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| PentecostalTheology.com
WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) — This Sunday marks the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, an annual day of commemoration developed to help prevent future genocides.
During World War II, six million Jewish people were killed in the Holocaust. Millions of others were also killed, but the Jewish people were largely targeted for their religion.
“The selected date of January 27th marked the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Really the symbol that’s associated with the Holocaust,” said Rabbi Edward Boraz with Mt. Sinai Congregation in Wausau.
On Jan. 27, 1945, the largest Nazi concentration and death camp was liberated by the Soviet Union. Millions of Jews, and others, were killed at Auschwitz-Birkenau near Krakow.
“Going to Auschwitz-Birkenau is a very moving experience, and it changes one profoundly,” said Rabbi Boraz. “There are no words to describe the horror of taking 6 million innocent lives.”
Rabbi Boraz has visited Auschwitz 17 times, and said it’s important to acknowledge one of history’s darkest moments.
“Just as a human being to acknowledge that this genocide that occurred in one of the most advanced countries at the time in terms of their culture, in terms of their science, was terrible,” he said.
Ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, it’s a time to honor those who lost their lives.
“Remembering this day is of great, great significance, and an important one worldwide,” said Rabbi Boraz. “If we do not study history, if we do not remember history, we may find ourselves condemned in terms of repeating it.”
Hoping to never repeat the horrors of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Rabbi Boraz said the unlawfulness of the Nazi’s actions needs to be recognized.
“Both people within our community, and people within the broader state of Wisconsin and in the United States that we have to be vigilant in protecting, and nurturing not just protecting by nurturing the fundamental human rights behind what the International Holocaust Remembrance Day is about,” he said.
There is a hashtag being used to spread the message and to raise awareness for this remembrance day. It’s #WeRemember, and you may see it used throughout this weekend for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Varnel Watson
What can we learn from the response of Assemblies of God leaders who spoke out against populist anger directed toward Jews in the 1930s? They warned readers to carefully judge stories that seemed designed to vilify others. In this case, people who disliked Jews conspired to fabricate a story that was historically unfounded. “Fake news” stories about conspiracies may, ironically, be a conspiracy to engender hostility against alleged conspirators.
Sadly, Robinson’s prediction that the Jews would “suffer every unspeakable villainy that godless men can devise” came true with the Holocaust (1939-1945). However, future calamities might be avoided if more people were to follow Robinson’s admonition and carefully examine the evidence before accepting supposed news as truth.
Alan Smith
Troy Day are you saying no other denomination spoke up against this?
Varnel Watson
There were lots of responses and reactions at times
Alan Smith
Ok.
Not just a timely response