Blog

Monday marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Though 75 years since this tragedy does not feel so distant, I am struck by the notion that, soon, no survivors will remain. I grew up at a time when we heard from Holocaust survivors in religious school, at the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Hearing their stories shaped me in profound ways, teaching me resilience, and instilling in me profound Jewish pride. What will it be like when there are no survivors left... will anyone tell their stories?

As you know, this milestone anniversary for Auschwitz comes amid a rise in anti-Semitic sentiments in the United states. I believe that the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is a chance for all of us to stand up to the rise in anti-Semitism, and to imagine how this atrocity’s lessons can impact us moving forward; how do we make it part of our story, but not let it define us as a people?

After all, Judaism has so many crowning moments worthy of our enduring pride. The fulfillment of 2,000 years of our People’s yearning, as we founded the modern State of Israel, stands as one of these pinnacle moments.

This past Tuesday, amid much pomp and circumstance, the President of the United States unveiled his long-awaited Middle East peace plan. The diverse reactions, came promptly. The two biggest parties in Israel, led by Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, supported it immediately. Our own Reform movement expressed serious reservations.

Wherever your opinions lie regarding these contentious issues, we can be thankful for the relationship between Israel and America, and the opportunity we now have to impact this relationship by voting in the WZO elections. We can be thankful to live at a time when Israel is a vibrant reality, and we pray for the time when the biblical words become fulfilled, as each one sits under her fig tree and no one is afraid.

This week’s Torah Portion, Bo, has the shortest name and yet the strongest action as Moses confronts Pharaoh with courage and conviction. Bo means to come forward with intentionality and purpose. Let us all do the same as we: internalize the sacred history of our people, share the stories of Holocaust Survivors who touched our own lives, speak up in the face of hatred, and commit to a meaningful relationship with Israel.

Shabbat Shalom.