Although history has never been my personal passion, it demands my attention, as history provides keys to the future. First, a study of our past can prove eye-opening – we discover our ancestry and the origins of our family and cultural traditions. An understanding of whence we came helps us comprehend why we have certain tendencies or even how we ended up where we are now. However, the most crucial reason for examining the past is to learn lessons from history that will empower us to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
In the fourth chapter of her book, Journey to the Holocaust: Anti-Semitism, the Bible and History, Dr. Susanna Kokkonen highlights the tragic persecution of Jews during the Middle Ages. She points out that the Nazis were not by any means the first to insist that Jews wear yellow marks somewhere on their clothes to identify themselves as Jews. Even during medieval times, Jews were segregated in separate neighborhoods and forced to wear identifying badges. Thus, the yellow star we associate with the Holocaust was far from a new invention. As if that were not enough, Jews were regularly criticized, persecuted, and even blamed for diseases (such as The Black Death) and natural disasters.
The Crusades, commonly portrayed as an initiative to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim rule, also served to give expression to longstanding antisemitic sentiment. En route to the Middle East, Jewish communities were destroyed. “Even before the knights had left Europe, they destroyed Jewish communities on their way. Hatred toward the Jews, along with their hatred toward Muslims, was a motivation the leaders of the crusades openly expressed. It was said, for instance, that the purpose was to take revenge on Jews for the death of Jesus and to eradicate the Jews completely from the face of the earth” (pp. 85-86).
Moreover, the Spanish Inquisition involved brutal victimization of the Jewish people. Even those who ostensibly had converted to Catholicism were exposed and condemned – even executed – for observing practices that might be associated with Judaism, such as keeping the Sabbath. The persecution finally culminated in the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. (Some scholars have brought evidence that Columbus may have been a Jew. In that case, a Jewish person may have had a hand in the initial exploration of the Americas!)
Truly, as Ecclesiastes 1:9 states: “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (NKJV). Antisemitism is certainly nothing new. However, the only way to avoid repeating gross errors and sins of the past is to study history, examine our own attitudes, and ask God to transform our hearts. The sorrowful facts are written for our reflection; may we therein derive hope for a different future, free of persecution, prejudice, and indifference!
Fred Zeidman
Over the course of his distinguished 45-year career, Mr. Zeidman has been involved in numerous high-profile workouts, restructurings and reorganizations. He was former CEO, President and Chairman of Seitel, Inc., a Houston-based provider where he was instrumental in...
Freddy Baquiax
The choir sang solemnly in front of the audience, and for the people of past generations from distinguished cultures. Later, the JROTC crew came to deliver three unique flags: the German flag, the Flag of Israel, and the United States flag. More importantly, something stood out at that moment. It was silent to the ears, but it shouted a powerful message to the conscious: unity. The March of Remembrance struck our hearts to remind us that unity enables people to forgive and love former enemies so we can learn to love comrades in arms. Both Jewish and Nazi descendants encountered this phenomenon as they gathered to share stories about harsh times but emphasized how their ancestors prevailed throughout it. Compassion is humanity’s true potential waiting to be unleashed to neighbors and kin around the community, and it starts with the warmth of the March of Remembrance.
Lyntrice Strauss
The aspect of the March of Remembrance that impacted me the most was to hear the impact and trauma the Holocaust had on its survivors and their descendants. Learning about the history of the Holocaust gave me a deeper level of understanding, appreciation and compassion for the Jewish community. I respect their yearly Marches of Remembrance that are held in honor of the survivors, the descendants of those who lost their lives, and those who were separated, or disappeared as a result of the Holocaust. Hearing about the testimonies of those who survived, their strong faith and their ability to live on after this traumatic event gave me a greater sense of purpose and passion for my future aspirations in social justice.
Making Aliyah
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The theme of this year's March of Remembrance is “Uprising Against Antisemitism” in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. It not only commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, but also the many heroes who resolutely stood up against the...
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