Who do we talk about on Memorial Day?

In the quaint village of Selm-Bork, nestled in the heart of Germany, stands a humble half-timbered synagogue, its interior adorned with a painted blue starry sky. Years ago, as I showed this unassuming structure to an Israeli acquaintance, his puzzlement was palpable. How, he wondered, had this Jewish house of worship survived the infamous “Night of Broken Glass”?

Before I could explain that a neighbor had acquired the building for a “good price” shortly before that fateful night, my companion made an observation that spoke volumes about the perception of National Socialism: “Perhaps the Nazis didn’t know about this place. Maybe they were unaware a synagogue existed here.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. I found myself responding, “Of course they knew where the synagogue was. The ‘Nazis’ didn’t come from outside, nor did they land from an alien planet and seize power. The ‘Nazis’ came from this very town, from these streets, even from the same houses. They were people from here.”

This seemingly banal truth struck us both with equal force. It was a stark reminder that the movement had emerged from the very heart of society, a fact we often prefer to suppress or forget.

Since 1996, January 27th has been designated as the “Day of Remembrance for the Victims of National Socialism” in Germany. Yet, despite its significance, the day seems to play a minor role in public consciousness. There’s a commemorative session in the Bundestag, local events, and wreath-laying ceremonies, but the act of remembrance is largely left to those who actively seek out these events or stumble upon them by chance. It’s all too easy to sidestep. This is how historical responsibility functions in modern Germany—a perfunctory nod to the past.

In Israel, since 1959, the entire nation comes to a standstill for two minutes on Yom HaShoah. This pause in daily life is the most poignant marker of the day, but not the only one. The Netherlands observes a similar tradition on May 4th, with two minutes of silence for their National Remembrance Day, which now explicitly includes Shoah victims.

As we approach 2025, one might wonder how Germany will evolve its approach to remembrance. The NS-Documentation Center in Munich, a learning and memorial site dedicated to the history of National Socialism, could potentially contribute to a more contemporary approach. Yet, their plans for January 27, 2025, raise eyebrows. The focus will be on Gaza. With Holocaust survivor Chaja Polak from the Netherlands presenting her book “Letters in the Night,” aiming to shed light on victims from both sides of the conflict.

One can’t help but question: Is this the right moment to shift the focus outward? As Germany grapples with its past and its responsibility to remember, the challenge remains to find a balance between honoring the victims of the Holocaust and addressing contemporary issues. The journey of remembrance, it seems, is far from over.