We gather today to recall those who lost their lives during the events in Europe from 1937-1944 known as the holocaust.
Both Jews and those who are not Jewish may G-d bind their souls in the bond of eternal life and may their memory be for a blessing. May G-d Al-mighty bless the United States of America, its president, leaders and advisers and all those who fight for her. May our country continue to be a “medina shel chessed” a kind nation which peruses justice, protects those in need of protection and fights for morality. May G-d also open our hearts so that those things learned during today’s program will not remain academic or emotional, but will inspire us and encourage us so that those that gave their lives will not have died in vein,
Many people ask “where was G-d in the holocaust? How could He have let this happen? It must be he wasn’t there or it must be there is no G-d!” G-d forbid! The Jews have been subject to persecutions for thousands of years including today. And never has our faith in G-d waivered. There are times a mother or father must act harshly with their child, at the time the child may not understand why their parent is being distant, even cruel to them! He may even cry. But when he has grown up he realizes that everything his mother or father did for him was only because they loved him and wanted what was best for him. Even though at the time he didn’t realize it.
It is the same with G-d. Who are we to understand G-ds actions? We know G-d loves us, and even though now we can’t understand it, we have undying faith that G-d knows what he is doing. So I’ll ask the question again, “where was G-d during the holocaust?” He was there. In the ghettos, in the cattle cars, in Auschwitz, even in the gas chambers.
This is not meant to release us from responsibility. It says in genesis that man was created “b’tzelem elokim” in G-ds image. What does this mean? Surely G-d doesn’t have arms and legs. It means we have been given the opportunity, the ability, to be G-ds partner in creating the world. Our sages teach that we must view the world as a scale. Perfectly balanced between destruction, and redemption. And our next deed will tip the scale in either direction. Man was created to toil to make the world a G-dly place. For those of us who are Jewish to live a life dedicated to Torah, for those who are not Jewish to live a life of morality, to be good people. As a speaker said today, “Somebody cannot do everything but everybody can do something. May it be your Will G-d that we all do our part perfecting the world and will come to the day when as the prophets say "Nation shall not lift up sward against nation neither will they ever again know of war." May it be speedily in our days.
Both Jews and those who are not Jewish may G-d bind their souls in the bond of eternal life and may their memory be for a blessing. May G-d Al-mighty bless the United States of America, its president, leaders and advisers and all those who fight for her. May our country continue to be a “medina shel chessed” a kind nation which peruses justice, protects those in need of protection and fights for morality. May G-d also open our hearts so that those things learned during today’s program will not remain academic or emotional, but will inspire us and encourage us so that those that gave their lives will not have died in vein,
Many people ask “where was G-d in the holocaust? How could He have let this happen? It must be he wasn’t there or it must be there is no G-d!” G-d forbid! The Jews have been subject to persecutions for thousands of years including today. And never has our faith in G-d waivered. There are times a mother or father must act harshly with their child, at the time the child may not understand why their parent is being distant, even cruel to them! He may even cry. But when he has grown up he realizes that everything his mother or father did for him was only because they loved him and wanted what was best for him. Even though at the time he didn’t realize it.
It is the same with G-d. Who are we to understand G-ds actions? We know G-d loves us, and even though now we can’t understand it, we have undying faith that G-d knows what he is doing. So I’ll ask the question again, “where was G-d during the holocaust?” He was there. In the ghettos, in the cattle cars, in Auschwitz, even in the gas chambers.
This is not meant to release us from responsibility. It says in genesis that man was created “b’tzelem elokim” in G-ds image. What does this mean? Surely G-d doesn’t have arms and legs. It means we have been given the opportunity, the ability, to be G-ds partner in creating the world. Our sages teach that we must view the world as a scale. Perfectly balanced between destruction, and redemption. And our next deed will tip the scale in either direction. Man was created to toil to make the world a G-dly place. For those of us who are Jewish to live a life dedicated to Torah, for those who are not Jewish to live a life of morality, to be good people. As a speaker said today, “Somebody cannot do everything but everybody can do something. May it be your Will G-d that we all do our part perfecting the world and will come to the day when as the prophets say "Nation shall not lift up sward against nation neither will they ever again know of war." May it be speedily in our days.
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