Holocaust Memorial Day: Remembering the Unspeakable.

Holocaust Memorial kids photo

photo courtesy of The United States Holocaust Museum, www.ushmm.org

Today I won’t be posting any craft projects, because I’ve got something much more important on my mind, and weighing heavily upon my heart. Today is Holocaust Memorial day in Israel, and around the world.

In Israel a siren is sounded and the entire country pauses for one minute and stands in memory of the 6 million who were tragically taken from this world. Traffic stops on freeways, and on busy city streets cars come to a stop and most drivers get out of their cars to stand. It is a truly moving sight and though I did not witness it today, it really brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

I won’t go into the details of the Holocaust, as I’m quite sure most of you are familiar with them, but if you’d like to read more, especially moving stories from survivors, there are many websites dedicated to the topic. If you are unaware of the gruesome details or need something visual to connect to the horrific nature of the event, just search for Holocaust images on google, and there’s more than enough shocking photographs to provoke some introspection.

And certainly we owe it the innocent people who were brutally murdered to speak about this tragedy with our children who are old enough to understand. And it is up to all of us to take responsibility within our families and communities to ensure that we do not allow evil of any kind to prevail.


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8 responses to “Holocaust Memorial Day: Remembering the Unspeakable.”

  1. Lauren Hawley Avatar

    Unspeakable and unbearable. Just when I thought I had seen/heard all the horror the holocaust had to offer, I read Sarah’s Key. How so many people were complicit in all that evil is unfathomable. Thank you for stopping me in MY tracks, to pause and remember the fallen.

  2. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks so much Lauren for your acknowledgement of my post!

  3. Mel M Avatar

    How very important to remember those horrific days–however painful it is–to try & keep ourselves from repeating/abiding such atrocities. What seems to me to be especially important to remember is the banality of such evil & how it can creep into everyday life. Even something as simple as ignorance and inaction. Thank you so much for you poignant reminder.

  4. Sara Rivka Avatar

    You are welcome Mel, thanks for sharing your powerful thoughts!

  5. Teacher Teacher Avatar

    Thank you for the reminder, Sara. I was touched to know about the minute of silence observed by everyone in Israel. What a good way to honor those who should not have lost their lives in these atrocious ways. I wish Americans were better at remembering – it would be good for us. I find myself thinking of the statement by Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
    *******
    I have a question for you. I remember hearing about an idea to call the Holocaust the “Shoa” instead – to your knowledge is that still being considered?
    Thank you again for your post.

  6. leeloo Avatar
    leeloo

    “Shoa” is Hebrew for Holocaust…

  7. Sara Rivka Avatar

    Thanks leeloo for clarifying that for Margo!

  8. elka Avatar

    En France on utilise maintenant le mot ” Shoah ” !
    Presque toute la famille de ma mère est passée par là, dont sa petite nièce Arlette qui avait 6 ans !
    Il ne faut jamais oublier …
    Bisous
    Liliane

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