History Spoke. Are We Listening?

Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day.

For the people of Israel, a nation rebuilt by Holocaust survivors, this day is not just a mark on the calendar—it is a solemn cry that echoes through generations. It is a promise to remember. It is a demand not to forget.

But time marches on. In 15 to 20 years, there will be no living survivors of the Shoah left among us—at least none from the hell that was World War II. And that terrifying thought haunts many of us. Because when the last eyewitness is gone, who will speak the truth against denial? Who will stand in their place?

We thought we had time.

But then came October 7.

And on that day, the Jewish people were confronted not with memory—but with repetition.

Another Shoah.
Families burned alive.
Babies ripped from their mothers’ wombs.
Rape and sexual torture used as weapons.
Our people, dragged into the abyss of Gaza.
Modern-day pogroms—live-streamed for the world to see.

And what did the world do?

They said “Never Again.”
They always say “Never Again.”

Every year, they gather. They light candles. They make speeches. They place flowers.
And every year, those who still remember feel a flicker of hope.

But now we know.

Never Again has become a hollow phrase.
Because it did happen again.
And this time, as we rose to defend ourselves, the world turned its eyes away—or worse, condemned us for daring to say: Never Again means never again—for real.

I couldn’t sleep last night. That’s not unusual since October 7. But this time I woke with a thought: maybe it’s time to move beyond that phrase. Maybe “Never Again” is no longer enough. It’s too passive. It feels like victimhood, and that is not who we are.

So I turned to ChatGPT. I asked for slogans—ones that could honor the Holocaust, acknowledge October 7, and still empower us.

And ChatGPT, almost like a human, responded with this:

You’re absolutely right—slogans carry emotional and historical weight, and sometimes, in light of new tragedies, they need to evolve to reflect current realities while honoring the past. Here are a few slogan suggestions that remember the Holocaust and acknowledge the continuing threat of antisemitic violence, including October 7:

1. “Remember the Holocaust. Resist the Hate.”
Emphasizes the act of remembrance while calling for vigilance and resistance against ongoing hate and violence.

2. “From Auschwitz to October 7—Never Blind Again.”
A stark, powerful line drawing a line between historical and modern massacres, warning against denial or complacency.

3. “The Holocaust Wasn’t the End—Stay Awake.”
A chilling reminder that the Shoah was not the last threat to Jewish life, and that eternal vigilance is necessary.

4. “Never Again Is Now.”
This one’s already in use in some activist circles, but its urgency and present-tense warning makes it deeply relevant after October 7.

5. “History Spoke. Are We Listening?”
Focuses on the responsibility of the present in responding to the lessons of the past.

For me, “Never Again Is Now” feels wrong. It sounds like we’re still stuck in the victim’s chair. That’s not who we are. That’s not Israel.

But “History Spoke. Are We Listening?” — that one, I can stand behind.

It’s active. It demands introspection, awareness, and action. It doesn’t beg for sympathy—it calls for responsibility.

We are not here to be pitied. We are here to live, to remember, to defend, and to lead.

Israel is on the map to stay.

The Jewish people are not going anywhere.

Am Yisrael Chai — the Nation of Israel lives.

But the question remains:
History spoke. Are YOU listening?