Every year, commemorating the Holocaust seems more and more important; especially with anti-Semitism is increasing and what we are facing in our universities today. Even our youngest holocaust survivors are now in their eighties, limiting our opportunities to learn first-hand the important lessons .Second and third generation descendants are taking more prominent roles., but there is nothing like a personal testimony. While there are fewer people around who have witnessed the actual events of one of the most horrific times in world history, there seems ti be more ignorance about what happened and the importance of preventing another attempt to Jewish genocide.
The United Nations established an International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 to coincide with the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp and killing centers. Israel set the Hebrew date of 27 of Nissan as the Jewish date honoring the anniversary of the beginning of Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943, as this date represents resistance, strength and heroism.
So as a time to remember, what is important to remember? The first thing that comes to mind the 6 million Jews. Who were murdered by Nazi regime. Many will also think about another 6 million targets, Gypseis, black people, gay people, Hitler’s political opponents, the disabled and the mentally challenged. Jewish tradition teaches that when an individual life is destroyed, an entire world is destroyed, including all the descendants who did not even have a chance to begin their lives. And we have been taught when you save a life, you have also saved the entire world.
We mourn the dead and celebrate the survivors. Those who were able to survive had a wide variety of methods. Some are helped, and hidden by non-Jewish individuals. Some used their intelligence and wit; some had the physical strength and emotional fortitude to last when all odds were against them. However they did it, they saved worlds. Because now, their children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren are here!
Last week, at our Passover Seder, we mixed bitter herbs with sweet haroset as we celebrated freedom of the Exodus from Egypt. We celebrated freedom by mourning the years lost to slavery. Regarding both slavery and the Holocaust, we say “Never Again”. That motto is essential for the education of every generation to prevent another horrific time in the future. The victory comes when the next generations make it a better place.
Shabbat Shalom
Becky Kobrowski-Cohen
President
Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami, Inc.
Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami, Inc. 1700 Michigan Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139 US
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