The Klausenberger Rebbe, the leader of a Hasidic Jewish community in Poland, was separated from his wife and 11 children upon arrival in Auschwitz Birkenau. Left alone in the world, the Rebbe sat in the barrack, and for the first time in his life, he cried. He had...
Let the Light Shine on: Reassessing God’s role in the Holocaust
What was God’s role in the Holocaust? Was God a perpetrator, a bystander, or a savior? Many of us have grappled with these questions: Where was God during the Holocaust? How could a God who loves us let such a thing happen? [redirects to the Times of Israel]
Love is stronger than hate
In the shadow of the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht[1], an attack on a synagogue is particularly chilling. But this was not Kristallnacht. When the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh was attacked, people from all over poured in to help. In fact, as overwhelming as the grief and fear of the shooting was, the love in response has been almost more so. [redirects to the Times of Israel]
How to talk to your kids about the Holocaust
“Mom, what do you know about the Holocaust?” You swallow, take a deep breath, play for time, your mind racing. “They’re not old enough to know about this,” you think to yourself frantically. “Can’t I hold on to their innocence just a little bit longer?” They’ll never be old enough. No one is old enough to really deal with the atrocities of the world. I know I’m not. But ignoring evil does not make it go away. Ignoring evil gives it space to grow. We must face evil, and we must help our children to face it. [redirects to the Times of Israel.]