Preserving Holocaust memory in the future

By Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg

EDISON, New Jersey — For years I have been predicting that all the Holocaust education, the museums, the books and the testimonies will not save Holocaust memory. I remember saying this at a recent lecture I gave and a teacher challenged me telling me we had a great Holocaust commission. Yes I answered, I served on it for nine years, was one of its original founders,and served as one of the editors of the curriculum.

At a commission meeting I challenged the group to show me proof that we have made a significant difference. I warned we are teaching Holocaust with other genocides and soon genocide will take over Holocaust and only that will remain is genocide. I further have recommended we must have Holocaust liturgy in all religious services especially the High Holy Days. (See my Passover Holocaust Haggadah on Amazon.) I am currently working on a Holocaust siddur. Holocaust memory is in jeopardy. When the last Holocaust survivor dies and we second generation members are already starting to die, you will see Holocaust memory vanish. The revisionists will take over and the Holocaust will only be a date in history. If I am wrong, prove me so.

I believe we the second generation, 2g’s, have the strongest attachment to the survivors and that after we are gone all the museums, books, and movies will not stop the Holocaust from just becoming a date in history, another genocide. It hurts me to say so. I have spent my life writing Holocaust books, curriculum, articles and teaching Holocaust studies but soon the survivors will be gone and the revisionists will go to work with vigor.

It is already happening today. What is the solution to safeguard Holocaust memory? The Shoah must be incorporated into religious ritual. It must be part of the Haggadah, the machzor, High Holy Days and other Jewish holidays. Eventually, the Shoah should become part of the Tisha B’Av service and other fast days.

Perhaps the Shoah should be a day of fasting with the lighting of six candles and reciting Kel Moleh and Kaddish, and special Holocaust oriented prayers. I ask that no one be upset at me for predicting the future observance of the Shoah, but this is what I truly believe. I have already published the Rosenberg Holocaust Haggadah in English and Spanish and this new addition is the siddur, the evening service with numerous program ideas and material. Please note the siddur is on PDF.

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Rabbi Dr. Bernhard H. Rosenberg is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth-El in Edison, New Jersey and is the author of Theological and Halachich Reflections on the Holocaust, among other books. He serves on the New Jersey State Holocaust Commission and chairs the Holocaust Commission of the New York Board of Rabbis.