joseph…as far as the statistics of german Jews surviving, you have to give me the place you found that statistic. As far as I know, the Jews who were non-citizens were returned to their place of origin (Poland, Chzechsolvakia,etc..) The ones who were German citizens spread out throughout the world and.as far as I know, mostly survived.So, please supply the origin of that statistic.
As far as the terminal patient.I don’t understand yoru question. If it is a halachic question (turning off a respirator,taking away the feeding tube..etc) it is a halachic decision and, as said numerous times, you follow the HALACHIC decision of your Possek. If it is a question of ADVICE, then a rebbe or Godol’s advice is what it is. YOu can accept it or reject it. Chassidim today will follow their rebbe’s advice rigourously. There are many cases that such advice was wonderful and there are many cases that the advice did not help. And, if one feels that the reccomendation of a doctor is better and follows that advice, then so be it. I don’t think it detracts from ’emunas chachomim’, as I understand it, if you veer away from the general advice of a Rov. If you are a true “maamin’ in THAT Rov, then you do it at your peril. If you don’t think it makes sense, you are on your own. And I have said in another context that I do believe in the “yeshuous’ of Rebbes (even so-called Litvishe rebbes).
The above discussion does not take away my contention that, at times, even gedolim make mistakes. Long, long ago, on this webiste, this was the discussion about Rav Belsky’s words and whether he could be mistaken. The ones who supported the criticism on his article believed that his status as a real Godol does not make him immune to mistakes. The ones who defend him vociferously think he cannot make a mistake, at least not on this matter.