In 1933 the Nazi's came to power in Germany, instigated my them, the Holocaust was the systematic, state-ordered, genocide of millions of men, women and children, throughout Europe between 1933 - 1945. Over 6 million Jews, were murdered, along with Soviet Civilians, Polish, Russian POW’s, Serbians, Roma (Gypsies), Jehovah's Witnesses, homosexuals, the disabled, repeat criminal offenders and those considered asocial, and Nazi political opponents. All those who spoke out against the genocide, or who were caught trying to protect the Jews shared their fate. The Holocaust is proof of the existence of evil.

Yom HaShoah is a day dedicated to memorial and somber reflection in recognition of the millions of lives lost under Nazi persecution. Throughout Jewish history there were many previous massacres or battles most of which are mourned on Tisha B’Av, but the horrors of the Holocaust was the greatest evil perpetrated in modern history.

While most of the millions went unknowingly to their deaths as “sheep to the slaughter”, the Jews eventually fought back. The uprising of the Jewish Warsaw Ghetto greatly contributed to the end of WWII. The Germans were forced to pull an elite tank division off the front lines to put down the resistance in the Ghetto where thousands of Jews were now hiding in underground bunkers and there were about 750 young Jewish resistance fighters, who chose to die fighting. The place in the front line where the Nazi panzer division was pulled out was where the Allies broke through, sadly not in time to save the Jews in the Ghetto. But during the Warsaw battle the last of the children still alive were smuggled through the sewers to waiting underground rescue groups.

There are stories of great heroism. Irene Sendler who saved 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto smuggling them out to safety at the risk of her own life and hiding them in Polish families and orphanages. Corrie ten Boom, a Christian who became part of the Dutch underground resistance network and oversaw a network smuggling Jews to safe places. She saved about 800 people, before she and her family were arrested and themselves sent to Concentration camps to die with the Jews she was trying to help. Corrie survived but her Father and sister died.

Many died fighting, in the most adverse conditions, initiating uprisings in the Concentration camps. Along with the brave souls, who helped hide or smuggle Jews to safety. Today the World remembers, I think we should also today remember the 1,139 who died on 7 October 2023 the biggest recent massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and say a prayer for the hostages still being held in Gaza. Israel agreed to a ceasefire deal that was clearly NOT to their advantage, and Hamas is celebrating it as a victory. Israel is awaiting the staggered return of the Hostages over the next 6 weeks.