Jewish Federation of Cincinnati

Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC)

“I did not forget you,” that’s what Simon Wiesenthal would say if he had the opportunity to meet the victims of the Shoah. These were the concluding words of Dr. Efraim Zuroff, who spoke to the more than 500 community members who came to the Yom HaShoah commemoration on Sunday, April 19 at the JCC.

Yom HaShoah is the day we set aside to remember those who were murdered during the Holocaust and honor those that survived. In addition to sharing Wiesenthal’s powerful message of remembering the victims, Zuroff shared the importance of the continued pursuit of justice. His fight to bring perpetrators to justice continues 70 years later because, as he said, we owe it to the victims.

These words, “I did not forget you,” seemed to be resonating with me this week as we also marked Yom HaZikaron. Yom HaZikaron was established by Israel’s Knesset as a Memorial Day for those who lost their lives in the struggle that led to the establishment of the State of Israel and for all military personnel who were killed while on active duty in Israel’s armed forces. Yom HaZikaron immediately precedes Israel’s Independence Day, Yom HaAtzmaut, which is coming up tonight. Joining these two days together conveys a message that we cannot celebrate the existence of the Jewish state without saying “I did not forget” those who sacrificed their lives for it.

We as Jews do not forget, and at this time of year, we are taken through an emotional rollercoaster of not forgetting.

We remember the darkness and triumphs of the Jewish people, all in the past century. Because we mourn as a family for what was lost both in Europe and in the fight to create a safe homeland for the Jewish people, we are able to approach Yom HaAtzmaut with celebration and excitement. While the rollercoaster ride is difficult, I’m proud of our community for coming together to experience it.