nic careem’s Post

Brief thoughts on this Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day: Each year – Jews and non-Jews alike gather around the world to acknowledge and remember the horrors of the Holocaust. On a personal level, I’ve always taken time to pause and reflect on that most horrific catastrophe. I’ve also made a point to visit as many museums, monuments, and places of significance related to the Holocaust as possible – from Paris, to Jerusalem, to D.C., and Chicago, to Charleston, Philadelphia, Ottawa and beyond. Typically – like most people – I’ve thought of the Holocaust as a devastating period in time – with a generally identifiable beginning and end – a period which lasted roughly 12 years. However, as time has passed, as I’ve matured and grown older, and as I’ve studied and contemplated the Jewish experience – I’ve come to the conclusion that while the Holocaust as a period of mechanized death and destruction did end – the ideological foundations that led to and enabled it live on. What I mean is this: what happened on October 7th and what has happened many times since the end of the Holocaust is a continuation by much of the Islamic world, the far-right, and the far-left, of what Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers’ Party set out to do. In this sense – the battle between those who have sought to eradicate Jewish life or relegate Jews to their proper place in the world – and Jews (and their allies) who have persistently worked to prevent these things from happening – rages on. This is – fundamentally – what October 7th was and is about. It isn’t about the creation of an independent Palestinian state. It isn’t about the living conditions of Arabs in Gaza or the West Bank. It isn’t about retribution. It is about the suppression and ultimate destruction of Jewish life. Because of this – I have broadened my reflection on Holocaust Remembrance Day to include all victims of this war – including those which lost their lives 211 days ago in Israel. Crucially – something that continues to keep me up at night – is the fact that today we’re seeing the same naiveté, passivity, and social miscalculations that allowed Hitler to rise. From Hamas, to Hezbollah, to Iran, to their sympathizers tormenting students in the West – the intention is clear – and yet the response remains largely absent. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day – think about all victims of Jew hatred – reflect on the past – but also realize what’s happening at the present time and what this could mean for the future. Never Again is now.

Holocaust Remembrance, also known as Yom HaShoah in Israel, is a day dedicated to reflecting on the atrocities faced by six million Jews and countless others during World War II. The observance serves not only to honor the victims but also to ensure that such horrors are never repeated. Holocaust remembrance is a fundamental element of cultural identity and historical consciousness for the Jewish community, and it implores the world to remember the consequences of unchecked hatred, advocating for tolerance and human rights. The "Never Forget" commandment holds deep meaning, particularly for younger generations. It goes beyond the act of remembering and urges continuous engagement with the past to better understand the complexities of human behavior and societal conditions that can lead to catastrophic events. In Israel, Holocaust Remembrance has significant implications for political decisions and national policy. The memory of the Holocaust reinforces the perceived necessity for a robust national defense policy and influences the nation's approach to security and diplomatic engagements. The existential threat remembered through the Holocaust often shapes the discourse around the survival and security of the Jewish state, highlighting the importance of maintaining a homeland for the Jewish people as a haven from persecution. The preservation of the State of Israel is seen as not only a political necessity but also a moral one, deeply rooted in the collective memory of the Holocaust. The state embodies a sanctuary against the possibility of future atrocities against the Jewish people. This perspective reinforces the support for policies prioritizing national security and the development of diplomatic strategies that ensure the country's continued existence and prosperity. The memory of the Holocaust serves as a constant reminder of the need for vigilance and resilience. The use of Holocaust Remembrance in political rhetoric and public policy in Israel sometimes raises ethical and philosophical questions. The balance between learning from history and exploiting it for political gain is delicate. Critics argue that the sacrosanct nature of Holocaust memory should not be used to justify current political actions that might be controversial or divisive. Thus, it remains a complex challenge to navigate the use of this historical memory in a way that honors the past while fostering a just and equitable society. In my opinion, Holocaust Remembrance is a multifaceted observance that holds profound significance for both the Jewish community and the global population. It serves as a somber reminder of the depths of human cruelty, a warning against the dangers of silence and indifference, and a call to action to prevent future atrocities. The enduring lessons of the Holocaust continue to influence political, social, and moral realms, reminding us of our collective responsibility to uphold the values of humanity and justice. Thank you #Guy_Morad

As Jews, the threat to our mere existence becomes greater every day. Countless hate groups threaten our lives and safety. Countless countries fuel antisemitism and even are engaging in acts to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The attacks on Israel are attacks on Jews, period! Our history is rich with antisemitism and those who wish to cleanse the world of Jews has not only grown but has become more visible and vocal. Our fear is rooted in our knowledge and experience of the Holocaust. 6 million Jews were killed simply for being Jewish. The world watched and for many years did nothing. We have been taught that Never Again shall this occur. Despite that, every year more and more hate crimes and antisemitism pervades our society. Our existence is at risk and many politicians lack this basic understanding! Those who were victimized in The Holocaust are living diaries of the atrocities that were committed. As they pass the history of what transpired becomes more of a distant memory. The stories must be told so as NOT to repeat history. Learning and understanding must take place to further prevent more bigotry, hated and antisemitism! “As living witnesses to the Holocaust pass away, those who still teach its history say the lessons matter. “Teaching the Holocaust … draws awareness to how fragile institutions that should protect our security can be and why we shouldn’t take them for granted,” Emily Loeb, director of programs and education at the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, wrote in an email. “The Holocaust teaches about the dangers of antisemitism and hatred, why it’s important to actively counter identity-based hate, and why we all must work for a more just and civil society.” My hope for this New Year is that those who have the ability to evoke change learn the lessons to actually lead in this change.

The Wave 2.0 - be Laurie. On this holocaust memorial day, I couldn't help but think of the movie "The Wave", where a highschool teacher aims to teach his students what autocracy means de-facto, and experiments how easily group pressure can take over a full community. Things quickly get out of control until hardly anyone demonstrates clear, critical thinking. The movie makes you wonder if it's truly possible to turn young people into fascists or 'simply' brain-washed to a point of no / low return.  2024 reality makes you understand that it is possible and it's very worrying not only for Israel but for any person who values liberty, inclusion and peace. Back to "The Wave" - when the teacher shows the class a documentary about the holocaust, Laurie (image below, IMDb) is emotionally affected by concentration camps footages, and deeply ponders how ordinary people could commit such terrible atrocities - or merely stand by while they occurred. She resists joining The Wave, despite her boyfriend and classmates' pressure and intimidation. Her bright, individual thinking, truth and justice seeking, and courage separate her from her classmates and show the power of a single person's free will in the face of evil. Fast forward to 2024, showing us The Wave 2.0 all over. What is terribly sad is not only that terror proxies are taking over many geographical locations, but that "normative" people have become blind, their thoughts distorted, and the bystander phenomenon - reliving. Where do you stand post October 7th Hamas attack, massacre and kidnapping? Where do you stand when innocent civilians are still held in underground terror tunnels for 7 months?! Where do you stand when students chant 'from the river to the sea' not understanding which river and which sea, demonstrating they either have historical amnesia or are deliberately calling for the destruction of the state of Israel?  Any connection between Hamas and 'freedom fighters' is dilussional, as is any connection to US woke movement. Moving to Europe, the Eurovision's opening festivities in Malmow were inappropriately held on Holocaust Remembrance Day eve. The Israeli team were absent from the event. Just one event and still, were the rest quiet bystanders? There are examples galore worldwide, forcing us to see clearly what is happening in our communities. Please stand on the actively moral side of history - be Laurie. 

The Holocaust may be history for much of today's youth, but Jews understand that memory fades. I read just the other day that 1 in 5 young Americans think that the Holocaust is a myth. The Holocaust is one of the most documented facts in history, yet 20% of respondents aged 18-29 to a Pew Centre poll think that the Holocaust never happened. How is this possible? It can only be explained by the Marxist teaching these young people are exposed to. Their teachers have poisoned their minds, and hence this is why we are seeing campus eruptions calling for the destruction of Israel as the Jewish state. The goal of the protesters is the creation of a Palestinian state with Hamas as the government. Make no mistake about it, if Hamas had their way not a single Jew would live in what is currently the territory of Israel. The lucky ones would be refugees. We have seen on October 7th what would happen to the unlucky. What is astonishing is that Joe Biden appears to wish to placate the college protesters by calling out Israel as a rouge state that is violating the humanitarian rights of Palestinians. He has said that American bombs will not be allowed to be used by Israel to destroy the last stronghold of Hamas in Rafah. Therefore, munitions which Israel has already bought and paid for will not be delivered to Israel. This unprecedented step has unnerved Israelis who have counted America as its strongest ally. Biden has chosen the course of balancing anti-Israel acts with pro-Jewish words. While denying Israel material support in its fight for survival, he gives a speech honoring the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Rabbi Avi Weiss wrote in a Op-ed today in the WSJ to Biden "Don't give us the Holocaust at the expense of Israel." Rabbi Weiss reminds us "during the Shoah, Jews were helpless to defend themselves. Today at a critical time in the war against Hamas, America seeks to limit the Jewish state's ability to defend itself." Rabbi Weiss concludes "WE SHOULDN'T ACCEPT THE HOLOCAUST AT THE EXPENSE OF ISRAEL!" Kind words from Biden about the Holocaust are nice, but bullets and bombs in the hands of the IDF are the way to ensure that Never Again, means Never Again.

Zionism Denial Dr Einat Wilf Many believe that without the Holocaust there would have been no Israel. In 2009, Cairo, President Obama, wanted to make an important stand against Holocaust denial. He did not understand that by reaffirming the dangerous equation that the global legitimacy for Israel is rooted in the Holocaust, he fanned the motivation to engage in Holocaust denial for those who continue to believe, as they always have, that Israel is not a legitimate state. Holocaust denial, Holocaust minimization (‘6 million is exaggerated’) Holocaust ‘equalization’ (‘there were other genocides, the Holocaust was no different’), Holocaust reversal (‘what the Nazis did to the Jews is what the Jews are doing to others’), Holocaust marginalization (‘other people were also killed in the War & Holocaust by association (‘the Palestinians are the secondary victims of the Holocaust’), are different facets of the same effort to rob Israel of what seems like a powerful & indisputable source of legitimacy. The canard that ‘the Palestinians are the secondary victims of Europe’s crimes’ is one of the worst of lies: the Jewish survivors could not be expected or welcomed to stay in Europe, the Europeans decided to ‘dump’ the surviving Jews on unsuspecting Arabs who were living in an area that colonial Europe controlled. Israel exists not because the Europeans dumped the surviving Jews in the colonially controlled Middle East. Israel exists because the Jews willed it into existence. The modern state of Israel exists because the Jews who created it believed themselves to be descendants of the Israelites & Judeans who were sovereign there in ancient times & paid a high price for preserving their separate existence as a people. The modern state of Israel exists because for centuries & millennia Jews kept yearning for Israel, ending the Passover Seder with the words, “next year in Jerusalem.” Were it not for Arab resistance & Britain’s betrayal & submission to Arab pressures, the Holocaust as such might not have taken place. Israel came into being after World War II not ‘thanks’ to the Holocaust, but thanks to Britain’s imperial dissolution. To portray Israel as the outcome of the Holocaust is to engage in Zionism Denial. It robs the Jews of their agency, their history, their historical connection to the land of Israel & their yearning to return to it. It turns Israel into a colonial project of guilty Europeans rather than a national liberation project of an indigenous people reclaiming their homeland. In remembering the Holocaust, Israel mourns not only all that was & still is lost, but Zionism’s greatest tragedy & failure. Israelis do not ‘revel’ in the Holocaust as a source of legitimacy for their state. They mourn a vision of a state that could have been home to so many more. Zionism sought a state for the Jews not so that “never again”. Zionism sought a state for the Jews so that never at all. https://lnkd.in/dRVqv5nB

The First Holocaust: The Surprising Origin of the Six-Million Figure by Don Heddesheimer (2018) https://lnkd.in/dyQvvi39 Most people believe that roughly six million Jews were killed by National Socialist Germany during World War II in an event generally referred to as the Holocaust or the Shoah. But how long have we been hearing about this six-million figure? The most widely understood answer is that the six-million figure was established after the Second World War during the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. Although it is true that the six-million figure was declared to be the indubitable truth at this tribunal, it is actually remarkably older. This book shows that the six-million figure dates back to the late 1800s, when Jewish pressure groups were targeting czarist Russia for its anti-Jewish stance, accusing Russia of oppressing and persecuting the six million Jews in Russia, and adopting a “solution” to its “Jewish question” which allegedly consisted of outright extermination. Claims that six million Jews in Europe were suffering to such a degree that millions had died already, while many more millions would face a lingering death, climaxed for the first time during fundraising campaign that started during the FIRST World War and reached its peak in the early and mid-1920s. The New York Times was the main vehicle for such propaganda, which also included well-known buzzwords such as “annihilation,” “extermination” and even the term “holocaust.” Although this sensational propaganda of Jewish suffering slowed down during the 1930s, it never completely ceased and received new momentum in the 1940s during the Second World War. As we all know today, this propaganda skyrocketed after Germany’s total defeat, as the victorious powers of the Second World War seized upon the opportunity to take advantage of such propaganda and to increase its scope and impact. Don Heddesheimer’s book reveals a Jewish-Zionist propaganda pattern that has been used since the late 1800s, first against czarist Russia, then in favor of the Soviet Revolution, next against Nazi Germany, and finally and ever since in favor of Israel. Fifth edition with an extended introduction featuring most of the information also contained in our video shown below, plus a list of including a list of 288 sources referring to 6 million suffering, dying or dead Jews published between 1900 and the opening of the Nuremberg Trials in late 1945. The following video explores "The Surprising Origin of the Six-Million Figure" in depth.

Tolerance. The Holocaust museum in L.A. isn’t actually called the Holocaust Museum like in many other places. It’s called The Museum of Tolerance. For me the name implies a clever educational premise, which is to investigate how hatred toward a minority can be tolerated as it grows over time from tropes and stereotypes to an applied racial theory, to violence, and ultimately to extermination. It’s an educational experiment which can and should be done at classrooms for most ages and would seek to evaluate what you would have tolerated and what you would have done were you exposed to increasing levels of hate speech toward any minority. We’re living out that experiment today. Freedom of speech is certainly an inalienable right, but like many other rights, it has its limits. To paraphrase Oliver Wendell Holmes: “your freedom of speech ends where my nose begins.” As such, let's evaluate whether the speech exercised by pro Palestinians should be permitted and tolerated: 📣“Globalize the intifada:” this would inevitably encompass such intifada tactics as the stabbing of women, ramming with cares baby carriages in bus stops, and of course suicide bombings targeting only civilians (there were 140 that resulted in 1,000 Israeli dead just between 2000-2003. Oh, and it will be global. 📣“From the river to the sea…:” everyone’s favorite ditty originally states in Arabic (and chanted in many campuses), that “from water to water, Palestine will be Arab,” i.e. cleansed of the 7 million Jews living there today. A genocidal chant if every there was one. 📣“Ya Hamas we love you, we support your rockets too:” more than 40,000 of those weapons (each capable of killing many) were lobbed into Israel since it departed Gaza twenty years ago. 📣“Burn Tel Aviv to the ground:” not sure I need to explain this one, except to say that this would deprive the Middle East of its only truly liberal city, and the million Jews who live there. How is your level of tolerance doing? Now let's swap Israel, Zionists and Jews with Blacks, LGBTQ, or any other minority and tell me if your answer would change. If enforcement on campuses – its timing and severity – would have differed. If social media would have been outraged or as tolerant. Courtesy of those mobs on campuses, we received a microcosmic glimpse into the pro-Palestinian vision come to life: a terror supporting state cleansed of Jews and those deemed by their selectors as anathema to their cause. It is perhaps fitting that this vision manifested at institutes of so-called higher learning. We exercise zero tolerance for bullying in schools. Zero tolerance for harassment at the workplace. Zero tolerance for racism and discrimination. And yet when it comes to Jews, those tolerance levels are sky high or absent altogether. On the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day (observed this Sunday), using our eyes, ears, and moral compass, let’s draw a line in the sand and exercise zero tolerance for Jew hatred. #antisemitism

ref Jewish Voice for Peace Yom HaShoah, Holocaust remembrance Day, marks the Holocaust and honors the 17 million people murdered during Nazi Germany’s genocide, including 6 million Jews. This year, this day of remembrance falls on the day the Israeli military ordered the over 100,000 Palestinians sheltering in east Rafah to flee, but with nowhere to go. The decision to assault Rafah on this day is grotesque. The parallels between the dehumanization and persecution of Jews during the Holocaust, and the ongoing US-backed cataclysm in Gaza, where Palestinians are enduring the Israeli government’s genocide, are too stark to be denied. We know our remembrance is hollow if we cannot apply the lessons of our past to the present day. The experiences of our ancestors’ persecution and mass death under fascism now serve as the foundation for how we define modern genocides. As Jews, we recognize the Israeli government’s tactics of dehumanization, intentional starvation and mass slaughter of Palestinians from the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany in the Holocaust, all too often against our own ancestors. Many of us grew up on the images of emaciated people, starved in ghettos and concentration camps. Today’s images from Gaza are a rattling echo. We remain steadfast in our commitment to resisting oppression and advocating for justice in Palestine. Never again means never again for anyone. As Jews, as we continue to witness and struggle against the Israeli government’s oppression of Palestinians, we also recognize exactly where these ongoing atrocities will lead, and we do everything we can to stop that outcome. Our beliefs, our history and our duty demand we stand up to stop the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians before it escalates even further. We invoke our ancestors as we affirm our commitment to ensuring that their values of solidarity, collective liberation, and anti-imperialism are carried on into the future as we fight for justice in Palestine.

Throughout history, speaking up has been a catalyst for change, shaping societies and influencing major events. From the Abolition of Slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Suffrage, Environmental Protection, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the End of Apartheid in South Africa, and even the Revolutionary War which led to the creation of the United States, these movements highlight the critical role of vocal advocacy. If these voices had remained silent, many changes might never have occurred, prolonging injustices and denying rights and freedoms to countless individuals. No matter the context, our voice is a powerful tool—advocating for ourselves and others, promoting innovative ideas, negotiating deals, or upholding justice. Using our voice is essential for driving change. Speaking up allows us to express our thoughts and beliefs, sparking meaningful conversations and opening new opportunities. Each voice is unique, shaped by individual experiences and insights. As a woman, I am passionate about using my voice to advocate for justice and speak out against what is wrong. Although I typically avoid discussing politics or religion here, recent events have compelled me to do so. From the unexpected violence on October 7th to the large-scale attacks on April 13th—with over 170 air drones and numerous missiles, nearly all intercepted by Israeli, U.S., and EU defenses—I can no longer remain silent as my people face these attacks. I am being called to speak, and I am reminded of the resilience of my ancestors, the Jewish people, who have been victims of hate crimes for centuries. As I’ve been reconnecting with my heritage, I’ve discovered others in the tribe who refuse to remain silent. These events by Hamas, intended to frighten, have only awakened an entire generation of sleeping giants. Like many, I went from being Jew-ish to being Jewish overnight, strengthening my connection to my heritage, traditions, and community, and prompting me to reflect on my role in a world still grappling with anti-Semitism. The Holocaust was a horrific period in history, with six million Jews systematically exterminated. The establishment of Israel in 1948 offered hope and renewal, particularly for Holocaust survivors and those fighting anti-Semitism. Today, Israel is a vibrant, multicultural democracy, including Jews, Arabs, Druze, Bedouins, and Christians, all dedicated to cultural pluralism. Despite 75 years passing, threats remain. Holocaust memorials and museums are poignant reminders of past atrocities, reinforcing our commitment to the mantra “never again.” (continued below)