The Shame of Inaction
Thursday April 20, 2006
This April 25 we observe Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. The date chosen for this observance is 27 Nissan in the Jewish calendar, associated with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 in which 13,000 Jews perished in...
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About Virtual Talmud
This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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Why do you and others continually reference the Holocaust as the darkest period in history? As I have studied, the first holocaust was not that of the Jews. The very first holocaust which no one wants to recognize was inflicted upon Africans and African Americans. The burnings, lynchings, enslavement, degradation, and free labor were the absolute worst historical events that I have ever read. Even today, AA are unjustly considered second class citizens when this ation was built on their backs. Indeed the Jewish holocaust was horrific but no more than the colonization, brutalization, and enslavement of African Americans. When you are telling the story, please portray it accurately.
I don't understand why people, Jews, African Americans etc, have to make suffering into a competition. It just so misses the point of rememberance. I think that if we could all just look at eachother as HUMAN BEINGS, we could actually start to understand and genuinely feel empathy for one another. I think that it we should all be ashamed about what we, and more importantly our government, has ALLOWED to happen to other human beings in Darfur. I am the daughter of Holocaust survivors, and we always question how it could have happened, and say the words "never again", do we mean "never again" only for us? I hope not.
I have to disagree with Rasil; while blacks have suffered in America and elsewhere, under slavery and then racial prejudice, it is vastly different from the Holocaust in scale. Think about it: can you pick out any twelve-year period where that many blacks were systematically murdered by white people? (And incidentally, the Rabbi here is speaking out in support of suffering black people---why are you complaining?) Lauren is right; all suffering is wrong, and I'm glad to see that many Jews are taking this opportunity to try to turn "Never Again" into a reality for all. God bless!
Why is that all groups who have suffered major tragedies as a whole try to impose its rememberance and suffering upon others? And whereas (pardon any terms that I may use that may not be politically correct, these are the words I was raised with) Jews, blacks, East Asians, Muslims, et cetera are all still trying to fight for equality, many will not help the homosexual and bisexual movement now sweeping across the Unites States. Talk about being two-faced. And what pisses me as much - if not more - is the lack of recognition for others who suffered due to the Holocaust: even blacks, the Roma (aka the gypsies or the zingari), disabled and mentally ill, Slavics, and other people of decended of non-Germanic peoples. Whereas none of them had a total equal to that of the Jews, their combined totals do. (Based on what I was taught in hs: 6 million Jews killed, about 12 million total peoples killed. At least I am told.) And not to piss off others ... I don't believe the internationally recognised figures. I think maybe 3-6 million people TOTAL died as direct or indirect consequence of the gas chambers, but perhaps many more died because of firearms, lack of basic sanitation and the packed traveling, disease, starvation, overworking, extreme fatigue, etc. Someone has to post this for those of us who don't believe in the figures.
I for one am proud of the Jewish community's response to the genocide in Darfur. As a Darfurian refugee told me, being a victim can either sensitize you or make you indifferent to another's suffering, Most of us in the Jewish community have chosen the former path. The latter path not only diminishes the humanity of others but ouselves as well. Sadly, much of the Muslim world seems to more disturbed by offensive cartoons than by the slaughter of Muslims in Darfur and Iraq.
As someone mentioned in the string of comments, suffering should not be competitive. It is not about Jews or Africans. It is about HUMAN suffering and I commend the Jews for encouraging our govt. to take notice of Darfur, unlike Rwanda where the world watched and did nothing. We are all God's children and those in power should help those who are powerless. Many claim that Africans deserve what they get because of the corrupt govts. This view is totally twisted and although partially true. Many Africans are VERY hard-working, even with the little thay have. Powerful nations can begin by not exploiting war torn African countries and instead support them by working together with them. Perhaps that can go far by ensuring a curbing of hatred between people because of their skin colour or differing points of view and what enthic language one speaks..... Oh God help us all! Jer
humans have suffered at the hands of other humans since time began and there are many actions that were never recorded I am sure. But even women have suffered and still do in many countries at the hands of ignorance. We can all try to stop it and there is no problem with one group zeroing in on one cause. With our experience it moves us towards setting right those things we have experienced in the right direction. Good for you "not again" for your going forward and anyone who does not support you and go as far to make rude comments against you will probably some day face the same problem and have their minds changed.
Why is color even mentioned. god help us all.
It is clear that Darfur is a far bigger issue than we have recognized hitherto. It is imperative that my country, Canada, get 'on board' and make a fuss. People of all faiths or no faith at all must be heard. This is not a competition. The Shoah was the evil culmination of two millenia of persecution towards our people; when one person suffers, all people suffer. We are obligated to love one another, as this week's sedra points out. Love isn't passive, it's active. Tikkun Olam is an obligation on Christians and Muslims as well as Jews, and I know all three faiths are strong in this regard. More than prayer is needed: we must stand up and be counted. Finding peace is not a passive act, but requires strength and courage. After Armenia, we said: "never again!" After the Shoah, Bosnia, Rwanda, we said, "Never again!" Words alone cannot stop hatred and murder. Canada should lead by example, as our Constitution says,"Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law". b'shalom, Ian