Ils ne passeront
PAS" (They-the Germans-shall not
rass), stands a building practically in
tact. the Synagog Of the Jacobins of
verdun, France.
The building is easily recognized as
House of Worship of our people. for
over the door is seen the large "Shield
of David" and on the very top stands
the Tablets of Stone, with the Com
mandments thereon. Strangely the on
ly damage to the tablets is a nick
which partly Obliterates the Hebrew
letters for the Commandment, Thou
shall rot kill
On either of-thc street the
buildings are complete ruins so that
its surroundings seem To acccntuate
the condition of the Temple. Except
for the damage to the tablets and the
brokeh windows due to cOncussiOn. the
front of the edifice is perfect, tho
huge jagged pieces of shell and shrap-
mel lay all about the approach.
On entering the door to the main
auditorium. ones first impression is.
that this Synagog. is ready for i'm
mediate use The pews with tho names
thereon are still in place; the Ark of
the Torah. of beautiful marble. Us i'm
excellent condition with doors open as
ic rendy to receive the sacred Scrolls.
probably very hastily removed. How
ever. on closer inspection. with ;rir
to the balcony, there is sccn on the
side facing the north. large hole
made by shell which did not enter
and several -other holes in the roof. \
large proportion of the roof. which was
of beautiful glass. is as it was before
the war.
The Hebrew letters Of carved wood
placcd on the walls about the "Rima
are still there. altho an occasional one
may be broken off. Leaning against
the wall of the Ark are two sets of
Menorah candclabra. while near it
picked up section. of the Perpetual
Light. which tho temporarily eNtin-
guished by the hand of a foe. brought
TO my memory. that in the interim
..The sun and moon forever shine
by day T@r
And night they mark the Etcrnals
high design.
Cbangclcss and tirclcs.. speeding on
[ their way.
The sun and moon forever shine.
.Symbols are they of lsrael's chosen
line,
A nation still. tho countless foes com
bine
smittcn by God, and healed by God
are they,
They shall not fear. safe meath 'm
Rock divine.
Nor cease to he, until men cease Il
say,
| The SIM and moon forever shine.
In pleasant weather with few
| hours cleaning, this auditorium l.
| ieady for use.
In the Rabbits study immediately
off the platform, among the debris.
| found the enclosed pages from prayer
books and it is the one with the
| frontispicce of Tefillus Adath Jcsi-
urun. that made me think of you at
| that time.
From the moment one leaves the
Syuagog proper, on either side and
even in the Rabbits home adjoining. al
that is found are ruins. With rock
| aud dnSt ccmaininc to mark the for,