Never Again.

Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel is an emotional day, with a nation collectively bearing the weight of an unthinkable tragedy: 6 million Jews who were murdered, slaughtered, gassed, and burned alive.

According to the Jewish calendar, days begin in the evening, not at midnight. Therefore, Holocaust Remembrance Day begins on the evening of the previous day with official ceremonies across the country. In the morning, we have a 2-minute Holocaust Remembrance Day siren where we stand to remember Holocaust victims. Throughout the day, TV broadcasts documentaries, movies, and testimonials of survivors. Radio stations play sad and quiet songs that reflect the gloomy mood of the day.

Since childhood, I have watched documentaries and testimonials of survivors. I was captivated by the stories and couldn’t believe what Jews went through before and during the war. The choices they had to make to survive, going through the selection process when they knew some people would be sentenced to death and others to life in a working camp. The worst and most heartbreaking testimonials were when the survivors witnessed their family murdered in front of their eyes, knowing they had lost their entire family and they were left utterly alone.

All stories had one common denominator - they were not human. What the Nazis did to the Jews during the Holocaust was not human. As a teenager, I couldn't believe how it was even possible. As an adult, I kept asking how these atrocities could happen in a democracy and wondered what I would have done living at that time. Remembering the atrocities is essential to ensure they will not happen again, but I really thought this dark time in humanity had passed, and we would never see this again. I believed that was the end of it until recent antisemitic protests on university campuses across the US emerged. 2024 has shown the world that “never again” could easily happen again in a democracy even today.

Calling for genocide of any group in society is against the code of conduct of universities. However, calling for the genocide of Jews doesn’t break the code of conduct immediately, and it depends on the context, according to the presidents of top universities in the US. History has shown that when regimes targeted and prosecuted the Jews, they weren’t the only ones; other groups suffered as well. We stand today at the beginning of a hatred tsunami stronger than ever before, and we can’t see the end of it.

Blaming the Jews for everything wrong in the world cannot heal the wounds of any group, nation, or religion; it would only perpetuate their victimization. The echoes of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel, with its nationwide siren and somber reflection, remind us of the fragility of life and the devastating cost of hatred.

Today, as the world faces new conflicts fueled by prejudice, we understand the importance of fighting against hatred more than ever. Revenge won't lead to peace of mind; it only escalates the negative emotions. We must teach the lessons of the Holocaust to guide people toward understanding and tolerance. These lessons are not only for the Jews; these lessons are for every minority group in society. Remember and never forget.

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Liat