A rare photograph showing Rabbi David Ochs - the last rabbi of Leipzig, after he was captured by the Nazis on Kristallnacht, and his beard and hair were shaved. Photographed by the Gestapo, November 26, 1938.
On Kristallnacht, Rabbi Ochs risked his life when he entered the burning synagogue to save the Torah scrolls from the flames. The next day he was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Buchenwald, at which time the photo before us was taken in which Rabbi Ochs was seen after the Nazis had shaved his hair and beard. Above the photo is the weight of Rabbi Ochs. His wife managed to get him released with a promise that they would leave Germany within a week (the arrest and release was documented in the "HaTzofeh" newspaper of those days). The couple moved to London and at the beginning of 1939 they immigrated to Eretz Israel and settled in the religious youth village in Kfar Hasidim. In 1946, the couple moved to Tel Aviv. Rabbi Ochs served as the rabbi of the "Religious Youth Club - Ihud Shivat Zion". His wife was one of the founders of the "Reut - Women's Social Service" association.
Rabbi Dr. David Ochs (1904-1974) The last rabbi of Leipzig and rabbi of the "Religious Youth Circle - Ihud Shivat Zion" congregation in Tel Aviv. Born in Cologne, Germany. He married Gerda, a member of the Rao family (see also the following item). In 1932, the couple moved to Königsberg in East Germany, where Rabbi Ochs was appointed rabbi of the separate Orthodox community. In 1936 they moved from Königsberg to Leipzig, where he was invited due to the retirement of the local rabbi Dr. Ephraim Carlebach. Rabbi Ochs was the last rabbi of Leipzig. His wife served as chairman of the Brit Chalutsim religious movement in Leipzig.
See also next item.
Size: 8x4 cm. attached two additional photographs [12x18 cm, and 4x5 cm] of Rabbi Ochs before his capture by the Nazis, during his days in Leipzig. Very good condition.
