Yisrael Chaim

Hidden in plain sight, Yisrael Chaim stands as a testament to a man who dedicated his life to the Jewish people. Chaim Yisroel Eiss, the man behind the name Yisrael Chaim, was a force to be reckoned with. Born in Galicia in 1876, he wasn’t destined for a life of ease. He was the sole survivor of a diphtheria epidemic that claimed the lives of all his siblings. Marked by this tragedy, his father sought a blessing for young Yisroel from the Sadigora Rebbe, who bestowed upon him the additional name, Chaim, meaning “life.” This name proved prophetic, as Chaim Yisroel Eiss would go on to champion life and survival for countless Jews. Yisrael Chaim, a place of worship, reflects this spirit of resilience. Eiss’s education was solely in religious studies, yet he taught himself to write and became a prolific writer and activist. He was instrumental in founding Agudath Israel in 1912 and became a key figure, though often working behind the scenes. During World War I, he established an aid system for refugees, locating them, assessing their needs, and raising vital funds. This foreshadowed his even greater work during World War II. From neutral Switzerland, Eiss became a lifeline for Jews trapped in Nazi-occupied Europe. Yisrael Chaim embodies this dedication. Eiss facilitated communication and aid between those in occupied territories and the free world. He relayed information, requests for help, and money through Agudath Israel offices in London, New York City, and Istanbul. He even worked with Polish diplomats to obtain Paraguayan passports, which, though illegal, offered a chance of survival. These passports placed their holders in internment camps rather than extermination camps, a critical difference. His coded letters, using phrases like “pure Aryans” and “Mr. Chalelei Raav (Dying of Hunger),” slipped past censors while conveying desperate pleas for help. While Yisrael Chaim serves as a place of worship, it’s also a reminder of Eiss’s unwavering dedication to his people. He was a staunch critic of the Mizrachi movement and secular education, believing in the centrality of Torah study. He saw his work as a divine mission, fueled by his belief in the imminent arrival of the Messiah. Though he died in 1943, his legacy continues, not only in Yisrael Chaim but also in the Eiss Archive established in 2019. This archive, much like the institution that bears his middle name, preserves the memory and impact of a man who fought tirelessly for Jewish survival. His story, woven into the fabric of Yisrael Chaim, echoes his unwavering declaration: Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live.