re: #53 Cato the Elder

Picked a nice day for it, you did, Bat Puchanan. September 1: Does that ring any bells?

Rabbi Leo Baeck landed in London with a group of Kindertransport children, late on Sept. 1, 1939. A representative of the London Jewish community ran to meet him, and said, “It’s happening, Dr. Baeck, Hitler has invaded Poland. They’re closing the borders. Thank God you’re here.”

Baeck turned and walked toward the airport building. “I have to get on the first plane back to Germany,” he said.

“Dr. Baeck, you don’t understand, you won’t be able to get back out.”

“If I stay, I won’t be able to get back in,” Baeck said. “The Jews of Germany need me now.”

And he went back.