Some Inspiration from the Famous Jewish Paper Forger Adolf Kaminsky

(Minghui.org) I came across an article that deeply touched me. The main character in the article was Adolf Kaminsky, who risked his life forging identity papers in order to save the Jews during World War II. 　

Kaminsky grew up in poverty and worked as an apprentice to a dry cleaner. In order to wash clothes better, he studied chemicals and discovered his talent by accident. After the start of World War II, he was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp because of his Jewish identity. During this period he saw his companions die one by one, and his own life was always at risk.

Fortunately, he was released because he had an Argentine passport. But because his Jewish identity could not be erased, he found a fake passport company in order to save his family’s life. 

When the company learned of his expertise, they asked him for advice on how to remove ink stains. Kaminsky used lactic acid to solve this major problem, which even the top experts of the time could not solve. Later, his fake certificates passed the German army’s inspection without a hitch. So he was invited to join this organization to save more people by forging identity papers.

This job was highly risky. One had to take every effort to evade the Nazis. He worked day and night, and could not go home for a long period of time. He lost his family, as well as vision in one eye due to years of high intense labor. He had no time to grieve his loss. He said he dared not rest, as he could make 30 documents in an hour and if he slept one hour, it would mean 30 people might lose their lives. That is how he helped more than 14,000 Jews hide their identities and escape from the clutches of the Nazis.

After the end of World War II, he did not publicize his contributions until his daughter inadvertently discovered her father’s story decades later.

According to Kaminsky’s daughter, her father had always felt guilty for not being able to take his friend out of the concentration camp with him, a guilt that stayed with him throughout his life and was the root of his motivation to forge identity papers over the decades. 

He refused to accept payment for forging identity papers. For him, accepting payment would mean that his actions were utilitarian, which was unacceptable to him. So he worked as a photographer during the day and forged identity papers for the rescue of Jews at night, and spent his life in poverty.

Inspiration from Kaminsky

From Kaminsky’s story, I thought about the great responsibility we shoulder of saving people in the Fa-rectification period. Even an ordinary person worked so hard to save people for decades, how can we slack off and still think about when we will reach consummation?

Over the years, fellow practitioners in mainland China have done everything they could to save people, and have sacrificed a great deal. Some lost their jobs and live a destitute life. Some saw their families falling apart. And some were imprisoned for decades and endured unspeakable torture.

Some felt their endurance has reached the limit, and they seemed unable to keep going until the end of the Fa-rectification, and even harbored doubts about Master’s Fa-rectification arrangements.

But if we don’t do our part well, how many people are in danger of being eliminated because they do not know the truth? When we hope for Master to quickly end our tribulations, isn’t this a bit selfish?

Kaminsky could have enjoyed a perfect family, but he chose to live a life of hardship. In a precarious situation, he still put others’ lives first, without complaint or regret. He devoted his efforts to saving others, not asking for reward, merit, or fame. This simple and selfless spirit shines with the brilliance of human kindness.

Only when life is “for others” can it be great. May all Dafa practitioners transcend our “selfishness” and assist Master to rectify the Fa without seeking anything in return. Do not be attached to time, personal gains, or losses. We must keep saving people until the end of our journey. 

Editor’s note: This article only represents the author’s understanding in their current cultivation state meant for sharing among practitioners so that we can “Compare in studying, compare in cultivating.” (“Solid Cultivation,” Hong Yin)