Remember,
remember the 17th day of Shevat. This day, which is January 27 on western
calendar is one of days of yom hashoah "days of remembrance." It
isn't a holiday, but it is a holy day and commemorates International Holocaust Remembrance Day, said International Business Times on Jan. 27.
Jews observe Yom Hashoah, Jewish Holocaust Memorial
Day, on the 27th of Nissan (April to May in the Western calendar). January 27
is the day the world remembers (or should) when it stood by while millions
died--Pole, Slav, Catholic, Russian, red, disabled, dissident, gypsy, gay, and
many, many Jewish--in the World War II Nazi genocide. The theme for
International Holocaust Memorial Day
2016 is "Don't
Stand By" and it comes from a confession of Pastor Martin Niemoller.
"First
they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a
Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out
because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not
speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one
left to speak for me."
"Don't
Stand By" if you see injustice, persecution, bullying or marginalization.
Speak out, whether you identify with those you are speaking out for or not.
Don't stand by because an injury to one is an injury to all, says the union
slogan. On Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day and all year long, fight against acts
of anti-semitism, anti-life, anti-humanity. Don't stand by and let a great injury
be repeated. Talk about it and educate yourself. Holocaust Memorial Day Trust
has a free activity pack for educators and individuals, to remember.
Don't
stand by--share the love. The United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum offers ways to share stories online and in person. Oral
tradition is a time-honored way of preserving memories. Don't stand by and let
the flame die. On Yom Hashoah, let the the voices of the dead speak. Most
everything that remained of those horrible days are gone. Many holocaust
survivors have passed on. But memory is enduring voice, if it's not shushed.
Let Holocaust Remembrance
Day be a song that
keeps on playing your head, long after the music has died. Look at the Holocaust Remembrance Day poster from 2012. It shows, in shadow, the loved
ones lost. It's evocative and eerie. It makes you wonder who these shadows
were. Don't stand by and let them be forgotten.
Don't
stand by--watch movies and read books for Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day.
"Sarah's Key" is a translation of "Elle S'appellait Sarah"
by Tatiana de Rosenay. It tells of a little girl taken in the Jewish Vel' D'hiv
roundup in France and the journalist who uncovers her story. Read or watch
"The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"--that will put a face on Holocaust
for you. Or how about "The Book Thief?" Children can watch this one
and empathize. Don't stand by--teach your children that untold numbers of other
children perished in the Nazi holocaust and stories like this are their voice.
For a non-fiction Yom Hashoah read, try "Night" by Elie Weisel. But
be prepared to be haunted for the rest of your life. Read Viktor Frankel's
"Man's Search for Meaning"for a Holocaust Remembrance Day you'll
never forget.
