Comments on: How is Our Holocaust Different From All Other Holocausts?

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:58:31 +0000

Tell Itamar that if he sends me his e mail address or a website link I’ll promote his guide work here.

By: Shanna

Shanna — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:03:32 +0000

I know Itamar Shapira, I can’t begin to tell you how much Yad Vashem would have benefited from truly having a dialogue with him about this issue. And now tourists to Israel will miss out on an excellent guide. This is not so black and white… I have been on many tours at this museum and have never had an “objective” tour – there are always politics enmeshed with every docent. His ideas are unique, and laden with experience – from a wise person, not a naive one. He is a private tour guide as well, we would all be so lucky to have his wide and creative perspective educate us – one that actually might inspire peace in the region for a change.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:50:46 +0000

Amos, do not people help people? Perhaps what you have said doesn’t express what you mean.

“The people who carried out the “Final Solution” were primarily average citizens.” There is nothing unique about this, in our current time. Tuchman’s histories are full of the same. Historically, it has always required individuals to kill others, e.g. to ravage the countrysides of Europe. It’s called war.

I would argue that Israel is using “the Jews” now, as the monarchies and the Roman Church used them previously. Israel is not a single actor; Israel is a place where many nations have money and property. When it acts, people in the US and other countries are beneficiaries.

Just as it takes common citizens to fight a war, it takes common citizens to invest in development. Many people in the US, invested in pension plans, derive income from the wealth Israel produces. Behind the scapegoat image of “the Jews” is, as always, a larger group which includes the individuals so described, individuals in this circumstance not remarkable except in being made obvious.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Thu, 07 May 2009 00:17:45 +0000

Thanks for the non sequitur. By the way, if you ever insert such drivel into a comment here again you’ll be banned.

By: Amos

Amos — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:04:15 +0000

Our Holocaust is different I think because only Jews (some) campaign to help those trying to destroy them.

By: RichardHutton

RichardHutton — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:12:12 +0000

Nay problem. Hope it’s helpful.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:18:31 +0000

Mr. Hutton: Thanks for the link to the site on the Talmud. It looks useful as a resource.
M

By: RichardHutton

RichardHutton — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:32:39 +0000

Hi Miles. I agree. There is a website devoted to discussing the complexities of ways in which Judaism itself is cited to justify various matters which work to undermine the true values of the faith. The home page is here:

http://www.come-and-hear.com/index-2.html

It’s a group of Talmudic scholars who use the true teachings and values of Judaism to make a push for peace and understanding. It’s a genuine scholarly site as well – which is as rare as horse feathers on t’ net – but not so easy to navigate.

A good quote from Martin Buber:

“Only an internal revolution can have the power to heal our people of their murderous sickness of causeless hatred. It is bound to bring complete ruin upon us. Only then will the old and young in our land realize how great was our responsibility to those miserable Arab refugees in whose fields we now sow and harvest; the fruit of whose gardens, orchards and vineyards we gather; and in whose cities we robbed, we put up houses of education, charity and prayer while we babble and rave about being the ‘people of the book’ and the ‘light of the nations.’”

http://www.come-and-hear.com/editor/br_1.html#n36

There are a number of individuals who cite the Holocaust to justify their beligerance, from Menachim Begin to Benjamin Netanyahu. The essay by Anne Karpf in one of my other posts discusses this.