5000 OLD TESTAMENTS HAVE ARRIVED
place one would have expected one of the greatest rescue efforts of the
War. Set high in the mountains, far away from the bustle of European life,
this small community of Hugenots, South of Auvergne, acted together as one
of the few churches who lived out their committment to a Jewish Savior in
rescuing the Jewish lives He held so dear. Most churches in Europe either
were in sympathy with the Nazis, in fear of the Nazis, and hence
non-intervening1 or whose help was marginal and clandestine or
mostly verbal and cautiously stated. On the German Evangelicals (See
Bonhoeffer) and a few others were openly active in their outspokeness
against Hitler and their attempt save as many Jews as possible.
The cost to the Church in that day was also high: even hiding a Jewish person from deportation efforts could bring the death penalty in Germany. For this reason, many did not get involved, but chose to look the other way. One story was told of a group of worshippers on a Sunday morning who during service heard the cattle-cars containing Jews on their way to death, roll by, whistling in the distance. The pastor merely instructed them to sing louder to drown out the noise. While many of the Churches of Europe responded in this way, Le Chambon was one of the largest, most unified, pacifist rescue efforts of the war.
Magda and Andre Trocme, the Pastor and his wife headed a Protestant congregation which had some years before committed themselves totally to the pacifism of the Gospel. He believed it could be taught and lived out as real now as then. Before 7 years had passed he had won his congregation to the radical love of the Gospel, and a deep committment to save as many Jewish persons as possible. The community also consisted of about 1/3 "Darbyites" or those Christians who held to the teachings of Darby (in this country, Plymouth Brethren, or 'Hallites' are an example.) The entire community housed and rescued somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 Jews, mostly children and a few notable artists, through the work of Varian Fry. During the war years they housed, fed, obtained food coupons, arranged identity and travel documents and similar activities. One unique attribute to this 'fundamental' Christian community: they allowed the Jews to practice their worship freely, and unlike many other rescue efforts, did not force them or even ask them to become Christians, although in time, many did. Magda Trocme helped arrange flight and refuge through Switzerland for many of her charges. The village became the only whole town recognized after the war as "righteous gentiles" and is honored today by Yad Vashem in Israel.
The fate of the Trocmes was not so fortunous as their 'children'.
Pastor Andre Trocme had to go into hiding for several months as officials
placed a bounty on his life. A relative, Daniel Trocme who aided in the
rescue effort, was arrested with some of the Children and he died a
martyr's death in Buchenwald. Pastor Trocme after the war went on to
become instrumental in Peace Movements throughout Europe and the world.
While others stood strongly against the Nazi's in their attempt to
exterminate the Jews of Europe, Le Chambon is notable in their utter
openness: at one point, school children handed a visiting Nazi official a
letter of protest acknowledging Jewish presence in the community and
declaring their absolute stand to protect and defend those Jewish lives.
The Trocme's and others called on the Hugenot congregation to win their
battles through prayer and faith, through "the Weapons of the
Spirit"2. While other towns who had earlier had even millions
of Jews were becoming Judenrein', this small
town which had before 
had no
Jewish citizens became the only predictable haven in France for refuge. Le
Chambon has gone on to become a fortress in the Pacifist Movement, and is
remembered for its liberty and saving of life. They managed to hide much
of their activity not by lying, but by cleverly telling the truth. When
new Jewish charges were due to arrive, congregates would call each other
to let them know that so-and-so many 'Old Testaments' (large and small)
had arrived, and ask them how many they wanted. By the end of the war,
close to 5000 "Old Testaments", the Chosen of God's Word, had been saved
thanks to the soulish bravery of a few.