Earlier this week Jewish communities around the world paused to remember
the victims of the Holocaust, a unique and uniquely horrifying genocide
which was not only an assault on the Jewish people, but on fundamental
values of respect for human life, freedom of religion and democratic
principles. When we honor the memory of those who fell victim to the
monstrosity of Nazism we not only make sure that those who were murdered
are not forgotten, but we remind ourselves and our fellow citizens that
we share a collective responsibility to remain vigilant and on guard
against prejudice and hate.
Recently I had the opportunity to attend two different Holocaust
Memorial Day events in New Hampshire: an interfaith program on Sunday
evening co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, Temple
Adath Yeshurun, Temple Israel of Manchester, Brookside Congregation Church and the
Greater Manchester Clergy Association, and a very moving ceremony at
Congregation Ahavas Achim in Keene led by Rabbi Amy Lowenthal.
On Sunday evening Temple Israel of Manchester was full for an excellent
talk by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor who recounted a harrowing tale of death
and survival in Auschwitz, where she was the subject of experiments by
the deranged Nazi doctor Josef Mengele. One of the things I really liked
about NAMES presentation was that she not only recounted the details of
her time in the concentration camp with great courage, but connected
these experiences to lessons about tolerance, understanding and
humanity.
After the informative program on Sunday night I went to Keene on Monday
for a different kind of Holocaust Memorial Day event which was more
focused on quiet contemplation and personal connection. The ceremony
itself was simple in design and very powerful, incorporating time for
reflection, prayer and the lighting of Yizkor candles for the 6 million
Jews murdered in the Shoah.
As I reflect on these two Holocaust Memorial Day experiences I can't
hep but think that they represent two very important modes of
commemoration - one outwardly engaged, an opportunity to hear directly
from someone who lived through the horrors of the Shoah, the other
inspiring deeper thought on what it means for 6 million people to be
intentionally killed for no other reason than their religion or
ethnicity. Each in its own way offers vital lessons for us today, and for the future.
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