Rabbi Mika M. Weiss was an extraordinary man who lived an extraordinary life dedicated to helping people at whatever the cost to himself. His experiences saving lives during the Holocaust and under Stalin's Communism provided a heavy background for him to continue his efforts with the Los Angles community hospitals, jails and as a member of the LAPD.
He was born October 19, 1913 in the Hungarian town of Kiskunfelegyhaza. Like his grandfather, his only desire was to become a Rabbi. He first received a Doctorate in Philosophy from the Pazmany Peter University of Budapest in 1939. The school was full of anti-Semitic professors who forced him to take courses like Arabic and who ridiculed his faith. He bit through his lower lip so hard he forever bore the scar to avoid giving in to their taunts of his heroes. He was ordained from the Jewish Theological Seminary in Budapest in 1941.
He was such a beautiful orator that he received his first position as a Rabbi in Oroshaza, Hungary in 1939, well before his official ordination. He served there until May 1944 when the Gestapo arrested him at gunpoint and deported him to Mauthausen and then Gunskirchen extermination camps. He had numerous chances to flee but said, "What kind of man would I be if I forsake my own congregation?"
During his stay in the camps he gave fellow prisoners in Mauthausen the will to keep living when they were ready to give up. They promised to make him their Rabbi in Debrecen if they got out alive. They did and kept their promise. He was liberated by the Patton Army and then served in Debrecen as the Chief Rabbi from 1946 to 1957. The congregation just honored him this year by making him their Rabbi for life.
It is interesting to note that when he returned from the camps he did not ease back into a normal life and avoid trouble. He spoke harshly at risk to himself against those who stood idle while the Jews were taken away. He preached, "Cain, where did you put your brother Abel- His blood cries out from the earth!" He didn't forsake his fellow Jews under Stalin. When the elite were robbed of their homes and deported from Budapest to the countryside without anything he stuck his neck out to bring them back to safety. He took them in to Debrecen and restored their lives with dignity.
With the Hungarian revolution on November 5, 1956 and the birth of his son Peter on the same day, he decided to leave the ongoing winds of anti-Semitism. With the help of his friend the Arch Bishop of Hungary, he accepted a position as Rabbi for the Helsinki Jewish Congregation in Finland where he served from 1957 to 1961. Here he became Chief Rabbi of all Finland by 1959.
With the Russians threatening Finland, he moved his family, wife Maria, mother in law Margaret Brull and son Peter to the United States in 1962. He forced himself to learn English fast and became first Rabbi of the Jewish Community Center in Flemington, New Jersey for 2 years, followed by 3 years at Temple Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, California. Finally, he went on the become Rabbi and Rabbi Emeritus at Temple B'nai Hayim in Sherman Oaks for 35 glorious years. Here he taught, preached, counseled and loved his congregation in the safety of the US.
He started helping others as soon as he could. He visited Los Angeles area hospitals from 1967, jails from 1969 and worked with the LAPD from 1979. In fact, he drove hours to Wayside and LA County prisons; long after he should have to help the Jewish inmates celebrate the holidays or just talk to friend.
Rabbi Mika M. Weiss passed away on the Sabbath, December 29, 2001. He was buried on December 31, 2001 at Eden Memorial Park. His spirit and love for mankind will live eternally.
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Rabbi Mika M Weiss Shoa Interview Part Three.m4vby louwave35 views
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