Sunset, Monday, May 5-6, 2024* (the 27th of Nisan according to the Hebrew calendar) is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Moshe Katsav said the Holocaust was “A failure of humanity.”
I thought about recent world events and realized that the affliction of anti-Semitism was alive and well 72 years after the world swore “Never again.” Are we living on the edge of another failure of humanity?
The legacy of the Shoah is the genocidal ideology of the Nazi, Germany. It currently manifests itself against Jews and the State of Israel in a multitude of ways from the spread of radical Islam (ISIS, Hamas and Hezbollah) to state sponsors of terrorism like Iran who now threaten Israel with nuclear annihilation to the overt hostility of multilateral organizations like the United Nations and European Union. More astonishing, Jew hatred has even afflicted our own Democratic Party and transformed it into the “anti-Israel Party.” Imagine that!
The net result is tenacious terrorism, relentless criticism, blame for all Middle East tension and conflict, denial of Israel’s right of self-determination and the right to exist. No other sovereign member of the community of nations is subjected to this kind of bedevilment!
The truth of the matter is the world is full of racists. Many of them are anti-Semites who hate Jews because they are Jewish and probably hate Israel because it’s a Jewish state. Other racists hate blacks, women and Muslims. All racists twist facts, ignore evidence and are emotionally driven; they are irrational and dangerous. The French philosopher Denis Diderot warned us that “From fanaticism to barbarism is only one step.” Therefore, we need to pay attention to the lessons of the Holocaust. I believe they’re more relevant than ever.
In a better world, one that was kinder, gentler, just and fair and living in the word of God, I believe the Jew haters would be seen for the monsters they are – people so indoctrinated, blinded and consumed by jealousy, resentment and hate that their evil would be readily acknowledged, confronted and overcome by righteous people. I know that’s a fantastic notion.
However, I believe living in the word of God is a good starting point since He is the only one with the power and wisdom to fix this mess.
I’m starting with a word of prayer: “Lord, please intercede on behalf of your people and soften hard hearts, enlighten the unenlightened, raise people up from apathy and overcome indifference so they will stand with Israel and help raise them up to be a light unto the nations and finally, bind the affliction of anti-Semitism so it’s forever banished from the world. Amen!”
Blessings to all,
– Mark
*dates updated for 2024