|
Henry Oertelt was a founding member of Beth Jacob. In his autobiography, An Unbroken Chain: My Journey Through the Nazi Holocaust, he recounts his path through horrific dangers, and how, having survived, he and his family settled in St. Paul. The closing passage of the book describes his active involvement in Beth Jacob, and how it helped him to move “from destruction to creation!” Henry’s reflections on Beth Jacob bring together both meanings of “avodah” - work and worship:
… When Beth Jacob Congregation was founded I was a member of the board of directors. In that capacity I also served on the building committee, assisting in planning for a brand new synagogue.
In Germany I witnessed the horrifying destruction of my and other synagogues. The chance now to actively involve myself, and to watch the step by step creation of a new synagogue meant for me the exciting arrival of a moment in a cycle from destruction to creation! For me, this was gratifying.
My original profession, after having helped me survive the camps, came in handy once more. The sanctuary contains the ahmud (podium) that was designed and hand-crafted jointly by two fine craftsmen and me. I personally designed and built the two walnut-wooden holders for the Torah scrolls…
Along with his work on the original Torah ahmud, our sanctuary is constructed beneath one more reminder of Henry’s formative role in the congregation. As he notes, he also served on the original building committee. A pivotal moment in the committee’s work came when the architects first showed the delighted members sketches of the building they had in mind. After viewing the “elevations” the committee took a short break. During the interlude Henry quietly took the chairs of the committee aside to explain that the proposed clerestory above the bimah lent the building an outline hauntingly similar to the concentration camp barracks where he had been held. When the meeting reconvened, Henry was asked to explain what he had shared with the chairs. Stunned and sobered, the committee and architects pondered how to proceed. It was then that one of the participants asked if adding a cap above the proposed clerestory windows changed anything, and when the sketch was modified, Henry assured the committee that with this alteration the apparition vanished.
So it is that the windows over our Bima acquired a kupah/dome above them. Or perhaps it’s a kippah. Thank you, dear Henry.
Earl Schwartz
| 
