Rabbi Walkin was born on July 3, 1938, in Poland. He has one brother and three sisters.
When he was just eight months old, his parents fled to China to escape the escalating dangers in Europe. He describes China as a very poor city where people often died in the streets due to a lack of food.
During the Holocaust, Rabbi Walkin lived in China for eight years.
1
It was there that he first heard about the Nazis at the age of five. His father was one of the heads of the Mirer Yeshiva in China, where he worked diligently to secure visas for young Jewish children to go to America.
Despite the hardships, Rabbi Walkin's family maintained a strong Jewish life, which included their commitment to education and community.
2
3
However, they faced grave dangers; Rabbi Walkin nearly lost his life when he was almost run over by a tank due to anti-Jewish sentiment in China. His parents believed he was dead at that moment.
After the war, Rabbi Walkin and his family moved to America once it was safe to do so. He has shared his story with his congregation multiple times.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Rabbi Moshe Yoel Walkin interview at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe - 2023-2024
Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe