For many years an inspiring story has appeared in numerous Seforim, articles, and magazines.
I have personally heard a respected Gadol repeat this story.
Because of that, many readers naturally assume the story is an authentic historical account.
This article is NOT questioning the power of Shema Yisroel or the countless miracles experienced by Klal Yisroel.
The purpose of this article is much simpler:
Can this particular story actually be verified?
THE STORY
The Mechaber writes that he personally read the following story in a London newspaper dated 19 Tammuz 5676 (July 20, 1916).
He further writes that the London newspaper was quoting the famous Hungarian newspaper Pesti Hirlap and that he copied the report word for word.
"A Hungarian soldier fighting in the trenches wrote home to his wife.
He asked her to speak with Chaim, their Jewish neighbor, and find out the Jewish prayer known as Shema Yisroel.
The soldier explained that whenever the enemy attacked, the non-Jewish soldiers around him were killed, while the Jewish soldiers recited Shema Yisroel and every one of them survived.
He wanted to know this prayer so that he too could be protected."
WHY I BELIEVED THE STORY
Normally, I am skeptical of extraordinary stories.
However, this one appeared different.
The author supplied:
- An exact newspaper date.
- The exact name of the Hungarian newspaper.
- A claim that he copied the article word for word.
Those are very specific historical details. If true, the original article should be possible to locate.
My goal was simple:
Find the original newspaper article,
publish it,
and create a true Kiddush Hashem.
THE SEARCH
Both British and Hungarian newspaper archives from World War I are available online.
My nephew, R. Ari, searched the archives.
Additional historical newspaper databases were also searched.
- Shema
- Jewish soldier
- Hungarian soldier
- Letter to wife
- Chaim
- Pesti Hirlap
- July 1916
- Hungarian translations of these words
Result:
No matching article.
No similar article.
Nothing describing this event.
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO VERIFY
| Historical Claim | Result |
| Pesti Hirlap was a real newspaper. | ✔ VERIFIED |
| July 20, 1916 equals 19 Tammuz 5676. | ✔ VERIFIED |
| British newspapers often quoted European newspapers. | ✔ TRUE |
| This article was found in Pesti Hirlap. | ✘ NOT FOUND |
| The exact London newspaper has been identified. | ✘ NOT FOUND |
MY CONCLUSION
At the present time, there is no historical evidence that this article appeared in Pesti Hirlap.
Could another London newspaper still contain the story? Possibly.
Could the article someday be discovered? Certainly.
But based on everything currently available, the story has NOT been historically verified.
Absence of evidence is not always evidence of absence. However, when a story gives
- an exact newspaper,
- an exact date,
- and claims to quote the article word for word,
it is reasonable to expect that the original source should be discoverable. At present, it has not been.
A TIMELESS REMINDER
"יש לנו תורת אמת ואין אנו צריכים לשקר כדי לחזקה"
The Chasam Sofer writes (Chelek VI, Siman 59):
Our Torah is a Torah of Truth.
We do not need to embellish stories in order to strengthen it.
When an inspiring story is authentic, it creates a Kiddush Hashem.
When it cannot be verified, we should simply say so.
The truth itself is the greatest Kiddush Hashem.
