BBC Wants to “Lay the Holocaust to Rest”
For the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the BBC posted in its The Big Questions Twitter account the following question: “Our one big question this morning: Is the time coming to lay the Holocaust to rest?” That same day, Professor of Modern Judaism at Indiana University, Shaul Magid, titled his article in Tablet magazine as follows: American Jews Must Stop Obsessing Over the Holocaust. In his article he describes the view of the highly acclaimed scholar, Prof. Jacob Neusner, that we must “normalize the Holocaust” in order to advance our “intellectual and spiritual acculturation.” I wish it were that easy. I wish that British actress Maureen Lipman wouldn’t have to consider “leaving Britain because of a “worrying” rise in attacks on Jews.” I wish that “Belgian public schools” would not be turning into “Jew-free zones.” In short, I wish that we could all put the Holocaust to rest, or at least “normalize” it, but it isn’t going to happen. There is Nothing Normal About the Holocaust When people deny there was ever a Holocaust, and then promise to finish what the Nazis began, you know that there is nothing normal about the Holocaust. And if we don’t understand why it happened, and why specifically to us, then some version of it will happen again, guaranteed. First, we need to realize that we are not a “normal” people. The sheer number...
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27th was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Perhaps in preparation for this important day, the BBC dedicated its The Big Questions Twitter account (#BBCTBQ) to this occasion in the following manner: “Our one big question this morning: Is the time coming to lay the Holocaust to rest?” If you have ever looked for an example of the zeitgeist, this title is quite indicative. But for all the dismay that such statements invoke, what really worries me is how we, Jews, treat our past. If titles such as American Jews Must Stop Obsessing Over the Holocaust can be casually attributed to prominent individuals such as Prof. Jacob Neusner, there is real cause for concern. I must admit that I, too, am not keen on dwelling over the past. But we cannot normalize the Holocaust because there is nothing normal about it. The Holocaust is a stark reminder that the acculturation (which is nothing more than euphemism for assimilation) that the majority of American Jews seek will not happen, not now, not ever, not in America, nor anywhere else. Six centuries ago we tried to assimilate in Spain, and we all know how this ended. Ninety years ago we tried to do it in Germany, and it became an even greater tragedy than Spain. Now we are trying to do it in the US. There is no reason to expect...
Michael Laitman’s New eBook “What Does It Mean to Be Jewish Today?”
Available now is a collection of online essays written by Michael Laitman, “What Does It Mean to Be Jewish Today: Selected Media Essays“. This free eBook is a compliation of articles written for the Jerusalem Post, the Times of Israel, the Jewish Journal, and other venues providing context to the history and forces behind anti-Semitism; and offering the people of Israel a path forward to a lasting peace. The situation today is critical, but it’s not hopeless. Most importantly, the way forward begins with each of us. The path to peace – a life free of hatred, rejection and fear – can begin today with a gathering of friends and family around a dining room table. You’re encouraged to read this eBook, share it with friends, watch the archive of the 10-week course of the same title “What Does It Mean to Be Jewish Today“, send questions to Michael Laitman directly, or leave a comment below. Together we can make a difference! ...
Terrorist Attacks in France—Attempt on Its Foundations
by Michael Laitman The recent terrorist attacks in France clearly highlight the problem that has engulfed the whole world, but it is particularly acute in Europe. I have been talking about it for many years. However, while it affected only the Jews, Europe neglected it. Attacks on Jews seem to be “justifiable.” On the other hand, when it comes to the very foundations of society, the principles of the French Republic, then everyone feels effected. That’s why millions of people “woke up” and took to the streets. Indeed, freedom originated in France during the Revolution: freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of choice. All these are attributes of a free person, the foundations of French society, in which it great pride. However, freedom, like any phenomenon, can be twofold: positive or negative. For example, freedom of expression and freedom of choice have allowed for the proportion of the Muslim population in the country to reach, and according to some estimates, even exceed 10%. While this is not negative in itself, as everyone is free to pursue his or her own faith, the Muslim sector is becoming increasingly radicalized and involves native French people in its environment. Some of them convert to Islam and even develop links to terrorist organizations. And some go as far as traveling to the Middle East to fight for ISIS. Therefore, it is...
Jews and France—Where Do We Go from Here?
by Michael Laitman This past weekend horror in France must be a wakeup call for all of us, Jews and non-Jews alike. But to be honest, I am not optimistic that this will be the case. I have been warning for years that our sages, our wise spiritual leaders of the past, have written over and over that Jews must unite and serve as a role model of unity to the world. In their writings, they state time and again that this is the only thing required of us. Back in 2011, I published Like a Bundle of Reeds: Why Unity and Mutual Guarantee Are Today’s Call of the Hour, a book that details why our sages assert that it is our role to introduce brotherly love and unity to the world, and that until we do the hatred toward us will keep growing. Alas, so far, too few have listened. We cannot expect the shock and justified abhorrence of the French public toward extreme Islam to last for long. In fact, today, just a few days after the shock, a French girl is already willing to proclaim (though still incognito) her allegiance to ISIS through the world media. At the end of the interview, CNN’s Arwa Damon expresses her alarm at the fact that French young men and women aspire to join ISIS and see it as a...
A Strategy for Peace in the Middle East
by Michael Laitman In the last two days there have been over 115 news items about the escalation of anti-Semitism, especially in Europe. The media is reporting every detail about how bad the situation is getting but no one is offering a real solution. This is what I want to focus on because the trend is clear: anti-Semitism will keep intensifying to the point where governments will not be able to resist it. They will conform to their constituency’s wishes and will either expel or destroy the Jews in their territories. We may perceive this as a new trend, and some people do say that anti-Semitism has become “trendy,” but the natural laws that cause it have not changed, nor will they change. So I will focus on the solution, because there is one, and it’s always been there, but we’ve been unaware of it, and now it’s time we tap into it. When Abraham took his followers out of Haran toward the land of Canaan, he taught them a rule that would become the motto of Jewish existence henceforth: “love your neighbor as yourself.” By sticking to this principle despite obstacles and challenges, the Jews were able to unite and maintain their integrity for many centuries. When we lost our unity, because we have forgotten that principle, we lost our land and have been pariahs ever since. And...