Holocaust Responsa Database Project

Even during the difficult hours in the ghetto and the extermination camps, the Jews continued to ask the rabbis difficult and poignant questions and asked for guidance and a path. The rabbis answered many questions from the Scriptures even though in many cases there was no one left to answer. On the 10th of Tevet, the “General Day of Kaddish,” we are launching an important initiative to preserve a rare documented treasure of 2000 questions which the Jews asked the rabbis during the Holocaust. For example: "Are the inmates of the camps allowed to save themselves through cannibalism?", "Can I save myself if I pretend to be a Catholic?", "Is it permissible to flee a concentration camp, knowing that the remaining prisoners in the camp will suffer or be murdered as a result?" We are asking for the general public’s help in donating to the “Holocaust Responsa Database” project, initiated by Rabbi Gutman, a resident of Alon Shvut. For years Rabbi Gutman has been locating and compiling thousands of sources of information on halakhic, moral questions that Jews in the Holocaust asked their rabbis and intellectuals and received answers to. With the help of benefactors, the project of uploading the database to an Internet platform began in order to make it accessible to every Jew in Israel and around the world and to fulfill the Pasuk – “So that the last generation will know ... and tell their sons!” The project cost is 300,000NIS to complete and thankfully we have received a pledge of 150,000NIS from the Government Estate Fund on condition that we raise the other half. It is our moral duty to preserve this important project. We look forward to your generosity. The Gush Etzion Foundation. Thank you!