It's been a hard year.
The last nearly 7 months have ripped us apart as much as they've brought us together. My heart continues to break daily and as we approach Yom Hashoah, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on May 5th, I can't help but reflect on how our family has managed the pervasive and overwhelming rise in Jew Hatred and antisemitism. Raising two elementary-aged Jewish children, we've had to address things that - honestly - we weren't prepared to address. We've answered questions that I don't think either of us even came close to asking at their age. We've had to have honest dialogue that is confusing and upsetting for adults to have with other adults - let alone children!
And with this holiday looming, combined with May being Jewish Heritage Month, I wanted to share how our family is addressing and answering questions about the uptick in antisemitism and the disgusting parallels that can be drawn between what's going on in cities across America and the early days of the Holocaust.
What ended with the extermination of more than 6 million Jews as well as righteous Christians, those with mental or physical differences and people of Color, began pretty much the same as what we are seeing on college campuses and in major cities across the country - even some of what we are seeing locally: protests built on propaganda demonizing the Jewish People and creating an us/them dichotomy. Jewish students were blocked from entering schools (just like now), Jewish businesses were vandalized (just like now) and calls for extermination were made (just like now).
Never again is NOW
According to the Anti Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents in the U.S. ALONE soared 140% in 2023. "ADL tracked 8,873 antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2023, the highest level recorded since ADL started tracking this data in 1979."
This USED TO BE a history lesson for our family. One we definitely talked about loosely at home with the boys - as age-appropriately as possible. But follow the known terror group Hamas' invasion of Israel on October 7th, where more than 1,200 innocent men, women and children were kidnapped, murdered and raped, the increase in antisemitism became palpable and honestly: terrifying. Security at our synagogue increased and I found myself being more vigilant of who is around my kids.
Following the Shoa, collectively we have always said "Never Again" - this is not limited to Jews. But sadly, "never again" is now.
"Mommy, why do people hate us so much?" is a question my 7-year-old asked. How do you even answer that?
Honestly. You answer the best way you can, and my answer was simple: "I don't know but not everyone hates us. Just some people."
I've found that having these tough conversations in the car (where they can speak openly without making eye contact) or at our dinner table to be most helpful. I usually start with, "What have you heard about what's happening in ________" and let them answer. Sometimes, they volunteer a lot. Sometimes, they are blissfully unaware. I meet them where they are. My oldest has started asking about the concentration camps and what the differences are between those and death camps. He also seemed curious about how people "knew" where the Jews were. So we had to talk about that and it was hard. But if they are old enough to ask the hard questions, they are old enough to be told the truth.
How We'll Remember
As we near May 5th, Holocaust Remembrance Day, our family will continue to have these conversations. We will light a candle to keep their spirit burning within us. My oldest will begin reading The Diary of Anne Frank and we will remember how hatred is contagious and silence is dangerous. We will continue to speak out against hate of ANY kind. We will encourage getting to know people who are different than us because with familiarity the fear of the unknown disappears. We will ask our friends to speak loudly against this pervasive hate and stand strong against behaviors that incite violence towards us as Jews or anyone!
And we will continue to be vigilant. Because, if I'm honest, we have to.
May their memories forever be a blessing and a lesson to the world. Never Again.
For more information about Yom Hashoah or how to fight antisemitism in your community visit the US Holocaust Museum, Anti Defamation League and JewsInSchool.org
