Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, director of Chabad-Lubavitch in Berlin and rabbi of the Jewish community there, attended President Barack Obama’s talk today at the Brandenburg Gate. Afterwards, he briefly greeted and thanked the president.
In the talk, Obama spoke about Col. Gail Halvorsen, a command pilot in the U.S. Air Force known as the original “Candy Bomber,” or in Germany, the “Rosinenbomber.” He is best known for piloting C-47s and C-54s during the Berlin airlift (also known as “Operation Little Vittles”) during 1948-49. Shortly before landing at the Berlin airport, Halvorsen would drop candy attached to parachutes for children down below.
This action, which sparked similar efforts by other crews, was the source of the popular name for the pilots: the candy bombers. Halvorsen said he wanted to help raise the morale of children during a time of uncertainty and privation.
Following the talk, Halverson and Teichtal sat and chatted. The rabbi asked the colonel, now 92, about how he felt coming back to Berlin more than 60 years later. Halvorsen replied, “I am not Jewish; however, I am thrilled to learn that Jewish life is developing so rapidly.”
He added that “knowing Jewish children are proud of their heritage in Berlin is a sweet candy for me today.”
These candy pilot,better known as chocolate pilots uplifted German children spirit,but just few month before did nothing for Jewish children in camps.
This is truly a Kiddush Hashem
Let Obama know that chabad is a worldwide organization
The rebbes shluchim reach out to yidden everywhere
Kol hakovod to rabbi tiechtel