Honor Holocaust victims this May 1 by learning history
On May 1 we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, marking the disappearance of children, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, grandparents – human beings who were not considered good enough, as Jewish, Romani, homosexual, disabled. We mourn and honor the 6 million Jews and millions of others who perished in the most painful and horrific chapter in human history.
We still try to learn some lesson that will shine light in this darkness.
For some, the Holocaust represents man’s inhumanity to man – and its primary lesson is to be vigilant against racism and intolerance.
The Holocaust was the attempt to wipe out the Jewish people – and its primary lesson is for the Jewish people to never be powerless against our enemies. The lessons of the Holocaust are the flashing red light that marks the cliff at the endpoint of humanity. We can either choose to take heed or perish by allowing society to stagger over the edge
These lessons not only instruct us on the past, they are an omen of things to come if we allow them to come. This is why the Holocaust is and always will be a part of the Jewish communal narrative and why we commit to “Never Forget.” If someone chooses not to identify with the lessons of the Holocaust, they are not only turning a blind eye to history but also are not assisting in the prevention of the repetition of history.
The lessons of the Holocaust are much more significant and persist, regardless of how one identifies with them in the context of participation in the community. Whether you are actively involved in the community or not, the Holocaust and its relationship with the past, present and future of the Jewish community is the elephant in the room.
Jews around the world are being persecuted for one reason, being Jewish. The terrorist who stormed the Hyper Casher market in France to commit murder asked one question prior to the act: "Are you Jewish?" The situation we face today is that Jews are being persecuted, attacked and murdered for no other reason other than they are Jews.
Just existing is enough of a crime to bring about intolerance and violence. Whether or not one identifies with the Holocaust narrative, or any other narrative, is irrelevant.
As a community, we must come together and be mindful, not only of each other, but of others in the Jewish and non-Jewish community who are being persecuted or experiencing intolerance. Yehuda Bauer, a scholar of Holocaust Studies stated, “Thou shalt not be a victim; thou shalt not be a perpetrator; but above all, thou shalt not be a bystander.”
Yet, even as we recognize that mankind is capable of unspeakable acts of evil, we also draw strength from the survivors, the liberators, and the righteous that represented humanity at its best.
With their example to guide us, together we must firmly condemn anti-Semitism and stand against bigotry and hatred in all their forms.
For more information on Jewish Federation of the Desert please call (760) 324-4737 or visit www.jfedps.org,
Bruce Landgarten is chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of the Desert in Rancho Mirage. Email him at email@example.com.