In honor and in remembrance of all those who perished and all those who survived the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust, we present a series of videos,links and a personal note.
There is stench of antisemitism in the air that drifts across the globe, both physically and virtually. It is sometimes direct, but most of the time it appears in the guise of anti-Israel rants. It is a vicious rhetoric taken straight out of the Nazi playbook. We are not talking about criticism of Israeli government policy. This antisemitism is a carefully crafted endeavor that appears to the uninformed as “truth”, but in reality it is the “Big Lie” about Jews, Israel and their “evil” attempts at world domination.
European nations and many of their leaders and governments directly or indirectly support this hatred by inaction or devious means. Their continual assertion of half-truths and hatred of Jews once again creates an atmosphere that hasn’t been known since the beginning of World War II. Across the entire Muslim world the media are the spokespersons for blood libels against Jews often quoting the Koran for their inspiration and support for the de-legitimation of Jews and Israel.
There are also Jews who use the fact of being born Jewish to criticize and even support the de-legitimization and ultimate destruction of Israel as a Jewish State. Some of them are well known and others are simply lost souls who have a need to cover up their self-loathing. These folks often become the “house” Jews for all kinds of organizations that incite and create scenarios about the Jewish State that would not be tolerated by any other country in the world. Most egregiously, the United Nations and its affiliates continue to present an endless diatribe about the Jewish State that defies reason. From the leadership on down this corrupt institution has lost its way and is now the voice of Jew hatred and propaganda for the antisemites of the world.
Today we are on the threshold of a global catastrophe once again with Iran as the leader and instigator of global terror. We are close to allowing by default the total destruction of the world by an unwillingness to see the truth as it unfolds. The world governments cower to fanatics and dictators in order to buy their oil and exploit their markets. But at what price?
Israel stands today as the canary in the mine shaft. But we will not go away. Actually, the world can not afford for us to disappear. We provide, in spite of all our shortcomings, light to the world in the form of moral imperatives, as well as innovations that alleviate human suffering .
In my meditations I struggle whether to keep silent and enjoy my personal blessings or to speak out or even shout out from the roof top the dangers that are at our door. In some ways, this struggle seems like Jacob’s struggle with the angel (or maybe his own self), on the direction he needs to take in his life. After Jacobs all- night episode, he does not give up struggling, but instead gets a blessing and his name is changed forever to Yisrael, which means, among other things, “to struggle with G-d”.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X6ku8KNsOw
Containing the world’s largest repository of information on the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is a leader in Holocaust education, commemoration, research and documentation. Located in Jerusalem, Israel, Yad Vashem’s 45 acre campus comprises museums, exhibitions, memorials, sculptures, gardens, and world class research and education centers. Millions each year access Yad Vashem’s vast resources in order to study, teach and commemorate the Holocaust.
Holocaust – An End to Innocence by Seymour Rossel
Witness Legacy – Contemporary Art about the Holocaust
The Knesset Holocaust Site (English)
Jewish Children and the Holocaust
The Mourners’ Kaddish
Transliteration
Yit-gadal v’yit-kadash sh’may raba b’alma dee-v’ra che-ru-tay, ve’yam-lich mal-chutay b’chai-yay-chon uv’yo-may-chon uv-cha-yay d’chol beit Yisrael, ba-agala u’vitze-man ka-riv, ve’imru amen.
Y’hay sh’may raba me’varach le-alam uleh-almay alma-ya.
Yit-barach v’yish-tabach, v’yit-pa-ar v’yit-romam v’yit-nasay, v’yit-hadar v’yit-aleh v’yit-halal sh’may d’koo-d’shah, b’rich hoo. layla (ool-ayla)* meen kol beer-chata v’she-rata, toosh-b’chata v’nay-ch’mata, da-a meran b’alma, ve’imru amen.
Y’hay sh’lama raba meen sh’maya v’cha-yim aleynu v’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru amen.
O’seh shalom beem-romav, hoo ya’ah-seh shalom aleynu v’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru amen.
* Add on Shabbat
English
Magnified and sanctified be G-d’s great name in the world which He created according to His will. May he establish His kingdom during our lifetime and during the lifetime of Israel. Let us say, Amen.
May G-d’s great name be blessed forever and ever.
Blessed, glorified, honored and extolled, adored and acclaimed be the name of the Holy One, though G-d is beyond all praises and songs of adoration which can be uttered. Let us say, Amen.
May there be peace and life for all of us and for all Israel. Let us say, Amen.
Let He who makes peace in the heavens, grant peace to all of us and to all Israel. Let us say, Amen.
