Council for Relationships’ Post

Learn more about how the effects of October 7th have deepened our thoughts, feelings, and remembrance of the Holocaust. This day reminds us of the ongoing need to fight against hatred and protect the dignity of all people. #NeverAgainIsNow #WeRemember #HolocaustRemembrance https://lnkd.in/dt_cZEYD

Today, as we observe Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, our hearts are heavy with both remembrance and resolve. 🕯️🖤 On this solemn occasion, we honor the memory of the six million Jews who were heinously murdered in the Holocaust, a dark chapter in human history that must never be forgotten. We also pay tribute to the courageous Jewish resistance fighters who stood against the atrocities of that horrific period. This year, our reflections are particularly somber as we witness a shocking wave of anti-Israel demonstrations roiling American university campuses. These scenes, jarringly anti-academic, depict tent cities ablaze with activism, but devoid of the pursuit of peaceful resolution. Instead, they are filled with annihilatory anti-Israel rhetoric, antisemitism, and harassment of Jewish students. Since the end of World War II, Israel has served as a safe haven for Jews around the world. Yet, amidst the current period of conflict in the region, it is heartbreaking that the few Holocaust survivors who are still with us today had to witness the October 7th massacre, where once again Jews were targeted, this time in their own country, simply for being Jews. The words 'never again' ring hollow in the face of such atrocities. But even in the midst of darkness, we refuse to succumb to despair. We are reminded that important work is still required, and we cannot and will not give up. Hope is essential, and darkness can only be dispersed by light. As we remember the past and confront the challenges of the present, let us honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust by reaffirming our commitment to fighting hatred, bigotry, and injustice wherever they may arise. Together, let us strive to build a future where the lessons of history are heeded, and where the promise of 'never again' is fulfilled for all humanity. hashtag #YomHaShoah #HolocaustRemembranceDay #NeverAgain #Holocaust #NeverAgainIsNow

Last Saturday was the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On January 27th, 1945, the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army. My grandfather was also liberated that day. The majority of his family, as well as my grandmother’s, didn’t make it. Some starved in the ghetto, many were gassed in the showers and were later burnt to ashes in the crematoriums. The Jewish holocaust was made possible for 2 main reasons: The deeply rooted antisemitism in European societies, which always had the Jews to blame whenever things turned bad; and the fact that the Jews had nowhere to escape, no safe haven where they could protect themselves. 2023 was an awful year for Jews. Jews have historically faced hatred from the far-right (classic antisemitism), far-left (capitalists), Muslims ('they took our land'), and now even from young American students (portrayed as white colonialist oppressors). If someone had only told my grandparents they were white colonialists in 1945… And who could have imagined that such voices would emerge after the massacre of 1200 Israelis, mostly civilians, in their homes or at a music festival. Mutilated, raped, burnt alive, and live-streamed on TikTok. And all that by Hamas, a fundamentalist Islamic militia that openly calls for the complete annihilation of Jews. 2023 antisemitism has taken absurdity and hypocrisy to whole new levels, with the generous help of social media algorithms. The context is dead, the truth doesn’t matter. On this year’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it’s become clearer than ever: The world hasn’t learned anything. #internationalholocaustremembranceday #holocaustremembranceday #holocaust #neveragain #neveragainisnow

27 January marked Holocaust Memorial Day - a solemn reminder of one of the darkest chapters in human history. This day honours the memory of the six million Jews and millions of other individuals who perished at the hands of the Nazi regime during World War II. It reminds us of the fragility of freedom and the enduring importance of upholding human rights and dignity. Holocaust Memorial Day is a poignant reminder of the consequences of prejudice, discrimination, and unchecked power. By acknowledging the atrocities committed during the Holocaust, we reaffirm our collective responsibility to safeguard human rights and prevent such atrocities from occurring in the future. South Africa’s Constitution resonates deeply with the values upheld by Holocaust Memorial Day: it emphasises the importance of human dignity, equality, and the protection of fundamental rights for all individuals regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, or background. It underscores our nation's commitment to reconciliation and peace-making in the aftermath of apartheid. Let us not only honour the memory of those who perished, but also reaffirm our commitment as South Africans to building a society where human dignity and freedoms are advanced. #fwdeklerkfoundation #holocaustmemorialday #holocaust #unitednations #constitution

NO COMMENT Extract from the article………The history of the Holocaust, however, does offer lessons for the current bloodshed. For one, it reminds us to center the voices and perspectives of those facing state violence and genocide. And the most urgent thing that Palestinians in Gaza now need is a ceasefire and an end to the Israeli bombing campaign. That is also what at least some of the Israeli survivors of the Hamas attack and family members of Israeli civilians killed or in captivity in Gaza want. A top priority now should be stopping the unfolding violence, saving lives, and the release of Israeli hostages together with hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 160 children, detained by Israel unlawfully, without charges or trial. The history of the Holocaust also points to the importance of accountability, even as post-Holocaust accountability remained limited. In the case of Israel’s assault on Gaza, accountability needs to begin from what is very clear: incitement to genocide, which is punishable under article 3 of the UN genocide convention, even when genocide does not follow. NB:Please be polite, don’t offend if you don’t have anything usefult to say or what you say damages the reality of what other people think then don’t say anything.

Today, as we observe Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, our hearts are heavy with both remembrance and resolve. 🕯️🖤 On this solemn occasion, we honor the memory of the six million Jews who were heinously murdered in the Holocaust, a dark chapter in human history that must never be forgotten. We also pay tribute to the courageous Jewish resistance fighters who stood against the atrocities of that horrific period. This year, our reflections are particularly somber as we witness a shocking wave of anti-Israel demonstrations roiling American university campuses. These scenes, jarringly anti-academic, depict tent cities ablaze with activism, but devoid of the pursuit of peaceful resolution. Instead, they are filled with annihilatory anti-Israel rhetoric, antisemitism, and harassment of Jewish students. Since the end of World War II, Israel has served as a safe haven for Jews around the world. Yet, amidst the current period of conflict in the region, it is heartbreaking that the few Holocaust survivors who are still with us today had to witness the October 7th massacre, where once again Jews were targeted, this time in their own country, simply for being Jews. The words 'never again' ring hollow in the face of such atrocities. But even in the midst of darkness, we refuse to succumb to despair. We are reminded that important work is still required, and we cannot and will not give up. Hope is essential, and darkness can only be dispersed by light. As we remember the past and confront the challenges of the present, let us honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust by reaffirming our commitment to fighting hatred, bigotry, and injustice wherever they may arise. Together, let us strive to build a future where the lessons of history are heeded, and where the promise of 'never again' is fulfilled for all humanity. #YomHaShoah #HolocaustRemembranceDay #NeverAgain #Holocaust #NeverAgainIsNow

My latest commentary, on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the relevance of the Holocaust. Please do have a read if you’re interested: https://lnkd.in/eqvbnazt

NEW PRACTICES IN HOLOCAUST COMPARISON Holocaust comparison is a growing trend Many Holocaust museums and memorial centers are now engaging in educational activities about different mass atrocity crime events alongside the Holocaust, often in a comparative fashion. Furthermore, many academic courses and programs globally are teaching the Holocaust not only comparatively to other events in which genocide and crimes against humanity were committed, but also as a framework for understanding racism, xenophobia, and other current human rights issues. To “compare” does not mean “to equalize,” but to carefully explore differences and commonalities. Careless comparisons distort understandings of both the Holocaust and other mass atrocity crime events. Taking a cautious approach to comparison helps to reflect upon what we mean when we compare multiple historical and contemporary events