Rabbi Yaakov Goldman's Testimony
On April 21, 1947, Rabbi Goldman went to Jerusalem main prison to be with Feinstein and Barazani before their execution. He
was the last Jewish person to be with them during their final hours. He parted from them with the song of "Adon Olam,"
which perplexed the British guard who had never
seen people so elated prior to their execution.
Rabbi Goldman was born in Rochester, New York in 1886. He met his future wife, Chana Blumental, in New York, and they married in Tel Aviv in 1927. Rabbi Goldman became a Rabbi in Jerusalem, and he was the secretary and close aid of the chief rabbi of Eretz-Israel, Rabbi Itchack Halevi Herzog. In 1943, he volunteered for the British Army and served as the Rabbi in the Eretz Israel units. The picture above was taken in 1943. Additional information in Hebrew.
Rabbi Goldman described his meeting with Meir Feinstein and Moshe Barazani during
their
last hours of their young lives:
"Kiddush Hashem of Meir Feinstein and Moshe Barazani HYD"
"The story of the death of Meir Feinstein and Moshe Barazani on April 21, 1947, is a heroic tale of Kiddush Hashem (Martyrdom, self-sacrifice in Judaism) of two youngsters, who ascended to heaven in a storm, with bravery and spiritual elation, at the central prison of Jerusalem while loudly singing "Adon Olam."
"They planned to follow the guidance of Samson the hero and blow themselves up with their executioners. When they realized that I plan to be with them during their hangings, they changed their plan in the last minute, and exploded themselves few hours before the morning of their execution. I left them at 11pm on April 21,1947, after an intense discussion on major issues: Kiddush Hashem, Jewish heroism in our national history, and the death of King Saul, who fell on his sword for the glory of Israel. Our sages glorified Saul for this deed and said: "Saul's death was more worthy than his life".
"When I left their small cell, in order to return within a few hours, while I am emotionally excited from their bravery and strong spirit, I could hear their voices singing the the last verse of Adon Olam: "When I sleep, and I awake, and with my spirit, my body, The Lord is with me, I will not fear." A Few minutes later, there was the sound of the grenade they have lit between their pure hearts, and they fulfilled the saying: "The born - to die and the dead - to be reborn." Hebrew source for the Rabbi's writings.