Venue: Tifereth Israel (Passaic, NJ) Tifereth Israel (Passaic, NJ)

Halacha:

Teshuvah,  Torah 

Collections: R' Aaron Cohen Teshuvos Mi'maamakim

Description

A Jew witnesses the Nazis forcing an elderly Rav to burn a Sefer Torah in public. Panic stricken out of concern that he will also be coerced into publicly destroying his own Sefer Torah, causing a great Chillul Hashem, this individual takes his Sefer Torah in the middle of the night and throws it into the river. After the liberation, this person approaches Rav Ephraim Oshry and heartbrokenly tells his story. He realizes that his actions, however well-intended, may not have been justified. Does he need atonement for having destroyed his Sefer Torah?