A Reflection on the Holocaust, Part I of III
As we approach International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, 2021 to remember the millions of innocent victims murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, we must pause and reflect.
Our reflection must include action, according to each of our circumstances in life, to insure that the world never forget the truth of what happened because of hate.
We must also remember that hate and extremism, as manifested during our Capitol riots, is an ever present danger that can ignite catastrophic events.
Aware of this danger, let us proceed with an integration of recent realities of hate, here in America, so that we may unite together as light to vanquish the darkness of hate.
The Toxic Virus of Hatred
In numerous of my published works on the Holocaust including my Nov. 24, 2017 article Bigotry, Prejudice, Racism: America’s Toxic Virus, the consequences of hate were addressed.
This article was a wake-up call because “a virus
proliferated by hate is infecting our country.”
The Charlottesville
Warning
The JIB provided “insight into the targeting preferences of
white supremacist extremists and the state of white supremacist extremism in
the United States.”
The perspective of the JIB report, which I stressed in this
article, was that white supremacist extremism through lethal violence will
continue.
My article also stressed my opinion – lethal violence by
white supremacists was emboldened by Charlottesville and “we must prepare
ourselves for additional eventualities from white supremacists motivated by
hate.”
The article also stressed that “the lessons we must learn
from Charlottesville, especially since other demonstrations empowered by the
event are forthcoming, is that America must work collaboratively against
hatred to prevent additional violence and division.”
Hatred at the Capitol
The eventualities of white supremacists attacks were memorialized
in these published works. It was a preview to their criminality as instigators
of hate, sedition, and insurrection during the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021.
This treatise crystalized a catastrophic event in human
history, but it also memorialized a warning for the consequences of hatred.
The treatise was written before the Internet and easy digital
documentation. So now, I feel the responsibility of publishing it in The
Sentinel. This is for the service of education,
warning, my dedication to Roman Catholic theology, and that the world never forget the Holocaust.
It is hopeful that this article will be a reminder that we
must never forget the Holocaust, and the consequences of hate.
Scriptural Reflections on the
Holocaust, Part I of III
The Psalms, particularly the Psalms of lamentation, deal
extensively with suffering and adversaries.
In these laments, there is a close association between form
and substance, determined by various circumstances and intentions.
The people oppressed by the adversary are in distress and turn to God for help, knowing that his might, power, and faithfulness to the covenant has vindicated them in the past.
They have experienced his wrath for their sinfulness, yet,
they have also experienced his benefits.
The people lament for God has turned away from them. He has hidden his face and they wonder why
and for how long.
They cry unto him, place their distress before him with
humility, and seek to rouse his compassion by touching his heart.
The people must make recompense for whatever they have done
to displease God. They must seek
reconciliation by confessing their sinful behavior. God is almighty and can do all things while
his people can do nothing without him.
These human and religious thoughts and reactions are the
basis for the springing up on the lament, a call to God for help in a
particular circumstance. [i]
Since the lament is a chief category of the Psalms, it would
do us well to examine it a little more carefully.
Even in the opening of the lament, there is an invocation of
the name of God, a prayerful turning to him with the imperative word following:
“Hear us!”, “Listen to my voice,” or right out, “Give me my right, O Lord. [ii]
The Psalms make it clear that Israel is aware of whom she
must turn to.[iii]
Frequently, some hymnal attributes are added once the name
of God has been mentioned in the lament.
These attributes contain an appeal based on the close relationship
between God and his people, to his power and willingness to help.[iv]
Psalms of Lament
First, the invocation is immediately followed by a pleas for
help:
“O God, do not remain unmoved; be not silent O God, and be
not still.”[v]
Secondly, to the invocation are added hymnal words which
appeal to Yahweh for help:
“O Shepherd of Israel, hearken, O guide of the flock of
Joseph! From your throne upon the
cherubim, shine forth before Epharim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rouse your power
and come to save us.”[vi]
Thirdly, the invocation may immediately be followed by the
plaintive question:
“Why O God have you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep
of your pasture?[vii]
Yet, the invocation may be missing and the Psalm start with
the lament (a description of the conduct of the enemies and evildoers) which
has the form of an accusation directed against the gods of those who oppress.[viii]
There are personal laments which are complaints against
deadly adversaries which seek to destroy the life of the suppliant, and there
are the national laments which attack the enemies and evildoers.[ix]
These national laments belong to the days of humiliation and
prayer, proclaimed in the ancient world or special circumstances of crisis such
as defeat in war, attack, and ravaging by external enemies.[x]
The background of such a national psalm of lament has
definite historical value for the enemies are historically real as expressed by
those nations who have attacked Israel:
“Yet, they consult with one mind, and against you they are
allied. The tents of Edom and the
Ishmaelite’s, Moab and the people of Hagar, Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek,
Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre: the Assyrians too are leagued with them;
they are the forces of the sons of Lot.”[xi]
The aim of the national psalms of lament which deal with
historical oppression are to strike at the root of disaster. They are prayers of great confidence in God
who is trusted to do great things. God
is trusted to interfere, for the laments are not magical formulas but true
prayers to God who shall hear the cry of his people and vindicate them from the
malice of the enemies and evildoers:[xii]
“Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but sustain
the just, O searcher of heart and soul, O just God. A shield before me is God, who saves the
upright of heart; a just judge is God, a God who punishes day by day. Unless they be converted, God will sharpen
his sword. He will bend and aim his bow,
prepare his deadly weapons against them, and use fiery darts for arrows.[xiii]
The Pleas of the
Congregation
The congregation pleads in their prayers to God for help form the evildoers, those who are sinners, and from the enemies who are deceitful, oppressors, wicked, evildoers, sorcerers, fools, faithless, robbers, lions, and vipers of venom. The congregation is at odds with these enemies and evil doers, yet it admits its sinfulness, humbles itself, and does penance. Therefore, we have the penitential lament which expresses sinfulness and humility:[xiv]
“Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may
your compassion quickly come to save us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God our Savior, because of the
glory of your name; Deliver us and pardon us for your name’s sake.”[xv]
Although the people do express their sinfulness and humbly
ask for God’s help against the enemies, the question is rightly asked, who are
the enemies? Presumably, the enemies and
evildoers vary according to the psalmist who talks about them. Of course, the enemies of the king are
identified with those who are enemies of his nation. But, the role of the enemies played
throughout the Psalms is difficult to explain.
Yet, the psalmist’s description of enemies is to be examined.[xvi]
The enemies are generally referred to as evil doers. Often, they are more specifically referred to
as false witnesses, as insolent, as persecutors, proud, and bloodthirsty
men. In the figurative, the candidates
for enemies are referred to as roaring beasts, lions, or bulls.[xvii] Although these are merely allusions to those
who are enemies and evildoers, the problem of explicitly knowing who they are
is not clear cut for there is little evidence. [xviii]
We have shared some historical background on the psalms of
lamentation as understood in their actual setting (sitz im leben). Also, we have looked at the form and content
of these psalms as well sought to understand the concept of enemies and
evildoers. Now, with this background information, we are now ready to explore a
contemporary setting for lamentation which expressed itself through the tragedy
of the Holocaust.
A Time for Reflection
“A philosopher has written that language breaks down when
one tries to speak about the Holocaust.
Our words pale before the frightening spectacle of human evil unleashed
upon the world, and before the awesome numbers of suffering, the sheer weight
of its numbers – eleven million innocent victims exterminated – six million of
them Jews. But, we must strive to
understand, we must teach the lessons of the Holocaust, and most of all, we
ourselves must remember.[xix]
During the last few months {written in 1985}, personal
studies on the tragic event of the Holocaust have made a profound impression on
my life. The stark realities of the
terrifying barbarity which took place in the lives of 11 million atrociously
slaughtered men, women, and children is a nightmare.
Months of reflection and study on a catastrophic event in
world history has made me realize these atrocities must be known by every human
being.
The Holocaust was an historical reality that must never be
forgotten. It must remain known to all
peoples in every time and place. The
world must be aware of the devastating cruelty that can be ignited whenever the
seeds of hatred are allowed to be cultivated by unchecked power, prejudice, and
bigotry.
May We Forever Remember
“Our professional conviction is that anyone who does not
actively, constantly engage in remembering and making others remember (the
Holocaust) is an accomplice of the enemy.
Conversely, anyone who opposes the enemy must take the side of his
victims and communicate their tales, tales of solitude and despair, tales of
silence and defiance.[xx]
Image the evil which has taken place between the Holocaust
years of 1933-1944; eleven million slaughtered human beings have had their
innocent blood spilled without mercy.
May God forbid that this barbarism remain only a memory on the
pages of history. The Holocaust must be
remembered in the reflective minds, and the compassionate hearts of all peoples
who seek the cause of truth, justice, and unity among all nations. It must be mandatory curriculum in our schools, as it is an historical reality, and a lesson on the consequences of intolerance, hate, and diversity - all elements of character education which needs revitalization in American schools.
There are numerous photographs and writings which explicitly
illustrate the horrors that took place during the Holocaust. Careful reflection
on various photographs and writings have given me a vivid impression of the
horrors that took place.
During my time of Holocaust studies I have reflected on
hundreds of depictions of atrocities.
Along with these illustrations, I have meditated on verses from Sacred
Scripture which give insight to accompany the illustrations.
The verses from the Word of God have placed the photographs
and essays into a perspective which further sharpens the sobering reality of
the Holocaust.
And since Sacred Scripture does not deal lightly with
afflictions, sufferings, persecution and various evils, the reality is vividly
expressed.
God continually speaks to His people through Sacred
Scriptures. Therefore, I would like to
share some Sacred Scripture verses, along with personal reflections on
different Holocaust scenes depicted in the items that I have reflected
upon. My purpose in this study will be
twofold: first, as a prayerful work dedicated to the memory of Holocaust
victims who must never be forgotten.
Second, to emphasize through Scripture reflection and study,
the profoundly detailed way by which God’s Word expresses the evils which
befall mankind. The purpose of these reflections and Scripture passages is not
to give answers to the various evils that will be explored. The purpose of this work is to express the reality
of evil that the Sacred Scriptures explicitly reveal.
“Be on your guard against false prophets, who come to you in
sheep’s clothing but underneath are wolves on the prowl. You will know them by their deeds.”[xxi]
If civilization were ever to receive the warning of Christ
against false prophets, Adolph Hitler’s deeds certainly proved him to be a
false prophet. His anti-Semitism was the
most destructive weapon in his propaganda tactics which sought to uphold German
purity while destroying the Jews whom he considered the enemy of the state.
Adolph Hitler believed that destruction of the Jewish people
would preserve the German race from impurities, while also giving his Nazi
state tremendous political and economic power.
Therefore, Hitler sought to destroy the Jewish people through deeds of
book burnings, temple destructions, mockery, and forced labor which developed
into heinous murders, tortures, and the death camps as an attempt to totally
annihilate Jewry in Europe.
Christ’s warning against false prophets most likely dealt
with those who claimed to have a new revelation rather than with false teachers
or political leaders. But, ironically,
Hitler, who became to be a Christian also claimed to be a prophet as noted in
these words of his:
“In my life I have often been a prophet and most of the time
I have been laughed at. During the
period of my struggle for power, it was the first instance the Jewish people
that received with laughter my prophecies that someday I would take over the
leadership of the state and thereby of the whole people, and that I would among
other things solve the Jewish problem. I
believe that in the meantime that hyenic laughter of the Jews of Germany has
been smothered in their throats. Today,
I want to be a prophet once more: if international finance Jewry inside and outside
of Europe should succeed once more in plunging nations into another world war,
the consequence will not be the bolshevization of the earth and thereby the
victory of the Jews, but the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.[xxii]
Even with a shallow understanding of photo analysis, an
observer can sense the intensity of hostility, violence, and hatred coming from
the core of photographs of Hitler, as well as from his writings and
speeches. History has proven that he was
a violent, angry and hate filled man.
This is expressed through his deeds.
Adolph Hitler was a man with a demonic desire for power despite any obstacles, even the deaths of millions of lives.
“He who mocks the poor blasphemes his maker; he who is glad at calamity will
not go unpunished.”[xxiii]
The above verse from Wisdom Literature is appropriate as I mediate on a photo of S.S. men amusing themselves by mocking a Jewish man. They surround him and laugh despicably while watching him try to sit up in the street where he is being tormented.
The S.S. men have beaten this man mercilessly with punches
and kicks. They are spitting on him
while laughing demonically.
These S.S. men, the elite guardsmen of the Nazi party are
enjoying one of their daily tortures against the Jews whom they hate with a
passion. It must be remembered that the
S.S. swore to be loyal to Adolph Hitler unconditionally. They were Hitler’s puppet henchmen who
carried out with barbaric intensity the Fuhrer’s desire to destroy the Jews. The S.S. served Hitler throughout the Reich
and were depraved masters of torture and cruelty in the Nazi death camps.
What went on in the mind of the Jew being mocked by these sadistic S.S. troops? Did he want to fight back despite any hope against his outnumbered tormentors? Did he cry out to God for assistance and hear the response of the S.S. insult him while cutting off his beard with the words, “God does not answer the prayers of the Jews. Or did the mocked man echo the words of Scripture with a prayer from the heart, “Hear my prayer O Lord, to my cry give ear, to my weeping be not deaf.”[xxiv]
A Reflection on the Holocaust, Part II of III
A Reflection on the Holocaust, Part III of III
[i] Mowinckel,
Sigmund, The Psalms in Israel’s Worship, Nashville: Abingdon, 1962) p. 194.
[ii]
Psalm 80: 8
[iii]
Mowinckel, p. 195.
[iv]
Mowinckel, p. 195.
[v]
Psalm 83: 2 (all Scripture passages, New American Bible)
[vi]
Psalm 80: 2-3
[vii]
Psalm 74:1
[viii]
Mowinckel, p. 196
[ix]
Gerstenberger, Erkard, “Enemies and Evildoers in the Psalms: A Challenge to
Christian Preaching, “Horizons in Biblical Theology 4, #2 (1982) p. 64.
[x] Mowinckel,
p. 193, 197.
[xi]
Psalm 83: 6-9.
[xii]
Mowinckel, p. 202-203.
[xiii]
Psalm 7: 10-14.
[xiv]
Mowinckel, p. 211-213.
[xv]
Psalm 79, 8-9.
[xvi]
Sabourin, Leopold, The Psalms (New York, Alba House, 1970) p. 114.
[xvii]
Sabourin, p. 115.
[xviii]
Sabourin, p. 116.
[xix] President
Jimmy Carter, International Holocaust Day, Apr. 24, 1979.
[xx]
Elie Wiesel, “The Holocaust as Literary Imagination,” Dimensions of the
Holocaust, (Illinois: Northwestern University Press, 1977) p. 16.
[xxi]
Matthew 16: 15-16.
[xxii]
Adolph Hitler, speech, January 30, 1939
[xxiii]
Proverbs 17: 15.
[xxiv] Psalm 39:13.
About the Author
Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is recipient of the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award and former confident of the New York Yankees. He served as spokesperson for a coalition of victim’s families of the Virginia Tech tragedy. He is the author of 275 published works, including 15 cover stories for The Chief of Police. His most recent books are Reawakening America and Listen To Their Cries. For more information see www.vincentbove.com or twitter @vincentjbove
Related Coverage: Protecting Houses of Worship: A National Model
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Sanctuary Profaned: Protecting America's Houses of Worship
Holocaust Remembrance Day: Respect, Reflect, Resolve
Vanquishing Intolerance, Bigotry, Discrimination After Hatred Is Unleashed
Note Well: Due to the passage of time, photo's originally reflected on for the 1985 article, are not used but substitutes that also reflect the horror of the Holocaust.
Photos - Due to the passage of time, photo's originally reflected on for the 1985 thesis are not used, but substitutes that also reflect the horror of the Holocaust.
1. White
nationalists bearing torches converge on the grounds of the University of
Virginia in Charlottesville on Aug. 11, 2017. (Edu Bayer—The New York Times/Redux)
2. A
man wearing a garment that reads, “Camp Auschwitz” and “Work Brings Freedom,”
is pictured in an image made from ITV News video on Jan. 6, 2020, during the
riot in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
3. Surrounded by the historic significance of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the New York Skyline is the Liberation Monument by Natan Rapaport. This inspirational statue depicts a World War II American Soldier carrying a survivor from a concentration camp. The image moves the soul to reflect in the values of compassion, character, and community.
4. “In
the photo, a large group of jovial young soldiers towers above a traditionally
dressed Jewish man, almost completely surrounding him. In the left foreground,
one young man, hands on his hips, turns his head to regard the photographer
with a smirk, inviting him to witness the fun. The grinning faces of the
soldiers belie the obvious enjoyment they are taking from inflicting such
humiliation on the Jewish man trapped in the center. His stoical facial
expression is harder to decipher, but his body language is not – his left hand
is clenched into a tight fist, his body is stiff, his shoulders are hunched.
His tormenters are clearly posing for the photographer, laughing, as – scissors
in hand – they cut off his beard, and dangle his shorn hair from their fingers.
The photo depicts a quintessential act of bullying, the mob mentality, and the
power of many against one. The Jewish victim is rendered voiceless, powerless,
a mere object of amusement. The photographer is clearly one of the crowd as his
comrades pose and smile for his lens.” (Photo Credit and Description: Vad
Yasham, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center)
Labels: Character Training/Development for Students, Diversity, Education, Faith Based, In Remembrance, Reawakening America, Terrorism
posted by Vincent J. Bove, CPP at 1:50 PM
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