Harav Alexander Ziskind, known as the Yesod V’Shoresh HaAvodah, was a great tzaddik and yarei shamayim who lived in the city of Horodna during the era of the Vilna Gaon. During his time, a vicious blood libel was instigated against Eliezer ben Shlomo , an unassuming Jew in his city.

The story began when Eliezer was traveling on his wagon and noticed a deep ditch at the roadside. There was a gentile woman standing inside the pit, apparently trying to find something that had fallen inside. However, the earth around the top of the ditch kept collapsing on top of her. She coughed incessantly, trapped by the choking embrace of the dust clouds.

Seeing the woman’s distress, and recognizing the danger she was in, Eliezer jumped off his wagon to try to rescue her from her premature grave. As he peered into the pit, he could see that the sand had already filled the space around her and was rapidly closing in, ready to bury her alive. Freeing her would be a struggle, but Eliezer was determined not to allow another human being to suffocate to death.

While he toiled unsuccessfully to free the woman from the ditch, more travelers noticed the commotion and stopped off to see what was going on. They took in the scene: a Jewish man leaning over a pit, his hands blackened with earth, and a gentile woman trapped inside, choking to death as clouds of sand billowed around her.

To the newcomers, the facts seemed clear. The Jew had clearly killed the gentile woman by suffocating her in the pit! Despite Shlomo’s vehement assertion that he had only been trying to rescue her, they refused to believe him, unwilling to give up their more exciting narrative: that he’d been trying to kill her in order to use her blood for his Passover matzos. The fact that Pesach was just a few days away seemed to lend credence to their theory.

Eliezer continued to maintain his innocence, desperately trying to convince them of his noble intentions, but his words fell on deaf ears. The gentiles had found a scapegoat for their murderous hate, and they were not about to give him up. They dragged the poor Jew to the police station, where he was duly incarcerated to await trial.

When the Jewish community discovered Eliezer’s plight, they hurried to do everything possible to secure his release from prison. It was clear to them, as it was to Eliezer, that his trial would be anything but fair and just, and its outcome was unlikely to bode well. They hoped to be able to ransom him from prison before the story led to more heartache and grief, both for Eliezer individually and for the entire community as a whole.

However, their efforts were in vain. It had been a long time since the gentiles had last tasted Jewish blood, and they were eager to see the entire story through to the very end. All attempts at bribery and lobbying fell flat.

Between Pesach and Shavuos, a trial was held. From the start, it was obvious that the case had been rigged against the defendant. So-called ‘eye-witnesses’ were called to the stand, and they brazenly testified that they’d seen Eliezer throw the gentile woman into the pit. They described, in detail, how Eliezer had rained sand down upon her until he murdered her.

Eliezer, when called upon to defend himself, protested that this wasn’t true, declaring his innocence and explaining that he’d only been trying to save her life. “I saw a woman struggling to free herself from the quicksand, and I couldn’t leave without trying to get her out,” he cried. “I tried my best, but unfortunately, I was not successful in saving her.”

His passionate words did not succeed in moving the stone hearts of the jury. Unanimously, they ruled that he was guilty of murder, and the judge sentenced him to death by burning. “You will be burned alive, limb by limb, as your body screams out in excruciating pain,” the judge announced coldly.

He looked at Eliezer, whose eyes were closed in fear. “However,” he said in a softer, gentler tone. “I will give you a way out of this horrific death. With the murder of the woman, you caused the world to have one Catholic less. Now, I am giving you the opportunity to convert to our faith and become a Catholic in her stead. Doing so will allow you to atone for your terrible deed, and you will be spared death.”

Eliezer did not need any time to think it over. “No,” he said firmly. “I will never renounce my faith and the faith of my fathers. I was born a Jew, and I will die a Jew.”

With that, the guards seized the condemned Jew and threw him back into his prison cell, where he would await his sentence. It would take some time to organize the burning, which was to be a public affair attended by a large crowd of eager gentiles.

When the community found out about the Eliezer’s sentence, they redoubled their spiritual efforts to try to save him. People soaked their sifrei Tehillim with tears as they pleaded before Hashem to save the innocent Jew. Gatherings were held and communal tefillos were recited. On the physical front, however, there wasn’t much they could do for Eliezer. With the gentiles thirsting for Jewish blood, people were afraid to start up with them lest they become the next victim.

The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah was the only one who was not afraid to venture into the lion’s den and visit Eliezer in prison. Amazingly, the gentiles seemed afraid to start up with him, and they allowed him in to see the condemned man. Eliezer was sitting on the floor of his cell, chained, his face withdrawn.

With encouraging words, the Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah tried to uplift Eliezer’s spirits. “We are still trying our best to get you out of here,” he said soothingly. “But, in the event that our efforts are unsuccessful, I want you to remember that there is only one Hashem, and He is the one Who orchestrated these events just to lead up to this point. You, Eliezer, were chosen by Hashem himself to atone for the entire city. It is a merit that is not easily achieved.”

Eliezer began to weep. “I don’t want to die,” he cried out. “But I know that the biggest thing one can do is to die al Kiddush Hashem.”

The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah continued to encourage and strengthen Eliezer with words of chizuk and inspiration, and then he turned to something practical. With tears in his eyes, he taught Eliezer the berachah that one recites when he is killed to sanctify the name of Hashem. The imprisoned Jew memorized the blessing in a choked voice, subtly preparing himself for the day when he would merit his personal akeidas Yitzchak.

Then, he asked the Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah to bless him, and the great tzaddik did so. “I will continue to daven that you should not have any pain, and that you should merit to remain strong until the end,” the sage said in parting.

On the second day of Shavuos, while the Jews of Horodna were in shul for shacharis, a loud buzz went around the room. Word had reached them that Eliezer’s burning was about to take place, right then as they were davening, and a hushed commotion ensued. Eliezer was one of them, a neighbor, a friend, a fellow congregant. The news that he would now be put to death had a profound effect on the shaken Jews.

At the same time, they knew that it was an especially dangerous time for the entire community. The gentile bloodsuckers would not be content with one death, and any Jew that they encountered was likely to meet a grisly fate. The safest option was for the Jews to head home immediately and bar themselves in their houses, remaining out of sight until the danger passed.

The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah, however, felt differently. “I will go to the burning,” he said, “Because I want to answer amen to the holy berachah Eliezer will recite. There is nothing greater than giving one’s life for Hashem, and I want to merit responding amen to that blessing.”

The other Jews were astounded and afraid. They held tightly to his tallis, trying to prevent him from leaving and exposing himself to terrible danger, but the tzaddik shrugged off their fears. “The value of this amen is worth the risk. Hashem will be with me.”

And so, as the entire Jewish community of Horodna bunkered down in their homes, their shutters drawn and their movements silent, the Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah went to the town square to be present at the burning. Wearing his tallis proudly, he did not even attempt to hide his Jewish identity.

When the gentile crowd saw him coming, they instinctively parted, allowing him to walk to the front, where he would be visible to Eliezer. Eliezer, on his end, was crying profusely on the stage, terrified of the moment when his sentence would be carried out.

From his place just before Eliezer, the Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah was able to comfort him, reminding him of his lofty mission as a karban tzibbur for the entire community. “Every angel in Shamayim is waiting to welcome you warmly. You will not feel any pain!” He continued speaking words of comfort and inspiration until the priest stood up to begin the ceremony. 

“Rise, Jew, and tell us the truth,” the priest roared. “Did you kill that gentile woman?”

“No, sir, I did not kill her,” Eliezer stated unequivocally.

“We have witnesses who testified that you did kill her,” the priest retorted. “And you will now be burned at the stake to atone for the murder.” He turned to the executioner. “Light the fire!”

A huge amount of wood and kindling had been prepared for this moment, and the small flame soon turned into a roaring bonfire. Each crackle of the fire caused another jolt to go through Eliezer as he envisioned himself burning painfully inside it, limb by limb.

“In another moment, you will be in the fire, roasting to your death,” the priest declared. “You will suffer unimaginable pain, just as you caused that woman to suffer. Now is your final chance to save yourself. Accept our faith, and you will be released. If not, you will burn to death in this very fire!”

“Eliezer! Strengthen yourself!” the Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah called out. “Go al Kiddush Hashem, and don’t forget to recite the berachah!”

Eliezer screwed his eyes shut and began to recite, in a loud and clear voice, “Baruch atah Hashem…” In a proud and confident voice, he declared his enduring allegiance to the One and Only One, ready to die to sanctify the name of Hashem.

The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah lifted his hands. “Amen!” he cried out.

Eliezer was tied to a log and dropped into the fire. There was a small smile on his face, the contentment of one who knows that he has fulfilled his lofty mission. Not a sound was heard as the flames licked his body, not a single cry of pain.

The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah waited for an entire hour, remaining with Eliezer until nothing was left of his physical body other than a pile of ashes. Then he walked out from between the jeering gentiles, completely unharmed, and returned to shul.

When he got there, the congregation was up to Krias Hatorah. The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah walked up to the open sefer Torah and recited Kel Maleh Rachamim for the noble Jew who had given his life for Hashem with a smile on his face.

The Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’Avodah recorded this story in his sefer so that future generations would remember what it means to die al Kiddush Hashem.

And if you want to do a favor for this lofty Jew who served as a communal atonement for the city of Horodna, learn one Mishnah in Pirkei Avos for Reb Eliezer ben Reb Shlomo.  Although he surely occupies one of the highest places in Gan Eden, learning in his merit is an unparalleled gift that he will surely repay you for.

Have a Wonderful Shabbos!

This story is taken from tape #A153