Why It’s Important to Be Present
I vividly remember the moment when, during my third year of middle school, I read my thesis dedicated to the Day of Remembrance. I had chosen Time as my theme, a thread that led me to delve into the tragic chapter of the Shoah.
The atmosphere back then wasn’t much different from today: just two days later, one night, the landline phone at home rang. On the other end of the line, a muffled voice shouted chilling words: “I’m Hitler, you will return to the ovens.” Unfortunately, those episodes weren’t isolated. When I moved on to high school, I continued to write and speak about the Shoah, not limiting myself to January 27th. However, the choice to publicly address these topics brought with it additional repercussions.
Today, I hear a debate that leaves me speechless: the discussion about whether or not Jews should participate in the Day of Remembrance. Yes, you read that correctly: it is some Jews themselves questioning this participation.
It is important to remember that the Jewish people are not solely defined by the Shoah. The Shoah is a point in time, a black hole of pain that continues to affect us, but it is not the sole dimension of our identity. Yet, it is an inescapable part of our history, a warning for all humanity. We are no longer victims, but we also know that we are not immune to the resurgence of danger. Today, what matters most is to build and strengthen a Jewish identity that does not forget, that recognizes and transforms pain into strength. Once again, we find ourselves at a zero point in history, but it is from there that we begin anew.
Choosing not to be present on the Day of Remembrance would mean abandoning an essential part of ourselves, refusing to recognize ourselves in our own pain. History teaches us that it is precisely through pain that the Jewish people have found the strength to rise again. Memory is not just a passive recollection but a beacon that illuminates the future, a moral guide for us and those around us.
On the Day of Remembrance, it is crucial to be there, strong and present. Synagogues and Jewish cultural centers must open their doors, welcome, and tell their stories. This is a day that speaks of death, it’s true, but it is also an opportunity to celebrate life and resilience. It is an invitation to share with the rest of society the wonderful uniqueness that distinguishes us as an integral part of a world that needs to know us.
Being present on January 27th is not just an act of remembrance but a gesture of resistance and testimony. The Shoah is a wound that will never completely heal, but it is also a lesson that asks us to transform pain into strength, hatred into dialogue, fear into hope. Not participating would mean giving up all this, abdicating the responsibility to pass on and build.
So, on the Day of Remembrance, let’s show up. Let’s do it with pride and determination, because memory is the key to understanding the past and building a future where human dignity is inviolable.
