Blog #10: March of the Living to Focus on Post-Survivor Period

This year marks the 27^th anniversary of the March of the Living. The March of the living is an organized program where students from more than 45 countries unite and make a pilgrimage to the death factories in Europe, tour the ghettos, and comprehend the concentration camps and the effects of genocide and the Holocaust. This trip to Poland is followed by a visit to Israel for Remembrance Day honoring the fallen soldiers, a day that is highly valued in the country, and Independence Day. The two-week long trip will begin this upcoming Monday, starting in Poland and concluding in Israel. According to the organization’s chairman, the actual March of the Living pilgrimage to Auschwitz-Birkenau, done in Poland, will focus on “passing on the torch, with participants becoming the witnesses for the next generation.” He continued to state that with every year, comes fewer survivors, leading to fewer stories. Through this he stresses how with the rising anti-Semitism in Europe, it is imperative that the lessons, stories, and moral from this tragic period be understood and taken to action. The trip, led by former chief rabbi and Holocaust survivor Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, has now accumulated over 220,000 participant over the years. He states, “I believe that the march has a transformative effect,” and that with each trip comes a change in mindset for every teen in this generation, something that is extremely valuable.

I am more than honored and blessed to say that, starting Monday, I will be a participant in the March of the Living. Spending a week in Poland and a week in Israel is something to cause excitement alone; but knowing I will be walking the same steps as millions of Jews that perished and brushing the same soil that my grandfather who survived the Holocaust did, is something unimaginable. This trip’s mission is to study the history of the Holocaust and to examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance, and hate, something that my blogs have shown is very prevalent in the world. This is why I chose to make my theme for my blogs Genocide and Anti-Semitism. I wanted to receive more of a global and sociological understanding of Genocide, prejudice, and intolerance, and further, how it affects everyone. Both my parents have been on this trip, and in fact, my mother was on the first trip ever held. Without the trip my mother would not have decided to marry a Jewish man like my father. Not only is this trip the reason I am here today, but I get the opportunity to honor my grandfather like never before, a survivor of Auschwitz. Education, in my opinion, is the first step to making a difference. Learning about the terrors of the past and this psychology behind it can further help us engage and take preventative action in the present day and in the future. This is my first step to recognizing Genocide, prejudice, Anti-Semitism, intolerance, and hate; what’s yours? 

http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/March-of-the-Living-to-focus-on-post-survivor-period-396573

Jordanna Gisser

April 10, 2015

8:13 AM

Blog #9: An exhibition in Iran Will Mock the Holocaust

As may approaches, organizers in Tehran will host the Second International Holocaust Cartoon Contest. Given the terror that the Holocaust embodied, an exhibition, featuring some of the 839 pieces of “artwork” submitted by artist from more than 50 countries, can draw much attention. An event so horrific in which the Nazi regime systematically killed more than 6 million Jews, along with millions of Roma, homosexuals, political dissidents and other undesirables, in addition to current fears of global anti-Semitism, an event of so called “mockery” can be seen as truly unacceptable. However, their stated goals is to provoke Western sensibilities, particularly in response to satirical cartoons concerning Islam. They hope to display the west’s double standard behavior towards freedom of expression, as it permits to mock religious sanctities. Although this can be seen as a direct Iranian anger from the Charlie Hebdo publications in France, the first contest was held in 2006, featuring motifs and themes of Holocaust denial. It also illustrated grievances in the Middle East over Israel's treatment of Palestinians living under occupation. A prompt for this year's contest, include questions such as these: "If the West says that freedom of speech has no borders then why don't they let historians and experts properly research the Holocaust?", and, "Why should the Palestinian people pay for the Holocaust?" Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations responded to this by stating, "It ridicules one of the darkest events in human history, and it cheapens the death of millions of Jews who were murdered." The former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad portrayed Holocaust denial as an argument in his anti- Israel rhetoric. His successor, however, Hassan Rouhani, described the Holocaust as "reprehensible and condemnable" even though he did not indicate whether followed the mainstream historical opinion on the topic. Rouhani is now in the process of negotiations aimed at sealing a deal on Iran’s controversial nuclear program; but as the article states, “an event that is as provocative as this cartoon exhibition won't endear Iran to an already skeptical West.”

Although I find it truly a disgrace to organize such an exhibition, I understand their claimed purpose to provoke western sensibilities and point out a double standard occurrence. However, I do not approve of political cartoons creating satirical portrayals of figures that may be considered holy to others; but I do have to say, there is a difference between denying a genocide and creating more satire. In my past blogs, it is evident that after any genocide, there are people who deny them. Whether this be due to a religious or political stand point, or lack of education, this is a modern day occurrence. Further, it is something that must be eliminated, and especially, something that should not be provoked in exhibitions as this. Ridicule of millions of death is never acceptable, and in Iran’s current political state, I do not think this is a smart move. 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/04/07/an-exhibition-in-iran-will-mock-the-holocaust/

Jordanna Gisser

April 8, 2015

8:36 AM

Blog #6: Jewish leader warns that anti-Semitism in Europe is "like the 1930s"

The President of the World Jewish Congress, representing Jewish communities in 100 countries, Ronald Lauder has said that European Jews “live in fear” amid a surge of anti-Semitism once again. In reference to the 1930s, Lauder strongly believes history is beginning to repeat himself and stresses the importance for the Unite States to beware of this theme of anti-Semitism. With events such as the recent attacks in France and Copenhagen highlighting this issue, he states that there is an evident new and growing threat driven by radical Islam and terrorism sweeping across Europe. He States, “The United States can and must speak loudly and clearly to condemn this evil for what it is – the radical Islamic hatred of Jews. To defeat this new flame of radical Islamic terror and survive… the United States must lead.” However, many Jewish organizations in Britain have emphasized that the current situation for Jewish People in Europe is very different in comparison to the 1930s. Further, Jonathan Arkush,, the Vice President of The Board of Deputies of British Jews, an affiliate of the WJC, told The Independent that while Laudner was accurate in mentioning the significance of modern-day anti-Semitism, “it’s important to be clear that the fear currently experienced by Jews in some European countries, especially in France, is very different from the 1930s… In those dark days, anti-Semitism was actively fomented by the Nazi rulers and their helpers. Today, anti-Semitism is strongly opposed and condemned by governments across Europe.” According to studies, anti-Semitic attacks have more than doubled in the UK in the past year against the backdrop of Israel’s military action in Gaza. Overall it was found that 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents occurred n 2014 – a 118 percent increase on the previous year. Since the deadly attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices and Jewish supermarket in Paris in January, France has prepared thousands of police troops and deployed them to possible sights of danger. As Lauder concludes, “While we welcome support from all quarters, including the United States, we Europeans have the responsibility of leading the fight against anti-Semitism and racism of every description in our continent, just as we are doing,” Lauder added.

It is evident that the theme of this article is very different compared to the other articles discussed. Further, it is mentioned that anti-Semitism is nearing the extreme that it once was in the early twentieth century. It is important to consider this current thematic difference in anti-Semitism, especially juxtaposed with terrorism, however it is also critical to understand it has always been around. Although this is no excuse for the continuation of these acts, and with globalization and modern technology it has very much changed, I believe something has to be done or enacted more than just putting up security in front of Synagogues. In addition, and in retrospect, I disagree with what the organizations and deputies within Britain were saying about how most governments condemn and oppose anti-Semitism. Although I believe this and hope for this to be true, I do not know how much they actually do about it. Moreover, although times were different, during the Holocaust, almost no countries would take Jews who were trying to leave before becoming exterminated by the Nazis, this including the UK and the US. In addition, although this may be of importance to governments, this idea shows the devaluing of genocide and extreme anti-Semitism once it becomes a political problem. So does the government truly condemn it and follow through with their beliefs, or is this a fallacy we hope to be true? As Rwandan genocides, Darfur, and many other mass murders go on, if this was true, would they not be placing their security guards there?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/jewish-leader-warns-that-antisemitism-in-europe-is-like-the-1930s-10133646.html

Jordanna Gisser

March 25, 2015

9:12 PM

Blog #4: Anti-Semitism Is On The Rise In German Schools

Using Jew as an insult, desecrating Jewish cemeteries, and drawing swastikas on synagogues, have once again, 75 years after the Holocaust, returned. Hatred, persecution, and discrimination against Jews is now openly being practiced in Germany, especially within the school system. Director of the American Jewish Committee in Berlin, Deidre Berger, wrote in The Times of Israel that "anti-Semitic incidents occur every day in Germany, on the streets, in schoolyards, in train stations, on the soccer field, and throughout social media." According to statistics found from the German government, the numbers of crimes linked to anti-Semitism in Germany have increased dramatically over the past year. In 2013 there were 788 cases, and in 2014 there was a 10 percent increase, proving that anti-Semitism is not merely a perception, but a social problem. Dilek Kolat, Berlin's senator for labor, stated that, "In 2013, of eight anti-Semitic attacks, seven came from the right and only one of them from a foreigner. The problem cannot be made to focus on Muslims.” This being said, 90 percent of the perpetrators come from the extreme right, leading to immense changes among Jewish students. According to Berger, “Due to specific cases of bullying and a general climate of anti-Jewish hostilities, some pupils prefer to attend Jewish schools and private schools.” Further, in some areas of German cities, wearing a head covering or a necklace with a Star of David is seen as a provocation and might be the reason for attacks or persecution. The Jewish community of Berlin, which is the largest in Germany, fear attacks like this on a daily basis. To illustrate the severity of this issue, an example of this is how publishers of the German-Jewish newspaper recently decided to mail their newspaper in unmarked envelopes so no one would know the recipients are Jewish.

In my previous blog posts, I have written about the political definitions of genocide, the goals of genocide, and its catastrophic outcomes. In this post, however, I wanted to focus on a different aspect, and further, illustrate that genocide can be connected to anti-Semitism. In the past three genocide examples in the other posts, it was evident that genocide is very rooted in political power and control. However, although I do believe that this is a huge factor in the effects of genocide and war crimes, I think the idea of one “man” having supremacy over a subordinate “man” is highly prevalent. This is why it is critical to take issues like anti-Semitism, racism, bias, and bigotry into strong consideration because those beliefs, ones that have an ethnocentric mentality, can lead to catastrophic conclusions, ones very much like, or what can even be considered, genocide. The Holocaust was a huge genocide committed on the Jewish people during World War II, and the idea that the small ideas of discrimination are reoccurring is critical to Jewish students, and further, the lives of many innocent people. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/04/antisemitism-germany_n_6794928.html

Jordanna Gisser

March 6, 2015

9:00 PM