"The problem here is a totalitarian uniformity, a cult-like mentality such that even allies are enemies if they fail to follow the Exact Party Line. " - Phyllis Chesler

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

What Is Yom Hashoah?

Holocaust Remembrance Day is today and tonight in the United States. It is observed on Thursday in Israel. In keeping with Jewish tradition, Jews outside of Israel obvserve holidays on the same day as those in Israel, making Wednesday the day of observance this year.

The internationally–recognized date comes from the Hebrew calendar and corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on that calendar. When the actual date of Yom Hashoah falls on a Friday (as will happen in 2008) the state of Israel, following the Knesset legislation establishing the event, observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday.

The New York Times has an inspiring story in today's paper From Auschwitz, a Torah as Strong as Its Spirit. Many ritious Christians paticipated in the saving of this Torah.

Yesterday I wrote about the current genocide happening in the Sudan, not even realizing that today is Holocaust Remembrance Day. How befitting however!

How many times must we say "NEVER AGAIN!"???

"Denying historical facts, especially on such an important subject as the Holocaust, is just not acceptable. Nor is it acceptable to call for the elimination of any State or people. I would like to see this fundamental principle respected both in rhetoric and in practice by all the members of the international community."
Secretary-General-Designate Ban Ki-moon,Press Conference SG/2120, 14 December 2006

OK Mr. Secretary General put your money where your mouth is. Either enforce this principle and policy with respect to the UN Human Rights Commission or again disband it permanetly. Stop the current genocide in Darfur against the innocent black Africans.

4 comments:

MYM said...

Excellent posts. I visited the Holocaust Museum when I was in Israel ... I just don't have the words to describe it. As we went through. in one section there was a recording reciting all the names of the people who were murdered, and there were photos of them flashing across the wall. It still haunts me.

Jessica said...

Great post. Half my family is Jewish, and when I was growing up my Grandma was married to a man who had been in a concentration camp. He has since died, and when I got older I found out more about him. His story is so sad...yes he survived the camp, but for the rest of his life he was basically crazy and sad. So much mental stuff going on there. It's making me sad just to write about it.

A New Yorker said...

Drowsey, I am envious. I wish I could visit Israel. I went to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC many years ago. The design was astounding. I don't know about the one in Israel but in DC they made it so that when you walk around it is crowded and you feel what it must have been like to be someone who was in the camps.

Jessica, That's very intersting. Thank you for sharing this about you. Maybe you can also write a post about your experiences :-) I worked as an intern for Survivors of the Shoah in College. I met many survivors and I even worked for a man who escaped to Israel from Austria. Never feel sad. Feel proud!

Jessica said...

Wow...I didn't realize I used the word sad so many times in my comment. I was very tired. lol :)