In the New Jersey Star-Ledger last Thursday (7/19), there was an article titled “Alleged Nazi-era war criminal detained: 97-year-old accused of torturing people sent to death camps.” The article emphasis’s the resurgence of anti-Semitism specifically in Hungary BUT the resurgence of anti-Semitism is not solely occurring in Hungary. It is happening all over Europe and the US.
In August 1953, Yad Vashem, located in Jerusalem, Israel, was established. Yad Vashem is “the official Israeli institution for the commemoration of the Holocaust,” as Suzanne Vromen writes in her book Hidden Children of the Holocaust. Yad Vashem writes on its’ about section
As the Jewish people’s living memorial to the Holocaust, Yad Vashem safeguards the memory of the past and imparts its meaning for future generations. Established in 1953, as the world center for documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is today a dynamic and vital place of intergenerational and international encounter.
Overall, Yad Vashem is the center for education, research, documentation, and commemoration of the Holocaust. Yad Vashem is also responsible for the Righteous Among the Nation which acknowledges and commemorates those non-Jews who placed their lives at risk in order to help safe-guard (which was done in various ways, please see the Yad Vashem website for details) the Jewish community. The organization does extraordinary work.
The next resource is The Jewish Virtual Library. It is also a fantastic and wonderful source relating to Jewish history, especially regarding the Holocaust. A section of the site is dedicated to women and Judaism. This is an important and unique factor of site because when discussion of the Holocaust take place, women are not usually separately addressed. The Jewish Virtual Library naturally has photos and other imagery for the benefit of the general public. Please also look into this site and the information available for you to read.
So, how does this tie into the newspaper article? Very easily. Anti-Semitism and intolerance are unacceptable behaviors. Governments such as the United States, and the rest of the world for that matter, need to recognize the significance of the rise of anti-Semitism and address the issue. Accepting such behavior, especially intolerance, has already caused dozens of genocides across the world, mostly located in Africa and the Middle East. “Modern” society needs to look back at the lessons learned from the Holocaust then look forward and try to prevent further genocide, intolerance, and anti-Semitic behaviors and ways of thinking. Without that that, anti-Semitism, intolerance, and genocides will continue to be the norm of the peoples of the world.
Sources:
Yad Vashem
The Jewish Virtual Library
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