10.11.2024

What happened 86 years ago

In the progrom night 86 years ago hundreds of Jews were killed or committed suicide. Thousands of synagogues, cemeteries, stores and appartments of Jews were destroyed. The next day the deportation of tens of thousands of Jews into concentration camps started. Three years later the holocaust began, the attempt of a systematic elimination of an entire nation with a scaring and never seen consequence and inhumanity. After the end of the second world war the frequently quoted "Never again" was born.

86 years later

Since many years Israel is living under the Iron dome because the country is shot with rockets by 3 terror organizations, who explicitely aim for wiping Israel off the map, on a daily basis, and that's usually not worth a headline. On October 7, 2023 1200 Jews were literally massacred and more than hundred taken hostages. Worldwide Hamas was partially celebrated. When Israel stroke back within the borders of law of nations, offenses went up. Degree and proportionality can certainly be discussed but the right to self defence as such should be acknowledged even if Isreal exercises it. The anitisemitism which increasingly spreads out escalated in Amsterdam in a targeted hunt of Jewish soccer fans. Many other examples could be called out. Today there was a cerimony in the museum's yard in Fulda reminding of the progrom, which obviously required a massive presence of the police.

Never again?

I still remember, that in school we went through the third empire three times which I found quite exaggerated, because this most dark period should really be overcome decades later. Today I see the same hate against Jews spreading out and think of a movie which I watched many years ago. A teacher hears from his class that such a madness wouldn't be possible nowadays. He does a trial with them and forms them to a community which adores him, segregates others and develops more and more totalitarian schemes, including violence against people of different opinions. The situation turns out of control and ends lethally. A sobering outcome which makes one think.

The movie linked above is a remake. In the older original the teacher seeds and feeds curiosity about and desire for the great leader who would stand behind him. One day he announces that the class would now have the chance to see him live. The curtain opened and a blazing spreech by Adolf Hitler was played. There was suddenly dead silence in the classroom.

Never again is now!