Holocaust survivor speaks to SAUJS

Hi All

With the on set of Yom Hashoa we will be having some pieces on the blog relating to the subject. The first is a letter sent to us by Holocaust survivor and Clinical Psychologist who will be visiting South Africa in the coming days.

Dr. Nathan Durst Clinical Psychologist Herzlyah Israel.

Dear Friends of the South African Union of Jewish students

I am writing these lines during the Chol Hamo'ed days of Pesach.

You feel the mood of the holyday in the street, everywhere.

I do suppose, that also in your country, the majority of the Jews are in someway or another, participating in this chag. Here in Israel, even the most liberal-ones visit each other, have a festive and meal and sing songs about Freedom. Together with Yom Kippur, Pesach belongs to that part of our calendar, which makes sense. All of us understand the deeper meaning of the saying: "We have been slaves in Egypt" The yearning of being a free person is deep seated in all of humankind.

But why, or where-for, do we still need to remember Yom Hashoah?

For the few survivors, those who are still among us, for them, remembering their family members who were killed will be a natural act. A kind of "yohrzeit"

But who the heck needs another day of atonement, another mourning day in the Jewish calendar? We have enough of them, don't we?

The point is that throughout history, there have been wars, all over the place, and in our long Jewish history, we had many occasions when Jews were massacred. That is not new.

What is new is the way, the scale of, where and how it was done. Nowhere in history have we encountered a people being so persecuted, despite living thousands of miles from the perpetrator, and with such enthusiastic

cooperation by so many other civilized nations.

And this was done by so called "humane, cultured, enlightened people".

As a consequence of this tragedy, we should be alert for, and take action, when we encounter, racism, antisemitism or xenophobia.

Humankind, should learn to take responsibility for what happens to the "other", and take action if necessary

No more Auschwitz means: To give an answer to the question that God posed to Adam: "Adam Ayeka" – Man, where are you? No more being a passive bystander: be alert, be involved, and become responsible.

Chag Sameach. I do hope to meet you.

Nathan Durst.

E-mail: durstnatan@gmail.com