PARIS—It’s a fair question, because too often, references to the Holocaust invite impatience, hostility (as in, “Get over it”), or even denial of the event. President Obama, a remarkable young man, has so far given the impression that Jewish history—and angst—is entirely rooted in the unspeakable events of 1933-1945 when in fact it required centuries of Church-fed and drilled and funded anti-Semitic doctrine in Europe, Good Friday blood libels, institutionalized degrading of Jewish human rights, the wearing of yellow badges, the denial of property or education, forced baptisms, Crusades-ignited rape and plunder sessions, national expulsions, burnings-at-the-stake, pogroms, regional genocides, mob violence after Sunday liturgies, to ignite the fury of Germany’s “Final Solution of the Jewish Question.”
My European tour is over, and there isn’t much of a question that the dreadful narrative of Europe’s Jews will remain in the dust and dirt and ashes of Europe; that six million of the eleven million Jews who lived here (and their 50 million potential descendants) are gone forever; that the one-time Polish Jewish community of three million, once a joyous center of Jewish mysticism and music and Yiddish culture is essentially a ghost; that a plurality of synagogues here are museums or, if active, are heavily protected with surveillance systems and armed police and rely heavily on rabbinic imports from North America, Britain, or Israel.
In rare photographs, some children smiled but their eyes did not see a God.
It was good to see so many non-Jews visiting at the site of the Terezin ghetto and concentration camp, an hour from Prague, and to experience the passion of our young gentile guide, Marek. “The Holocaust is everything to me, as a human being and a Czech,” he told me, as he dispatched the unbearable facts of the sites of torture, isolation, starvation, molestation, gallows, firing squads, crematoria, as well as the unimaginable living and sanitation conditions that pervaded for children and old people who were transferred to the former town and—if they somehow survived—were then shipped for gassing at Auschwitz and elsewhere. We saw poems, drawings, and art work left behind by doomed Jewish children; in rare photographs, some smiled but their eyes did not see a God.
My concern about all of this is not how Judaism will survive—we have already proven that. Nor have elements of the Christian world failed to examine, with notable bravery, its collective role in what happened here in Europe just 65 years ago. The Catholic Church has done extraordinary work in this category, renouncing anti-Semitism as a conviction, referring to the genocide by its Hebrew name of Shoah, and recognizing the State of Israel. But given the fact that genocide continues in so many corners of this world, that the number of anti-Semitic acts of violence persist alarmingly (especially here in France), that Israel’s heroic rise to independence just after the Shoah continues to be distorted by Muslim and just plain Christian anti-Semitic hate mongers who prove why the Holocaust happened in the first place (remember the recent rifle attack on the US Holocaust Museum?), the question arises:
What, really, is the future of Christianity, given its past?
Comments
Whining Hebrews-as if no one else ever suferred.
Hey, at least we can spell "suffer."
Idiot.
Rabbi Ben Kamin,
As a Hindu, I support you 100%. This is an excellent article. The Anti-Semitism of the Nazi's was not a spur of the moment act or something that was only built up in the early 20th century. It's rooted from a deep resentment built up over hundreds of years. Jews had to suffer anti-semitism for hundreds of years by people calling them the murderers of Christ.
For all the anti-Hindu propaganda that comes from certain Evangelical Christians, one thing that's forgotten is that many Jews lived peacefully in India due to Hindu tolerance (Many fleeing the persecution of Islam and Christianity).
I am a Christian who loves the Jewish people, but am constantly looked down upon by them as if I must suffer for all past deeds against Jewish people. Many of us Christians believe the Jewish people are especially chosen and blessed by God, and any hand that touches them in a harmful way will be cursed (Genesis 12:3). Christian conservatives support Israel and try to make inroads with the Jewish people, but are constantly facing blame in columns like yours. Try reading the history of valiant Christians during the Holocaust who risked their own lives to protect the Jews - Meip Geis, Irena Sadler and Corrie ten Boom are a few. Groups calling themselves "christians" who do hateful things "in the name of God" are not true Christians at all, and are blindly following hateful people without reading the Bible. MY New Testament says to display the fruits of the Spirit, which are love, peace, joy, goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
Now that Obama's been elected, it seems bigotry is gaining traction again. Thanks for the insights, Ben.
Rabbi Ben is talking about Christianity not Christians. Ive read alot here about his knowledge and awe of many Christians who have followed the Gospel teachings and also did the right thing during the Holocaust against the Chosen people. As a Methodist, I don't remember learning anything about this aspect of World War II in church. I understand the rabbi's feelings and respect his knowledge.
Look up "Seat 12" and google some recent news on JTA's website about what historians are finding about this.
It wasn't the Vatican that suppressed information, it was the US and European governments.
The problem is the number of people who claim to be Christian (or Catholic) and aren't. See the recent article here on the examiner about "Obama vs. Catholicism" to see how this is again playing out today.
Rabbi Kamin,
Remember, Hitler's "Mein Kamf" uses the same anti-semitic language/tone as Martin Luther's book: "On the Jews and Their Lies ". This guy is considered a key Christian leader.
Christianity as it developed had increasingly less to do with the teachings of the man, Jesus and was more interpreted in light of a widening rift between religious groups. Practices and prejudices that arise are more often cultural and tribal in origin and religious texts are written, tweaked and interpreted to support one's biases-whether Christian or any of the world's other religious fundamentalists. Karen Armstrong writes about this in her book Battle for God. I have been to Prague and Budapest. You write about the ghosts beautifully. Yes, it can be felt everywhere. Whole branches of our family vanished and property destroyed. How to call ones-self Christian with this history; such unimaginable horror . . . your post came as I was referring to Viktor Frankl and Heschel . . . Shalom
Weren't many of the Bolsheviks who murdered and tortured Christians, in fact of Jewish descent?
"Weren't many of the Bolsheviks who murdered and tortured Christians, in fact of Jewish descent?"
Bolsheviks? Jewish descent? The Bolsheviks who became the Soviets made it so hard on Soviet Jewry that Judaism all but vanished from Russia? Next someone will suggest that Stalin, who was a monster almost like Hitler, was also a Jew.
And this has what to do with the point of the presentation made by Rabbi Kamin that the Holocaust had roots in Christian antisemitism? His thesis, by the way, is nor original or controversial. Many church scholars have written about it. It is also presented clearly in exhibits at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington.
There is reason for hope that whatever the genesis of hate and genocide it can be stopped and we can become more civilized. The small but effective work of people of all faiths and no faith who support micro credit lending to women around the globe are finding a tremendous impact on changing historically brutal cultures. Watch "Pray the Devil Back to Hell". Read "The Banker to the Poor", and the most recent article by Bill Kristof, NY Times, on the changes being made through supporting women with education and the ability to support themselves and families. Because it has been "historically true" need not condemn it to be forever true. We must know what was done and how it continued to happen so that we can do the right things from now on. Is that faith? Egads.
The Japanese killed far more Chinese during WWII than the Germans killed Jews, in addition many German civilians suffered during the controversial bombing of the city of Dresden by the allies. Of course WWII ended over 60 years ago, and certainly the Jews are not the only people ever harmed or brutalized in war.
As a % of their total population, the Jewish people suffered more damage per capita than any other group in WW-II. But you are right that most of the deaths during the World War's was mostly Christians killing each other (exception East Asia). Although the Germans probably didn't intend to do this, but due to the damage done by them on UK and France left those countries in a weak state (Didn’t UK go bankrupt after WW-II?). This resulted in India and other colonies successfully overthrowing their colonial masters, so sometimes good things do happen unintentionally.
"The Japanese killed far more Chinese during WWII than the Germans killed Jews" (CSL)
----Thank you. I feel better now and so do the grandchildren of the Chinese people you refer to with all the sympathy.
It was the CHRISTIANS who saved their butts.
Shame on you and you hide behind the letters USA. Christians don't "save butts"-we save souls. You only prove the hurt in rabbi 's homily. Hitler would have gassed Jesus too.
"Jewish people are especially chosen and blessed by God, and any hand that touches them in a harmful way will be cursed (Genesis 12:3)"
Shari, Since Hindus have gotten along very well with Jews (unlike Christians & Muslims), will your god not send us to "Hell" or should I pack light just in case?
Well, the comments so far, rabbi, do illustrate a wide and sometimes sorry Christian response to your quite justifiable question. Your colleague Jerry Pisani sent you essay out to the Episcopal Diocese of Newark listserve and I've written a lengthy response which I hope he forwards to you. Suffice it so say that Christians need to know their past and the long history of anti-Judaism we practiced, and according to the example set by John Paul II, engage in serious repentance. And that all three of our Abrahamic faiths must use the seeds of peace and cooperation in our traditions, rather than the dark streak of xenophobia that some of our sacred texts can foster, to build a better future. Hope Jerry sends my response.
"and that all three of our Abrahamic faiths must use the seeds of peace and cooperation in our traditions"
What about Non-Abrahamic religions? or are you suggesting Abhrahamic religions should gang up on the rest.
How is killing justifiable in the name of Christianity, or ANY faith, for that matter?? Seems to me that in ancient times we were visited by some extra-terrestrial/divine beings who planted seeds here, and in us. They did not create, nor anticipate, the 'division' this would later manifest, because they didn't realize what fearful, primitive creatures we were, whose obsession with self-empowerment would lead us to mindless genocide, regardless of the commandments they instilled.
Rabbi,
I believe the concept of Teshuvah is how those who follow Jesus must approach the dispicable history of "christians" murdering Jewish men, women, and children in the name of God.
Jesus is not a christian. He is a Jewish man. One of our highest callings is to honor and pray for the peace of our elders, the Jews.
As a believer and follower of the Jew known as Jesus of Nazareth, I become physically ill and grieve deeply at the horrors done to this amazing and strong people by the hand of "christians". Those of us with the spirit to see those actions for what they were, pure evil, must repent on behalf of our ancestors and teach our children to honor the Jewish people.
Teshuvah, means to return. In order to go forward, we must first turn and face God, obey his commandments, and love one another.
Writing a witty and biting comment after this email does not in any way defend yourself. It only serves to put you in a category with those who committed those crimes
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