Not just another genocide

I often write about the uniqueness of the Holocaust and state that the Holocaust is completely different from other genocides. This position is controversial to some people. There are those who believe that the only way to preserve the memory of the Holocaust is by making it a universal lesson regarding the tribulations throughout the world. Whether I am right or wrong, only our children and grandchildren will know. Seventy-five years from now, I predict that regardless of Yad Vashem, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and all the other museums and books, the memory of the Holocaust will not be preserved. It will be regarded as just another genocide in the history of genocides.

Unless we preserve the memory of the Holocaust and tie it to Jewish observance and ritual by including the Holocaust in prayer service or as I have done, creating a Holocaust siddur and Haggadah (which is available free on line: holocausthaggadah.com) the Holocaust will become a mere date in history. It has to be tied into a revitalized Judaism to keep it alive. At this point in my life I personally no longer stress the pain, suffering and horrors of the Holocaust. Today I speak of the importance of learning about the heroic individuals who survived the Holocaust to make better lives for themselves and their families. Many Holocaust survivors have created synagogues, yeshivot and day schools and still support them financially. We need to learn about those who resisted the Nazis, not only about the crematoriums. The memory of the Holocaust will be kept alive by future generations if we have pride in the accomplishments of the survivors and preserve Judaism.

This lesson was taught to me by my parents, Jacob and Rachel Rosenberg, and my cousins, Fred and Maria Devinki of blessed memory. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my cousin, Sam Devinki, on recently being honored by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as well as being voted president for life of Kehilath Israel Synagogue. In addition to his immense fundraising for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and Kehilath Israel Synagogue, he learned from his parents to give with a generous heart. I know he would have wanted his mother, Maria Devinki, to live to see all this. I pray that his parents, in the world to come, are aware of his accomplishments. The Devinki/Pack/Kolkin families are all to be congratulated for their dedication to Judaism.

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Edison, N.J.