Jews are no strangers to suffering. Throughout the ages, many others have also been victims to unspeakable cruelty, but the judgment of Winston Churchill is almost certainly the definitive description of the uniqueness of the Holocaust: "The Final Solution is probably the greatest, most horrible crime ever committed in the whole history of the world."
Holocaust scholar Deborah Lipstadt points out two reasons why the German program of genocide remains in a class by itself as an example of evil: "It was the only time in recorded history that a state tried to destroy an entire people, regardless of an individual's age, sex, location, profession, or belief. And it is the only instance in which the perpetrators conducted this genocide for no ostensible material, territorial, or political gain." In fact, the Holocaust remains incomprehensible. But that is all the more reason why it must at the very least be remembered.
"Civilized" Murders
Perhaps the most inexplicable of all the aspects of the Holocaust – the question that forces us to come to grips with the very meaning of the word "civilized" – is the realization that took place in the twentieth century and was the work of so-called "cultured," "civilized," highly educated Germans.
"The death camps," as Franklin Littell pointed out, "were designed by professors and built by Ph.D.s." Nazis tortured by day and listened to Wagner and Bach at night. They put down a violin to torture a Jew to death. They used their advanced scientific knowledge to design crematoria and, most amazing of all, they had highly skilled people devise the most fiendish medical experiments to test levels of pain, how long someone could be immersed in freezing water before dying, and even, as the infamous Dr. Joseph Mengele (chief "physician" at Auschwitz) was fond of doing, performed gruesome experiments on twins such as sewing two children together to create a "Siamese pair" and to measure their reactions.
Romain Gary, author of The Dance of Genghis Cohn, bitterly came to this shocking conclusion: "In the ancient times of Simbas, a cruel, cannibalistic society, people consumed their victims. The modern-day Germans, heirs to thousands of years of culture and civilization, turned their victims into soap. The desire for cleanliness, that is civilization."
The Holocaust was different because it came at the hands of those we would have been certain were incapable of committing atrocities. The Holocaust forces us to rethink the meaning of culture not rooted in a religious or ethical foundation.
Never Again!
What is this seeming obsession Jews have to remember the Holocaust?
Jews are a people of memory. In the Ten Commandments they are commanded to "remember the Sabbath day." In the Bible they are told to remember the exodus from Egypt, as well as the Amalekites who attacked them as they wandered in the desert. Memory is the key to survival. Indeed, as the philosopher George Santanya so perceptively put it, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
That is why the Jews feel a special obligation today to add yet another commandment of "remember" to their liturgy. Remember the Holocaust – so that its millions of victims at least the gift of living in our memories. Remember the Holocaust – so that as the philosopher Emil Fackenheim has demanded, we do not give Hitler a posthumous victory by having us forget our past and our heritage. Remember the Holocaust – because, in the words of Elie Wiesel at the dedication of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington in 1993, "To forget would mean to kill the victims a second time. We could not prevent their first death; we must not allow them to be killed again."
from "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jewish History and Culture" (Alpha Books)
(16) RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG, April 25, 2020 3:34 AM
THE HOLOCAUST IS UNIQUE
To the Editor
Often, I write about the uniqueness of the Holocaust and how it is completely different from other genocides. There are those who believe that the only way to preserve the memory of the Holocaust is by making it a universal lesson regarding the traumas and tribulations other peoples and nations have suffered.
The article Shoah Museums Telling a Multicultural Story/April 17 by Steve Lipman stressing the importance of holocaust educators teaching the similarities between the Holocaust and other genocides. By doing so I believe we are diluting the significance of the Holocaust . The aim of the holocaust was to murder every single Jew in every single country throughout the world.
While it is important to stress that we should not be bystanders while others are murdered or discriminated against, we should remember that the Holocaust was anti semitism carried to the extreme of total annihilation. Unless we preserve the memory of the Holocaust and tie it to Jewish observance and ritual by including the Holocaust in prayer services, the Holocaust will become a mere date in history. It will be regarded as just another genocide in the history of genocides. To preserve the memory, I created a Holocaust Haggadah, most recently translated into Spanish. Hopefully, families will read the excerpts pertinent to the Holocaust as they read the Haggadah, remembering the honor the six million who perished.
My parents of blessed memory were both Holocaust survivors. I was born in a displaced persons camp and came to the United States as a refugee. Growing up without grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, made me the person I am today. The memory and lessons of the Holocaust will be kept alive by future generations if we have pride in the accomplishments of the survivors and preserved Judaism through education. RABBI DR. BERNHARD ROSENBERG
(15) Bobby5000, July 7, 2019 3:11 AM
response
I agree with Elias's comments. We should try to emulate the righteous who helped Jews at tremendous risk for themselves, not the many Germans who did not actively assist but who said, not my issue, not my problem.
(14) Elias, March 4, 2019 10:30 PM
Yet you find religious Jews with no compassion
This past shabbath dinner some Chabad Jews expressed no compassion for innocent non Jews who have to flee their countries due to persecution and hunger. In particular we were talking about the Venezuelan people. I’m sure not all Chabad are like those at the table and not all Jews are like that. But what I told them was that after what the Jewish people have gone through how can we be so cold to those in extreme suffering. They answered that those people should stay in their countries because they chose those leaders. I tried to defend a Jewish woman who was from Venezuela and she has relatives stuck in that country who she says are in a lot of danger. The Jews with no heart at the table heard this but didn’t change their mind. They added “thank G-d for the second amendment in case those illegal people come to the US.” I asked them what if they were “illegal Jews” trying to get here? They never answeeed that. How can some Jews pray several ones a day and called themselves pious and righteous religious Jews when they can’t have any compassion for others? It wasn’t easy telling them how the world rejected and murdered so many Jews because of the level of intolerance by a world that suddenly some “religious” Jews want to represent. I still feel ashamed knowing some Jews can go that low after so much has happened to our people. Shalom.
(13) Surie, November 14, 2013 5:17 PM
remembering the Holocust
As a child of Holocust survivors, my parents did notspeak much. We kids grew up in a happy livel home. twice ayear Tatte spoke Seder Night and Tisha BAv. Years passed we grew up had children of our own. something changed at every family simch,Bar Mitzva, Sheva Brochos or other family gathering Father would get up and speak.
He spoke of the atrocities, and of Thanks to Hashemfor all the good that has come his way. His family , children, grandchildren , great grandchildren and now fifth generation.
We his children are very fortuneate to have him with us. May he be zoche to lead his entire family to see Moshiach Tzedkenu Bemehera Beyamenu. Amen
(12) Rie Moya, June 10, 2013 11:50 AM
Israel will prevail
We pray daily for Israel, the government and people of Israel and for the peace of Jerusalem.
Fear not Israel, the whole world is not against you and you would be surprised to know that far across the Pacific isles, we are here supporting and praying for you daily. Prayer is stronger than any man made atomic bomb.
Shalom!
(11) Paulyn, June 9, 2013 6:06 PM
Mans Inhumanity towards Man
AS I read and discover history and Man's inhumanity I realize given authority and lack of conscious, prejudiced and hate we are all victims. Mass hysteria and the audacity of madmen in collusion take all of us on a level of power and demonic deeds. Those who protest are bullied and beaten down to submission by the black shirts who prevail. We find our misery to be justified by leaders who find our weaknesses and exploit them. Complacency, demagogues, appeasement and lack of love and respect for our fellow man should not override sanity and G-ds teachings, but unfortunately it does and we cannot let history repeat itself. Israel is and will remain the land that G-d blessed and as people of conscious we must protect her and remain free. So many have escaped mans and G-ds wrath for their evils, who are we to judge another, let their nightmares and misfortunes be their rewards for their crimes. I believe that Europe died at the Holocaust..... genius and scholars, authors, musicians and teachers and cures and breakthroughs with them.
(10) Anonymous, January 10, 2013 9:55 AM
Shocked
I have never understood the events that accrued during this time in history, and the pain that was placed on these families. I feel such a shame for the world, in standing by and allowing such a horrible event to happen. As a believer in God, and knowing it is because of the Jews, I have the teachings and instructing of the Most High. I will always be thankful to the Jews, and all they have done to protect the Word for me (Torah). Over the years, I have considered the Jews, as Brothers, and Sisters... I have to say with my Jewish family, never again, and I will stand with them. I hope the education of this time in history; bring tears to many so that this event will never happen to any people ever again. My heart goes out to the many Jewish families affected by this horrible act of man.
Esther Cook, March 20, 2015 10:53 PM
You will understand
To prevent such an atrocity from ever happening again, you do have to understand how civilized people transformed into savages standing for "might makes right." Some Germans kept diaries in mhich they recorded this struggle.
A summary is in Robert Zubrin's book "Merchants of Despair." It is one of the most important book of our times, particularly as Antisemitism rises in America and many other places.
(9) Anonymous, January 10, 2013 9:55 AM
amazing website. thank you
I think this website is the best I have gone to so far.I am actually the daughter of this person and i have to do a presentation on powerpoint and this has been the best website i have gone to so far.
(8) sjhepner, January 10, 2013 9:54 AM
German hatred was hundreds of years in the making
In the book , Hitlers Willing Executionerss..it is noted that German churches sowed the seeds of hate and annihilation for the Jews by demonising them...note the use of jargon such as extermination which applies to pests... it wasnt extermination of pests.. but wholesale gruesome bloodthirsty murder of 6 million innocent JEWS, AND LATER IN TOTO TO SIXTY MILLION VICTIMS OF THE n NAZI PLAN, THE WORLD WAS TO BECOME ONE GIANT SLAVE CAMP.. evil had its 6 successful years, but it was centuries in the making.
(7) Nenette Grunberg, November 8, 2011 2:37 PM
Winston Churchill's statement does not absolve neither Germany's pride in Adolph Hitler nor the European American allies (quote unquote). The Austrian Painter had as much legal status in Germany as a Mexican illegal in the United States.The only difference is The Germans wanted Hitler and we don't want the Illegals.
(6) Angie, January 9, 2008 5:56 AM
about a week ago my school has started lernimg about the holocaust and we wrnt givin sits to look at...we had to fimd then r selfs and i fond this one and its grat!!
(5) Emma, June 9, 2003 12:00 AM
Today we have begun a course on the Holocaust at my school. This is one of the many websites that we were given to look at to try and understand the dreadful events. This site is really informative, and is opening my eyes to something so huge that it's very hard to comprehend. Although I'm not Jewish myself, the thought of the holocaust fills me with a great sadness.
I'm glad this site exists, it is contributing to the worldwide effort to make sure that we never forget what happened, and that hopefully we can learn from it.
(4) Kylie, November 14, 2002 12:00 AM
This is a very factual website over the holocaust. I will come back here!
(3) Anonymous, August 22, 2002 12:00 AM
The Holocaust is Not Unique
"The German program of genocide remains in a class by itself as an example of evil", because "it was the only time in recorded history that a state tried to destroy an entire people, regardless of an individual's age, sex, location, profession, or belief. And it is the only instance in which the perpetrators conducted this genocide for no ostensible material, territorial, or political gain."
The Holocaust was, indeed, a horrific program of genocide that remains a class in itself. Jewish history has, however, once before faced such a nation and a such a program. It is known as Amalek. For no reason other than to defy the will of Hashem, Amalek stabs the back of the weakest of the Bnei Yisroel in the Wilderness. "No ostensible material, territorial, or political gain." Furthermore, the epdisode recounted in Megilas Esther was an attempt by Haman, a wicked Amalekite, to destroy every Jew, "the entire nation". In this sense, therefore, the Holocaust is not unique. It is a problem that Jews have faced, are facing, and will continue to face until the coming of Moshiach.
Indeed, 'zachor al tishcach', we must not forget to wipe out the memory of Amalek, of Haman, of Jewish persecution, and of the Nazis.
(2) Gabriel, August 12, 2002 12:00 AM
The Jewish holocaust was not unique
Regarding the uniqueness of the Jewish holocaust Deborah Lipstadt is quoted on this website: "And it is the only instance in which the perpetrators conducted this genocide for no ostensible material, territorial, or political gain."
This is plain wrong. Hitler used the Jews as scapegoats for all the troubles of Germany, and used this hatred as a political tool to come to and stay in power. He also used the pretext of "cleansing" Europe of Jews, to attack, occupy and exploit other countries with large Jewish populations. The slave labour in the concentration camps was used to help keep the war machine humming. Obviously, the Nazis gained politically, materially and territorially from their antisemitism. Where did you learn history Deborah Lipstadt?
There have been many other ethnic and religious massacres in history. Have you heard of the Armenian's massacre in the Ottoman Turkish empire? Several million people were butchered, and the Turks walked away unpunished. They won't even say "Sorry".
The only uniqueness of the Jewish holocaust is its magnitude, and the frightening use of modern technology to build an industrial killing machine.
(1) Anonymous, July 8, 2002 12:00 AM
this site is very useful for people studying the holocaust as everyone needs to understand