As time marches on, World War II becomes more and more distant, and, consequently, there are fewer people that either served or survived that war. The dwindling number of Holocaust survivors. It’s something previously discussed on the blog as well as by Hillel Goldberg in a View from Denver column. Along with the emergence of the State of Israel, the Holocaust has been the defining event for modern Jewry. What happens when the direct link is gone?
An article in this week’s IJN highlights this reality from a different angle. For the past four decades, various German cities – in an effort for reconciliation and rehabilitation – have invited former pre-war residents back for visits. One such program was in Berlin, which recently hosted its last ever group. Sadly, the number of “former residents” still alive is shrinking rapidly.
This story really struck a chord for the IJN family. One of our own, Paul Kolitz, who recently passed away, participated in this very program. A Berlin native, Paul always extolled the city, its high levels of Weimar-era culture and education. That he was forced out of his home he never could fully come to grips with; the invitation to return perhaps represented a small token of justice or recognition. For sure there was rehabilitation, the chance to see the new Germany. But what of the old Germany? Of his childhood years? We cannot imagine the pain some participants feel upon returning.
Every year, the world has fewer and fewer survivors. There’s no way to counteract this. All we can do is remember and re-tell their stories and continue to promote Holocaust education across the globe.
