“A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak..”
Ecclesiastes 3:7
A Time to Be Silent
There is a time and a season for everything. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. In Israel on Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day, the entire nation takes two minutes to be silent. At 10 am, a siren rings throughout every city in Israel for two minutes. Israelis stop and stand in silence, and even pull over on the side of the road, to silently honor their fellow Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust and those who survived the horrors. If you have ever been in Israel during this time, it is truly a powerful moment of silence.
This year, Holocaust Remembrance Day starts on April 23rd at sundown and ends on April 24th at sundown. Israel takes this day seriously and considers it a day of sorrow as they remember the 6 million Jews who endured such cruel torture and death during the Holocaust. Israel not only commemorates this day with a moment of silence but also with ceremonies of leaders speaking about the truths of the Holocaust.
The official national ceremony is held in Jerusalem at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance center. Every year they choose 6 Holocaust Survivors to hold a torch to represent the memory of the 6 million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust. There are also many ceremonies honoring the Holocaust Survivors still alive today. An estimated 123,000 Holocaust Survivors are living in Israel today.
This year marks 80 years since the Nazi regime was defeated in April 1945. We mourn the devastation of the Holocaust, but we also rejoice that God established Israel as an independent Jewish state in 1948, three years after the Holocaust ended. This year Israel will celebrate its 77th Independence Day on April 30th. Even in all of this sorrow, let us remember that God is faithful to destroy Israel’s enemies and help the Jewish people possess the land of Israel!
“For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” – Psalm 37:9
A Time to Speak
This year, just like last year, Israel is in a place of mourning and heartache daily due to the Iron Swords War that continues, with no end in sight. And, even still, the nation takes time to honor those that suffered during the Holocaust. All the more, it is vital for us to remember how these wicked ideologies rapidly escalated to mass murders. And we pray this will never happen again!
It is important to take time to be silent, to remember, and to pray, however, we cannot just remain silent. We need courage from the Lord to speak against antisemitism and speak up for the Jewish people.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” – Proverbs 31:8
What Are We Remembering?
Now more than ever, it is important to remember what happened during the Holocaust. But, what exactly are we remembering? We are mourning the innocent lives of millions of Jews and many others who were brutally and systematically murdered. We remember the unbelievable evil and hatred towards the Jewish people that we still see in the world today.
We also remember the ones who risked their lives to save hundreds or even just one precious life. We remember the ones that bravely stood up against the regime, and fought for the innocent. And we pray that God will give us the courage to stand up for righteousness in the face of evil, especially during this current war Israel is in.
Antisemitism on the Rise Since October 7th
The hatred of Jews is not a new thing. We see it throughout the scriptures in the Bible, especially through Pharaoh in the Book of Exodus and Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews in the Book of Esther. However, God can give us the courage to stand up against the enemies of the Jewish people, just like He did for the people of Israel in Egypt, and Esther and Mordecai.
Israel has been battling in this current war for about a year and a half, and we have seen the hatred towards the Jewish people not only on Israel’s borders but all around the world. Since the war began, we have seen antisemitism increase around the world, especially in the United States.
Antisemitic protests flooded college campuses around the USA, traveling Israelis encountered terror attacks and threats around the world, and much more. From October 7th, 2023 to October 2024, there were over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the United States. This is the largest number of antisemitic incidents within one year.
Another aspect of antisemitism is the very act of trying to deny or lessen the reality of the atrocities during the Holocaust. Today, many are trying to limit the amount of education about the Holocaust in schools by enforcing laws and fines. Political leaders are twisting the truth and changing what is communicated about the Holocaust at museums and exhibitions. And many political leaders are rejecting the importance of remembering what happened in the Holocaust.
The very act of misrepresenting historical facts about the Holocaust and hindering communication and education about it is antisemitic. So, what can we do to help fight against antisemitism?
Ways to Fight Antisemitism
Our first response is to pray. Pray for the protection of the Jewish people around the world and the nation of Israel. Another way to take a stand against antisemitism is to speak the truth about what happened during the Holocaust. The systematic murder of 6 million Jews, which was about 1/3 of the Jewish population at the time, is incomprehensible. And yet, we need to comprehend that the Holocaust really did happen.
Another way to fight antisemitism is to ask God for the courage to speak up when we see and hear hatred against the Jewish people. God may have placed you in a job, position, or place to be able to speak His truth, bring about change, and help protect his people.
Another practical way to fight antisemitism is to stand with the Jewish people in their suffering. Let us mourn for the ones we lost, but also pray for those who have endured the Holocaust and are still alive today. If you have the opportunity, you should sit down with a Holocaust Survivor and serve them in some way. And maybe you will even hear some of their heart-wrenching stories and can comprehend just a small part of what they suffered. Many of these resilient Holocaust Survivors still have nightmares of the horrors they and their loved ones suffered through.
Let us express our love and support to the remaining Holocaust Survivors still with us today. VFI has been able to support Holocaust Survivors for many years hosting many special events for them to connect with other survivors, and just to bless them! If it’s in your heart to financially support Holocaust survivors, click here to donate.
Don’t Forget & Don’t Give Up
Since the Iron Swords War began on October 7th, 2023, about 1,200 Israeli civilians died, 251 people were kidnapped, and over 800 soldiers and police have lost their lives. In this last year and a half, about 80,000 Israelis left Israel, and only 30,000 returned and another 30,000 were new immigrants. We can see there is a deep fear in the people for many reasons, but one could also be the trauma their ancestors suffered during the Holocaust.
Today, the Jewish people are suffering from trauma along with economic difficulties due to the war. There are still rockets and missiles being fired at Israel on a daily/weekly basis from Gaza, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Iran.
So, this Holocaust Remembrance Day, let us take a moment of silence to honor those who have been lost in the Holocaust and those who have endured until today. And let us also remember those currently battling through the trauma of the war that Israel is still fighting. Take action today by standing with VFI as we support Holocaust Survivors and help Victims of Terrorism overcome trauma.
Let us not become weary in doing good to the Jewish people. Don’t give up standing with the Jewish people, especially during this war! And don’t give up praying for the people of Israel: Holocaust Survivors, October 7th Survivors, freed Israeli hostages and those still held hostage, Israeli soldiers and their families, and many more!
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
God, give us the wisdom to know when to be silent and when to speak, and help us not give up fighting for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel!
