The Glorious Holy Ark of Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin Rises Again at the Amit High School Yeshiva in Ashdod
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory” – The soul-stirring voices of hundreds of students from Amit Yeshiva in Ashdod resonate powerfully throughout the sanctuary, their eyes lifted in reverence toward the majestic Holy Ark. When I joined their Mincha prayer on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, I was immediately enveloped by the profound spiritual energy that permeates every corner of this sacred space. Is it the breathtaking Ark – a painstaking recreation of the Holy Ark from Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin that was brutally destroyed by the Nazis, or perhaps the inspiring educational vision of the Yeshiva’s devoted leader – Rabbi Shalom Malul?
“Am Yisrael Chai” – From the Darkness of Holocaust to the Light of Revival
I met with Rabbi Malul, the passionate head of Amit Yeshiva in Ashdod, for a heart-to-heart conversation before Holocaust Remembrance Day. In the predawn hours, he had returned from an emotional pilgrimage to Poland with his 12th-grade students, coming directly to the Yeshiva from the airport, his spirit undimmed despite his exhaustion. Hanging in his office is a deeply moving painting by Holocaust survivor Etelka Heiman from Chernivtsi – a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers with a small, poignant portrait of the artist in the corner. “True education speaks volumes even in silence,” says Rabbi Malul, his eyes glistening with emotion. “Without a single word needed. Our students sit here, gaze upon this painting, and their hearts learn the profound truth about our journey from Holocaust to rebirth.”
A Sacred Vision Reborn from the Ashes
“When we built this sanctuary,” the Rabbi shares, his voice thick with emotion, “I dreamed that our Holy Ark would faithfully honor the one from Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin – a powerful symbol of the Jewish renaissance that flourished in 1920 only to be violently extinguished in 1940.” With a voice that trembles with remembered pain, Rabbi Malul recounts the heartbreaking moment: “The Nazis desecrated the Yeshiva and callously burned thousands of sacred texts in the city square. In a final act of cruelty, they even summoned a military band to drown out the anguished weeping of the Jewish witnesses forced to watch this sacrilege.”
Today, in the vibrant halls of Yeshivat Amit in Ashdod, this magnificent Ark lives again – lovingly recreated by the master craftsmen and dedicated engineers of Lavi Furniture Industries, using faded photographs and meticulous research into the
sacred artistry of early 20th century European Holy Arks. The soul-stirring design was brought to life by Avraham Fried. The renowned Lavi Company, world leaders in creating sanctuaries of prayer and study, also faithfully reproduced the cantor’s platform exactly as it stood in Chachmei Lublin, along with the traditional Yeshiva benches and bookshelves where new generations now continue the ancient tradition of Torah study.
“The eternal flame of Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin burns brightly within our hearts,” Rabbi Malul declares with passionate conviction. “We too nurture the seeds of profound learning and courageous leadership. We have triumphed over the darkest night that engulfed Yeshivat Chachmei Lublin and the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust. We stand here today, living testament to an undeniable truth: Am Yisrael Chai – the people of Israel LIVE!”
A Torah Scroll’s Sacred Journey: From Devastation to Renewal
In the wake of the heartbreaking October 7 tragedy, the Yeshiva received a precious gift that speaks across generations – a Torah scroll that miraculously survived the destruction of a European synagogue, lovingly purchased by Rabbi Michael Beyo together with his JCC Arizona community. During the terrible darkness of World War II, a portion of this sacred parchment was damaged, and in a beautiful act of healing, Rabbi Michael Beyo joined with Amit Yagel Yeshiva Ashdod to restore the scroll in the presence of the Yeshiva’s students. This deeply moving ceremony of renewal took place at the Nova party site, transforming a place of recent trauma into a space of sacred remembrance and hope.
Now, this Torah scroll – bearing within its sacred letters both the painful memories of the Holocaust and the fresh wounds of October 7 – rests with dignity in the Yeshiva’s magnificent Holy Ark. “This embodies our deepest educational truth,” Rabbi Malul concludes, his eyes shining with fierce determination. “Despite all the destruction, despite the unfathomable pain – we endure. We rise. We continue. Am Yisrael Chai – the people of Israel LIVE!”
