Remember
“The memory of the righteous is a blessing.” Proverbs 10:7
Memory is such a precious thing.
I didn’t realize the depth of that truth until a memory was all I had left of a loved one who had passed away. Her smile is etched into my mind. It wasn’t just the way her mouth curved, but how her whole face would light up with joy when she smiled. That thought brings such deep emotions along with gratitude for the time I was given.
Memories are a powerful gift.
“Why can’t the Jewish community just forgive and forget the Holocaust?”
My mouth dropped open when the words reached my ears. I was stunned by the question. My ignorant Christian friend had no idea how offensive the question was as we were standing in front of the Holocaust memorial.
Another recent conversation had me reeling as well. “I’ve been watching some videos on how the Holocaust was not as bad as the history books made it out to be. There is so much misinformation nowadays.”
The Holocaust is so disturbing that we all would like to pretend that pure evil doesn’t exist in our world. We would like to bury our heads in hopes that history wasn’t as bad as it has been reported.
Our desire to forget or deny unsavory truth is woven into the fallen nature of our being.
After my emotions had quelled, I thought deeply about why these questions were asked. And I believe the rhetoric that has permeated our country this year has been one of the driving forces behind antisemitic ignorance and Holocaust denial.
With the overload of information (or misinformation) at our fingertips, it is important for those who follow Messiah to be a voice of reason and truth in this generation. It makes me truly grateful for historians who have carefully documented the dark history of the Holocaust. We can contend for truth with evidence-based arguments.
The eyewitness stories of survivors are compelling and have deeply impacted my soul. It takes the enormous number of six million Jewish people who perished in the Holocaust, to a family…to one face. Eyes that witnessed the murder of loved ones.
I could not forget the look of Ruth’s eyes as she spoke about the murder of her beloved schoolteacher, mother, brother, and uncle.[1]
To love people as Messiah has commanded means stepping into their lives and allowing ourselves to be uncomfortable. The Jewish people remember the Holocaust in order to honor and cherish the memories of their loved ones. We need to remember the six million who perished because the rhetoric of this generation wants to stomp out their memories.
Without studying these atrocities, history is bound to repeat itself. The world needs the images and stories of survivors to move them. To minimize or deny historical facts aligns the person with an ungodly ideology that has deep roots in antisemitism. This has no place among those who name the name of Messiah.
The Jewish saying, “May their memory be a blessing,” is a sentiment expressed after someone has died. It is implied that it is up to the loved ones to keep their memory alive by remembering.
It’s as if the thought of that person would flood our mind with blessing when we recall their life. This has proven true for me personally, but how much greater all of those who perished at the hand of Nazi Germany. Remembering them, honors their lives and the loved ones who miss them.
The world needs this kind of blessing and for strong followers of Messiah to stand in solidarity with the Jewish people. Lest we forget….
“The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.” – Tryon Edwards
Written by Kori, Life in Messiah staff
What life event has so moved you that you will never forget?
January 27th is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. If you are Jewish, then you likely have lost or know someone who has lost a loved one in the Holocaust. Know that we stand with you against antisemitism. Life in Messiah would like to extend a heartfelt apology for all the acts of antisemitism committed in the name of Jesus. Click to watch our apology video.
Want to help us stand against antisemitism? Check out the resources on our webpage.