How can we "never forget" that which was never learned

Last night, FHC showed Schindler's List, a 1993 movie directed by Steven Spielberg. It is an extraordinary movie which presents the Holocaust in an unvarnished light. In fact, I had suggested in a prior blog entry, that the movie not be viewed by anyone under 13 years of age. Apparently, almost our entire congregation must be under the age of 13, or, our congregants are unwilling to have our young adults experience a movie that is supposed to, in my opinion, help us to "never forget". How unfortunate. (Moreover, FHC also showed a children's movie in a separate room with free babysitting that was simply not utilized.)

A movie such as Schindler's List should be mandatory viewing in the Hebrew School (or high school) and quite possibly in the public schools, to provide everyone an education as to what we all are supposed to "never forget". Was it not just a few months ago we all were talking about the anti-semitism that was rearing its ugly head again in our local public schools. How quickly we forget that which was never learned...

Instead, it appears that while we shy away from the images of Nazi Germany, and the horrendous history of the Ghettos and Concentration Camps, we willingly purchase BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes. While we are unwilling to inflict or experience (only though film), the pain of the past, we are more than willing to enjoy the current pleasures of a nation that attempted to anniliate us as a people.

It is ironic that an entire generation of Jewish children may no longer have parents or grandparents who can personally relate the events of this history and future generations will have to rely upon museums, books, movies and images of a time past. Elie Weisel said "Never Forget". I think for the present and future generations of our Jewish people we must remember that the History must first be truly known so that we "never forget". We must use every opportunity to provide such history lessons and reminders to our children and to ourselves to "Learn, to never forget". Shalom Jeremy