A Gimps of Jewish Faith, Shining Bright in the Darkest Time

Melava Malka with Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin, during his trial, and 12 days before his conviction. October 31, 2009. Postville, Iowa.

For years on end, every Motzei Shabbos, Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin and his wife Leah, would host a Melava Malka at their Postville home.

Attending would be the Bochurem from the local Mesiva (high School) which he supported, as well as anyone else from the small Shtetl who wanted to participate.

Sholom Mordechai would relate a Chasidic tale, as is customary, and sing beautiful Zmiros with the crowd. Occasionally, there would be music and dancing as well.

In late October of 2008, Sholom Mordechai was arrested on charges that would later all be dropped. Two weeks later, Sholom Mordechai was arrested a second time, this time on charges that he would eventually be sentenced, for 27 years in prison R”L. During those months, the weekly Melava Malkos would continue to take place, only with more vigor and strength.

Two weeks later Sholom Mordechai was arrested a second time, this time on charges that he would eventually be sentence, for 27 years in prison R”L.

He was initially denied release on bail based on the Anti Semitic claim that as a Jew he posed a flight risk to Israel, due to Israel’s “law of return.” After being imprisoned for two and a half months, the ruling was reversed and Sholom Mordechai returned home.

The darker his future seemed, the brighter his faith shined. During those ten months, a week would not pass without joyous dancing at each Melava Malka.

12 days after this video was recorded, Sholom Mordechai was once again imprisoned after being convicted of bank fraud. In June of 2010, Judge Linda Reade handed out the cruel, harsh, and unprecedented sentence of 27 years behind bars.

But that did not change Sholom Mordechai. In the moments before being thrown into his cell, he penned a letter to the students that came to support him, stating: “I am unshaken in my faith of Hashem. I am an Eved Hashem and accept what comes.”

A little over 8 years later, on Wednesday, December 20, 2017, during the last day of Chanukah 5778, President Trump commuted Sholom Mordechai’s sentence, immediately releasing him, and reuniting him with his family, friends and community.

Watch this video to get a glimpse of a human-being experiencing and displaying unshakable and genuine faith in G-d. See what heavenly faith can accomplish. Discover the potential each and every one of us has to also obtain such faith, though may G-d never test us this way.