Holocaust Remembrance Day

JERUSALEM — Starting at sundown on Wednesday, the State of Israel will observe Yom HaShoah, the daylong remembrance of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust. At 10 a.m. on Thursday, sirens will sound throughout the Jewish state, and everyone will stop and stand at attention for two minutes. People will even stop their cars on the streets and get out to observe the event. I have never been in Israel on this day, so it will be interesting to see.

I wish I had something original to say, but I do not. Countless other writers will describe the anti-Semitism that still occurs throughout the world, and I must echo their thoughts. Anti-Semitism is at a record high in Canada. Anti-Semitism has increased in many parts of Europe and elsewhere (see here as well). Offical anti-Semitism in Arab and Muslim countries is skyrocketing. Vandals are attacking Jewish cemeteries in the former Soviet Union as far-right nationalists there also demonize Jews. Hitler dolls are now on sale in the Ukraine. Dozens of posters appeared in Russia before this Passover to warn people that Jews want to make matzah out of childrens’ blood. (The trend is reversed in the United States, where anti-Semitism has declined.)

One day we will all live in peace.