This last Sunday of the month of January marks the 16th anniversary
of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which coincides with another
important event in world history, the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau
concentration camp in Poland by the Soviet Red Army in 1945.
About 7,000 sick and dying inmates at the camp had been left behind
by their former Nazi captors, who were now fleeing for their
lives from the advancing Russians, as the latter strongly
believed in the practice of taking no enemy prisoners alive.
About 7,000 sick and dying inmates at the camp had been left behind
by their former Nazi captors, who were now fleeing for their
lives from the advancing Russians, as the latter strongly
believed in the practice of taking no enemy prisoners alive.
Prior to the liberation of the camp, thousands of people previously held
there had died from starvation and the intense cold on forced death marches
from Auschwitz. It is estimated that 1.3 million human beings were
sent to the camp between 1941-1945 and over 1 million were murdered there.
Child Survivors of Auschwitz-Birkenau
As I sit here writing this post today, words do not come easily to my mind,
at least, the right words- not only concerning why the Holocaust was allowed
to happen- but, how to explain about the effect ignorance has concerning the
lessons of history, especially those which take into account the evil perpetrated
lessons of history, especially those which take into account the evil perpetrated
on human beings by human beings, which, left unchecked and unchallenged,
will always repeat themselves at some time and place in the future.
will always repeat themselves at some time and place in the future.
Today we remember the millions of innocent lives lost during a time of
great human evil in the world. As a child growing up in the mid-1970's, I was a
secondhand witness to the tragic lives of the Jewish people during the Holocaust
when I read, "The Diary of Anne Frank" for the first time in fifth grade.
secondhand witness to the tragic lives of the Jewish people during the Holocaust
when I read, "The Diary of Anne Frank" for the first time in fifth grade.
You would think that people today would have a lot more empathy for each other.
In our 21st century world, lightning speed advancements in science and technology
in this age of the Internet has brought the nations and peoples and
different cultures of the world closer to each other than ever before.
And yet, this is clearly not the case.
Once again, Jewish people are being targeted for discrimination
and persecution, not only in Europe, which, in only the past ten
years, has seen a mass exodus of Jews fleeing the continent
for the safety of Israel, but here in America too, where
for the most part, Jews have lived in comparative
safety for many years, until recently.
and persecution, not only in Europe, which, in only the past ten
years, has seen a mass exodus of Jews fleeing the continent
for the safety of Israel, but here in America too, where
for the most part, Jews have lived in comparative
safety for many years, until recently.
In the wake of the brutal and senseless shooting at the
Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last fall, which
took the lives of eleven innocent worshipers, last
November's election has brought outspoken anti-Israel and BDS
advocates to occupy seats within the House of Representatives.
According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, two freshman Congresswomen,
Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) left, and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), both of the Muslim faith,
have consistently expressed extreme anti-Semitic and anti-Israel views.
Both are strong advocates of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions)
Movement against the sale of goods and services from Israel.
Omar was recently appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
to the House Foreign Affairs Committee while Tlaib was given a
seat on the equally powerful House Oversight Committee.
These are troubling times, indeed.
These are troubling times, indeed.
How can Americans, who claim they love freedom and democracy,
and say that they stand for protecting the civil rights of their
fellow citizens, elect people to serve in our Congress who vocalize
such deep and unapologetic animosity towards the Jewish people,
not to mention profound hatred for the nation of Israel,
one of America's greatest allies?
not to mention profound hatred for the nation of Israel,
one of America's greatest allies?
I for one am happy and proud that during my lifetime,
the President of the United States has decided to buck
the tradition of putting the recognition of Jerusalem on
the back burner and has instead decided to honor God
by formally recognizing the city as the eternal capital
of the nation and people of Israel and by
moving our embassy there.
Through his actions, President Trump has shown a true spirit
by formally recognizing the city as the eternal capital
of the nation and people of Israel and by
moving our embassy there.
Through his actions, President Trump has shown a true spirit
of solidarity with the nation and people of Israel, in a time
when much of the world-including certain members of our
own government- do not.
Always Remember, Never Forget
Never Again
"Behold, He Who keeps Israel will neither slumber or sleep.
The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand,
the side not carrying a shield.
The sun shall not smite you by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life."
Psalm 121:4-7
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