“Dear Folks, There are few words to describe the euphoria here. It began like this”

Title: Witness to a Six-Day Miracle

Location: Jerusalem, Israel

Document: Letter

Time: June 1967

IN its early decades, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim functioned mainly as a kollel for young married men and drew most of its student body from the local population. In 1960, for example, there were fewer than 200 talmidim, of whom 75% were married. Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel had constructed a three-story beis medrash near the bottom of the Beis Yisrael neighborhood, and many wondered if it would ever be completely filled.

By 1967, there was a small contingent of American talmidim in Mir Yerushalayim, and, situated as they were on the front lines of the conflict, they witnessed the miraculous events of the Six Day War.

Back in November 1948, when the battle of Jerusalem ended, Israeli general Moshe Dayan met Abdullah el-Tell, the Jordanian commander of the Arab Legion, in a home in Jerusalem’s Musrara neighborhood. With a map of the city spread on the table, they drew a cease-fire line based on their respective military positions. Dayan used a green pencil, giving rise to the term “Green Line.” The space between their lines, including the thickness of the pencil lines, became no-man’s-land, dividing Jerusalem between Israel and Jordan.

The Meah Shearim and Beis Yisrael neighborhoods were right on the border, with no-man’s-land running the length of today’s Sderot Bar-Lev (a.k.a. Kvish Echad). Just one block from Yeshivas Mir stood Mandelbaum Gate, the only official crossing point between the two sides of the city for 19 years.

When Jordan joined the Six Day War on June 5, 1967, with a massive artillery bombardment on Israeli Jerusalem, Yeshivas Mir was in the direct line of fire. Israeli tank columns and paratroopers crossed no-man’s-land at several points around the city. Heavy fighting took place not far from the Beis Yisrael neighborhood. Anyone around Yeshivas Mir during this dangerous time was effectively in the crosshairs as a battle for the ancient Holy City raged nearby.

One of those Mir talmidim was a 22-year-old from Brooklyn named Yechiel Michel Chill. The Mir connection ran deep in the Chill family. His father, Rabbi Samuel Joseph Chill, rav of the Kingsway Jewish Center in Flatbush, was one of the few American yeshivah students who crossed the Atlantic to study in Mir, Poland, between 1937 and 1940. He’d maintain a lifelong connection with his alma mater, working with the Vaad Hatzalah to assist the Mir in Shanghai during the war and their subsequent entry to the United States; fundraising for its rebuilding in Jerusalem; and maintaining a lifelong relationship with the roshei yeshivah, Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel and his son Rav Beinush.

Yechiel Michel Chill was born in 1944 and named for his great-grandfather Rav Yechiel Michel Leiter (1864–1933), the Dunaiver Rav, a prominent leader and posek in Galicia who moved to the United States after World War I. Growing up in Flatbush, young Yechiel Michel often assisted his father in outreach efforts among the less affiliated in the community. He spent summers in Camp Munk, where he gained much educational experience from both the Munks and Rabbi Josh Silbermintz. He attended Yeshiva of Eastern Parkway, followed by a stint in Yeshiva Chaim Berlin (then located in East New York), where he enjoyed a close relationship with Rav Yitzchok Hutner. Though uncommon for the time, his obvious next stop would be Mir Yerushalayim.

Upon arriving there, Yechiel Michel felt right at home, and quickly developed close relationships with Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, Rav Beinush Finkel, and Rav Nachum Partzovitz, all of whom held his father in high esteem. His time at the Mir coincided with the Six Day War, and the historic events that unfolded around him left a deep impression on him for the rest of his life.

On May 15, Egyptian dictator Gamal Abdel Nasser deployed troops in the Sinai near Israel’s border. He followed this a few days later with the closing of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping. This was a casus belli, and war was inevitable. The three-week period that followed — the tekufat hahamtanah (waiting period) — was a tense time for Jews in Israel and worldwide.

A close relative of Rav Michel Chill related to us, “His parents wanted him to come home when war talk started. He didn’t want to, but to placate them, he bought a ticket, although he didn’t plan on using it. He wandered around during the war, and really desired to go to the Kosel [following its liberation], but he knew his parents would fear for his safety. His father was very concerned when they were unable to contact him during the war, and he reached out to the US ambassador, and even to the head of the Tel Aviv stock exchange, with whom he was acquainted, to no avail. Two days later he was located, and a very relieved Rav Beinush called his parents to inform them that he was safe.”

That young bochur, who would go on to serve with distinction in rabbanus in Monsey for decades, wrote a letter to his parents after the war recounting what he had seen and heard. Shortly after Rabbi Chill’s passing last month, a family member emailed us, knowing we would be interested in such a historic letter. The family member noted two interesting things about the letter that would not be obvious to a casual reader:

1) It was addressed “Dear folks.” The family member pointed out that all the other letters Rabbi Chill had written to his his parents over the years were addressed “Dear Dad and Mom.”

2) After his signature he appended “eid” (witness). The family member adds, “And he requests in the letter to please make sure to spread the letter so the world can hear what happened, which is why it was addressed to ‘folks.’ ”

The family member also pointed out that Rabbi Chill was able to finagle a press pass to become one of the first Jewish visitors to the Kosel following the war. “He talked about this a lot when he was alive.”

Rabbi Chill’s letter follows below. It is a primary historic document offering a firsthand, real-time account of the events that transpired. We have retained the original language with only occasional editorial clarification in brackets.

Dear Folks,

There are few words to describe the euphoria here. It began like this.

On Monday at 8:00, we heard fighting had started in Gaza with Egypt. At 8:45, Rav Nachum [Partzovitz] started shiur, but he couldn’t keep his mind on the Gemara and every minute commented on the situation. Right after shiur I ran to the travel agent on [Rechov] Yaffo, got my ticket with no reservation, [my friend] Lazer and I went to the consulate and found out nothing about evacuation.

Walking back, we saw soldiers going up a roof where the #15 bus from Rechavia turns onto Yaffo. We walked on Yaffo [and] mamish three minutes later at 11:15 it started from around that roof. We ran toward the Mir and saw it was too dangerous and went into a miklat.

At 12:30 we decided to try again for the yeshiva. We were stopped by haganah ezrachit (civil defense) men. We went to Chevron Yeshiva instead, it turned out to be a very smart thing. We learned and ate there. All the while, all one heard was machine gun fire and shells falling.

We were having 2nd thoughts about staying so long in Eretz Yisrael. I was able to sleep a little at night — Lazer almost nothing. At 2:30am hell broke loose as shells were falling like crazy. We said Tehillim for ½ hr. The morning brought no silence even during tefillah. On the hour we listened to [radio] Kol Yisrael tell about Israeli victories. Over 400 enemy planes destroyed — 300 [in] Egypt. Unbelievable. On all fronts we were winning.

More Tehillim. A bris in the morning in the [Chevron] yeshivah. At 12:15, I felt it safe to go to the Mir. They were real happy to see me. It was still dangerous but not very noisy. Rav Chaim [Shmuelevitz] gave me shalom and asked how I was. They told me of the nissim that happened. Two direct hits were on the building — one right through the rosh yeshivah zatzal apartment and one in the corner of the Beis Medrash. The roof was also hit direct and a piece is missing. Shells were falling all around and some said vidui. At 2:00 they said Tehillim for 1 1⁄2 hours. In the afternoon they announced on Kol Yisrael about no injuries — neiss chasdei Mir and the hits.

At 3pm I decided to go to the Post Office on Yaffo to send the telegram. In the morning after tefillah I was sure I wouldn’t leave now. I even made a kabbala during eiss tzarah. I feel so much pride it’s indescribable. At night back in the Mir we heard BBC and the conflicting reports. We knew the truth would have to be told soon.

I slept in the otzar [seforim] the second night and was mispallel kivasikim with Rav Chaim and Rav Nachum. Afterwards I went to the shuk and bought 6 bottles of [juice] for the yeshivah. The hour 6:30-7:30 we watched the planes bombing Jordan near the Old City.

It is ours now and tonight — Wednesday night — [Chief Rabbi Rav Isser Yehuda] Unterman and [Prime Minister Levi] Eshkol went to Kosel Hamaaravi. I can’t wait. Afterwards we were talking to Rav Nachum who is a panic on world politics.

At 10:00 I went to Kikar Shabbos and took pictures and watched and cheered. The place was mobbed and roses were thrown at soldiers. Frum and Frei are one now. At 11:30 I went to Mandelbaum [Gate] and saw the Yerushalmi Nazir [Rav David Cohen was one of the prime students of Rav Kook and was known as the “Rav Hanazir”] go to the Kosel.

At about 12:15 not 30 feet from me a mine went off and people began to run. I too but for a second there, I turned to take a picture. A few seconds later another mine went off.

I went back to the yeshivah and learned. At 1 we heard a BBC report giving most of the true facts. I went to sleep till 5, after talking with Rav Beinush [Finkel] who had taynos on me for buying a ticket. I told him it wouldn’t be used. Everyone admits that Milchemet Sinai [the 1956 Sinai Campaign] pales compared to this. Baruch Hashem. It’s funny but almost all realize that Hashem was responsible for [words missing]. Soldiers were saying Baruch Hashem for real. Stories are plentiful. Tonight the bochurim of Chevron [Yeshivah] were dancing at Kikar Shabbos singing “Yibaneh hamikdash ihr Tzion timaleh.”

I called Grandma tonight and reassured her. She was so happy. It is just fantastic, and I’ll never forget it my whole life. The story of the bomber who maneuvered on top of a Mitzri MiG [jet] and dropped a bomb right on him. The ruach all over Yerushalayim — bring on Russia. The holes in buildings all over Yerushalayim.

And yet the sorrow for many dead, so young, so Jewish, so courageous. The price of victory was great and it was all Israeli blood spilled, and the U.N. has no right in this war. UNEF caused it all and the nations of the world sat quiet. We are great because “asher bachar banu.” We have Ir Ha’atikah [the Old City]. We have [the city of] Chevron and Kever Shmuel [Hanavi]. The news reported that we were 10 miles from [the] Suez [Canal] and at 10:00 am we had… key Jordanian air base 25 miles in Jordan.

There’s so much more but I want to learn now. I am calm and dying to get back to learning. Read this letter to everyone you can find and be proud of what a Jew is. The world will never forget this but as I wrote earlier on a pad, “To almost all, only the experience will remain, but the lesson — emunah in Hashem — will be forgotten.”

Ashira laHashem ki gamal alai, Hashem hu Ha’elokim, Shma yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem echad, Hashem melech, Hashem malach, Hashem yimloch le’olam va’ed.

Signed,

Yechiel Michel Chill, witness

A Life Devoted to his People

Following his years in Mir Yerushalayim, Rav Yechiel Michel Chill returned home and married Claire Wurzberger, a granddaughter of the longtime president of KAJ in Washington Heights, Dr. Raphael Moller. The young couple returned to live in Israel, where Rabbi Chill continued his studies at Mir. He also assisted his friend Rav Yitzchak Soloveitchik in establishing his own yeshivah in Jerusalem.

Following their return to New York, Rabbi Chill was hired as the menahel and 12^th-grade rebbi in the Peekskill yeshivah. He served in the rabbinate for decades, first in the Young Israel of Spring Valley and later in New Hempstead. Devoted to chinuch in all areas, he served as a rebbi in Toras Emes-Kaminetz in Boro Park and also owned the girls summer camp La Ruach. In addition, he served as the chaplain for Jewish prisoners in the Greenhaven Correctional Facility. He is survived by his ten children and his beloved wife Rebbetzin Yehudis.

A Brother’s Love

In the 1980s, Rabbi Chill and his wife were dispatched by the Vaad l’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel to the Soviet Union to smuggle in much-needed religious articles and meet the spiritual needs of Jews there. The Chills spent over two weeks distributing mezuzos, tefillin, tzitzis, Chumashim, and other seforim, while delivering Torah classes and meeting Jews yearning for a deeper connection to Yiddishkeit.

While there he also wrote several desperately needed gittin. During the entire visit, he and his wife had the nerve-wracking experience of being followed by the KGB, and had to exercise extreme caution in their bugged hotel rooms. He advised a group of young Jewish college students to apply for visas to the US and to small colleges, where they could possibly obtain full scholarships, to facilitate their emigration from the Soviet Union.

Sometime after Rabbi Chill’s return from his Soviet journey, he got a call from one of those students, who had somehow made it to Ithaca College in upstate New York. Rabbi Chill and a friend immediately loaded his car with religious materials — tefillin, tzitzis, basic seforim, etc. — and drove up to Ithaca. He later kept in touch with this student, who subsequently embraced a fully religiously observant lifestyle. In fact, his roommate also became a baal teshuvah. Seeing two rabbis drive all that way to help another Jew inspired the roommate to adopt Orthodox Judaism.

Much thanks to the family of Rav Michel Chill for providing the information and incredible exhibit for this article.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 995)