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Today, January 27, is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and this was the day that we visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. Two years ago I was deeply moved here. This day was no different.
On the grounds there is a memorial to the 1,500,000 children who were killed in the Holocaust. This memorial does an incredible job of representing the souls of these children. Even before I stepped in to the memorial, I started thinking of the children in my life; my nieces and nephews, my children, friends from church, work and school. The pain would be tremendous to have just one die, but to lose half of them because of hatred would be unbearable.
Christina Taylor Green, the 9 year old, recently shot and killed in Arizona gives me a glimpse at this hurt. A needless death that is oh so difficult to understand. How difficult it must be for the neighbor that took her to this event. Even though this neighbor is guilty of nothing more than being a friend, I am afraid that they could be blaming themselves. I so empathize with their pain.
Remember that life is precious and every day is a once-in-lifetime event. There is no rewind on our lives.
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Yad Vashem is one of thoses places you enter knowing the outcome. You walk steadily through wanting not to miss a photo or display. When you realize the awesome size of the place and that the horror of the story deepens with every step, your pace slows, as if you can somehow avoid the enevitable ending. You come to the circular room of records, several stories high, the room completley covered floor to ceiling in black binders, each filled with hundreds(?) of names of the lost..your one thought, yes, this hatred of difference continues to go on in many parts of our world..let us have the courage to prevent it, at least in the place where we live..safe travel pilgrims. diane and randy
ReplyDeleteThe mindset that created this horror is still very real all around the globe. It is also real in Wooster in many different forms, sadly enough. Unfortunately churches are not exempt from the type of thinking that can lead to dark actions. It is a gift to be able to witness and feel the sight that you did, horrific as it must have been. You, and everyone reading your desccription, are now more prepared to encourage us to challenge ourselves to look more closely around us and act in the name of Christ. There is a fine line that divides fear, pride and hatred.
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