Mordechai Schlein

Mordechai Schlein (1930 – 1944), also known as Motele, was a Jewish-Belarussian violinist and partisan fighter for the World War II. Born in Karmanovka, Byelorussia, he displayed musical talent from a young age, leading to his training with a local Jewish family.

After his family was killed during the Nazi invasaion of Byelorussia, Motele escaped and joined a group of Jewish partisans led by Moshe Gildenman. Utilizing his musical skills as a cover, he gathered intelligence on German troop movements and executed a sabotage mission against Nazi forces. Motele was killed in a German bombardment in 1944 at the age of 14.

His restored violin has been preserved and showcased in various commemorations and exhibitions, and the 2024 short film ' depicts his life.

Biography

Mordechai Schlein was a Jewish-Belarussian partisan and violinist born in 1930 in the rural locality of Karmanovka, Byelorussia. He belonged to one of only two Jewish families in the area. The Schleins were millers who lived in modest circumstances, while their neighbors, the Gernstein family, traded beet and sugar and were relatively well-off. Recognizing Motele's musical talent, the Gernsteins took him in at the age of eight to learn the violin from one of their sons.

When Nazi forces invaded Byelorussia local residents disclosed the Schleins' and Gernsteins' locations to the occupiers. Motele’s parents and younger sister, Bashiale, were killed alongside the Gernstein family. Motele managed to survive by hiding in the attic of the Gernstein home, and that same night, he fled with only his violin, seeking refuge in the nearby forests.

Motele was found by a Jewish partisans unit led by Moshe Gildenman near the Belarusian-Ukrainian border. In 1943, he received his first mission, which was partly assigned to him due not looking stereotypically Jewish. His task involved frequenting the nearby Ukrainian town of Ovruch, where he was tasked with blending with beggars outside a church, playing his violin to gather intelligence on German troop movements and activities.

One day, while performing, a German officer recognized Motele's musical talent and recruited him to play regularly at a local restaurant popular with German soldiers. This position provided Motele with the opportunity to overhear sensitive conversations. During his time at the restaurant, he noticed large cracks in the building's storage rooms and devised a plan to hide explosives within the structure.

Working with his partisan group, Motele gradually transported 18 kilograms of incendiary material in his violin case, concealing the explosives in the cellar walls during breaks in his performances. The opportunity to execute his plan arose when members of the ''Schutzstaffel'' visited the restaurant. After performing for the German officers, Motele ignited the explosives and managed to escape, rejoining his fellow partisans. Upon reaching safety, he declared, “This is for my parents and little Bashiale.”

Death and legacy

Motele continued to participate in partisan activities until he was killed in a German bombardment in 1944 at the age of 14. Following his death, his violin was taken by Moshe Gildenman, who carried it through Berlin, Paris, and eventually to Israel, where he died in 1958.

In 2008, the violin was restored by Amnon Weinstein. In 2014, the Israel Postal Company issued the Violins of Hope stamp series to commemorate the legacy of Jewish musicians during the Holocaust, including a tribute to Mordechai Schlein. Additionally, the German Historical Museum hosted an exhibition dedicated to the Holocaust, featuring Motele’s violin.

In September 2023, a violinist, David Strongin, performed with Motele’s violin during a concert at the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, concluding the event with the violinist Itzhak Perlman on Hatikvah. Strongin played the violin again during the opening ceremonies for Yad Vashem's commemoration of Yom HaShoah on April 20, 2024.

In 2024, the short film ' directed by Ilya Chaiken, was released portraying the story of Mordechai Schlein. ''NAKAM '' was nominated to and received several accolades, including a nomination to Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, Best Short Film at the 2024 Jerusalem Film Festival and the Audience Award at the 2024 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schlein, Mordechai
Jewish Belarusian history
Violinists
Partisans during World War II