“The soul and the hour meet each other. What is given to us, we have to do.” These were the comforting words by world-renowned rabbi and concentration camp survivor at Theresienstadt, Leo Baeck, who was known as “The Pope of German Jews.” Baeck realized it was essential to keep one’s faith and put it into action during his stay in the concentration camp.

Leo Baeck was born on May 23, 1873. He grew up in a time when anti-Semitism was a kept a secret in Germany. After Germany’s defeat in WWI, he watched as anti-Jewish thoughts spread, and as they ultimately led to the murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust. Baeck was sent to Theresienstadt, which held nearly 60,000 Jews and anyone else the Nazi’s persecuted. In the camp, Baeck helped other prisoners that suffered from an infectious disease known as typhus. He also wrote parts of a book that were later published. Then, he learned about the horrid taking place in the camps, especially at Auschwitz. Baeck chose not to share his newly acquired news for he feared it would only overwhelm them. He wanted to keep their hopes alive. Then, as the war ended on April 30, 1945, and a week after Hitler’s suicide, Bae

In Germany post WWI the economy was in ruins. The German people were unemployed and becoming bankrupt. The farmers were hurting and feared they would fall into the lower class. They blamed the economic downturn on unemployed people being unwilling to work. By this time, the German government had fallen apart and new elections were held. Adolf Hitler and his National Socialist Party won the election, becoming the second largest political party. Many Germans thought Hitler was a man who believed in something that they agreed with. He wanted radical change that differed from those offered by the other parties. However, people in Germany lacked the erudition needed to see what Hitler really was. They did not understand most of the ideas that Hitler believed in the past were nonsense, and that Hitler lacked in certain areas. This left too many Germans in the dark, which left them vulnerable to Hitler. The people had voted for a dangerous man they knew nothing about. Hitler called for a stronger Germany and refusal to pay reparations to France. He promised to restore Germany's borders, and give the unemployed jobs and food. Hitler was to the German people, a “common man” who disliked the “demons” of Germany. Since the end of WWI, the German population was in no mood for war, but they still elected the most dangerous man to ever come under power. They had his book, or journal, called Mein Kompf, which stated exactly what Hitler would do to the Jews if he were elected to power. Yet they still fell into his grasp. Even though they disagreed on some levels, the people still listened to Adolf Hitler and his hate-filled speeches about how the Jews were to blame for Germany’s economic downfall. The people just needed a person who sounded like they knew what they were doing to get Germany back on its feet. At the time, Adolf Hitler was just it. The German people were to blame for the Holocaust ever taking place.

ck was freed from the camp. Eleven years later, Baeck died on November 2. In his honor, the German government issued a postage stamp with his picture.

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