Yom HaShoah--Day of Rememberence for the Holocaust

Yom HaShoah
יום השואה

Sunday, April 11th, is Yom HaShoah or Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust.  This date (27th day of Nisan in the Jewish calendar) marks the anniversary of the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto.  It is an opportunity to remember the 6 million people (Jews, Gays, Gypsies, physically and mentally disabled, Slavs, and more) who lost their lives because of Hitler and the Nazi's. 

Today, April 9th, marks the death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer 65 years ago in Flossenberg Concentration Camp.  He was hanged by the Nazi's for his assassination attempt on Hitler. 

For whatever reason, Steve and I chose to watch Schindler's List on Easter evening.  We didn't get to finish it, but instead finished it on Wednesday night (I don't recommend not finishing it in one sitting--it's too dark to leave off in the middle and wait for the ending--I liken it to the feeling on Good Friday when Christ is dead... it's a long 3 days wait till Easter)(Note--it's Rated R for a reason--it is not a movie for children or youth).  It is a powerful film and a wonderful example of the human spirit that prevails despite numerous difficult and horrible circumstances.  I had not seen it before, and it has left a mark on me.  I didn't know this weekend is the Yom HaShoah, but it gives me a new appreciation for this day of remembrance. 

Check out these links to learn more:

Yom HaShoah   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaShoah  http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/

Shoah Foundation http://college.usc.edu/vhi/

Bonhoeffer http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/bonhoeffer/

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum http://www.ushmm.org/

Oskar Schindler http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/schindler/
Award-winning 1993 Film "Schindler's List" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/ 

In 1996 I visited Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp outside Berlin, Germany.  In 2001 I visited Buchenwald Concentration Camp, outside Weimar, Germany.  If you ever have the chance to visit a concentration camp, or watch Schindler's List, or both, I highly recommend it.  We must remember what happened.  We must do what we can to prevent this atrosity from ever happening again.