Sjimon den Hollander
  • Personal
    • Introduction
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • My Journey to Judaism
    • Testimonials
  • JUDAISM
    • Judaism - Introduction
    • Jewish History and Texts >
      • Paleo Hebrew
      • The Pentateuch
      • Stories of Creation
      • Stories of the Flood
      • J and E compared
      • Priestly Writings
      • Prophets of Israel and Judah
      • Biblical Poetry
      • Hellenism and the Septuagint
      • Flavius Josephus
      • The Dead Sea Scrolls
      • Midrash
      • Oral Torah and Talmud
      • Origins of Christian Anti-Jewish Attitudes
      • Byzantine Jews Before the Advent of Islam
      • Yannai
      • Jews Under Islam
      • Byzantine Jews After the Advent of Islam
      • Qara'ites
      • Saadia Gaon
      • Saadia Gaon's Poem Telóf Tèlef
      • Salmón ben Yeruḥám
      • Hasdai ibn Shaprut
      • Yoséf ibn Abiṭúr
      • Andalusian Poetry
      • Samuel haNagîd and Ibn Gabirol
      • Christian-Jewish Polemics
      • The Crusades and Maoz Tzur
      • Rashi
      • The Tosafists
      • Yehuda haLevi, Background and Thought
      • Yehuda haLevi, His Poetry and Journey
      • Ritual Murder and Blood Libel
      • The Ḥasidé Ashkenaz
      • Toledot Yeshu
      • Moses Maimonides, Philosopher
      • Moses Maimonides, Rabbi, Leader, Physician
      • Abraham Maimonides
      • Maimonidean Controversies
      • Host Desecration Libels
      • The Barcelona Disputation
      • Qabbala and the Zohar
      • The Cairo Geniza
      • The New Sephardi Identity
      • David Reubeni and Shelomo Molkho
      • Shabbatai Tzevi
      • Da Costa and Spinoza
      • Yiddish Texts
      • Ḥasidism
      • The Jewish Enlightenment
      • Modern Jewish Thinkers
      • Could Jews Accept Jesus as a Prophet?
    • Jewish Thought >
      • Blessings and Challenges of Modern Orthodoxy
      • Could Jews Accept the Prophets ​of Christianity and Islam?
      • Could Jews Accept Jesus as a Prophet?
      • Why do Jews not Accept Jesus as the Messiah?
      • Why do Jews not Believe ​in the Prophet Muhammad?
      • Do Jews Follow the Sunna of Moses?
      • Saadia Gaon’s Solution to Anthropomorphisms in His Tafsîr
    • Jewish Law >
      • A Mikwèh in Uganda
      • Shabbat Distance
  • Scripture
    • Torah - Pentateuch >
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    • Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh >
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    • Passover/Pesach >
      • Eve of Passover Prayers
      • Passover Night at Home
      • First Day of Passover
      • Second Day of Passover
      • Intermediate Days of Passover
      • Eve of Shabbat Hol haMo'ed Pesach
      • Seventh Day of Passover
      • Eighth Day of Passover
    • Omer Counting
    • Shabu'oth >
      • The Eve of Shabu'oth
      • First Day of Shabu'oth
      • Second Day of Shabu'oth
    • Tish'a beAbh Evening Service
    • The Month of Elul
    • Rosh haShana (New Year) >
      • Rosh haShana Eve in Synagogue
      • Rosh haShana Eve at Home
      • Morning Service First Day
      • Morning Service Second Day
    • Shabbat Teshubá
    • Yom Kippur
    • Sukkot (Festival of Booths) >
      • Prayers for the Eve of Sukkot
      • ​Meals and Festivities in the Sukka
      • First Day of Sukkot
      • Eve of Shabbat Ḥol haMo'ed Sukkot
    • Sheminí ʻAṣèreth
    • Simḥàt Torah
    • Ḥanukka >
      • Ḥanukka - History, Meaning, Customs
      • Eve of Shabbat Ḥanukka
      • Morning Service of Shabbat Ḥanukka
      • Eve of Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh Ṭébét
  • OTHER RELIGIONS
    • Christianity >
      • Christianity - Introduction
      • Jesus, the Jewish Messiah
      • Could Jews Accept Jesus as a Prophet?
      • Why do Jews not Accept Jesus as the Messiah?
      • The Barcelona Disputation
    • Islam >
      • Islam - Introduction
      • Islamic Dietary Laws
      • Torah and Qur'an >
        • Tafsîr Al-Tabarî
        • Tafsîr Al-Qurtubî
        • Tafsîr Al-Mîzān
      • Why do Jews not Believe ​in the Prophet Muhammad?
      • Do Jews Follow the Sunna of Moses?
    • Interreligious Dialogue
  • (DIS)COURSES
    • Biblical Hebrew
    • Medieval Jewish Literature >
      • Syllabus
      • Course Classes
      • Prep Readers
      • Paragraph Assignment >
        • Assignment Explanation
        • Original Text
        • Guidelines for your Paragraph Assignments
      • Essay Assignment
      • Glossary
    • The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom >
      • Introduction
      • Chapter 1. Prior Legacies >
        • 1A. The Muslim Legacy
        • 1B. The Christian Legacy
        • 1C. The Jewish Legacy
      • Chapter 2. The Roman Catholic Church >
        • 2A. Theological Doctrine
        • 2B. Ecclesiastical Policies
        • 2C. Imagery of the Jews
        • 2D. Cultural Creativity
        • 2E. Looking Ahead
      • Chapter 3. The Older Jewries of the South >
        • 3A. Southern France
        • 3B. Christian Spain
        • 3C. Italy and Sicily
      • Chapter 4. Newer Jewries of the North . I >
        • 4A. Northern France
        • 4B. England
      • Chapter 5. Germany and Eastern Europe >
        • 5A. Germany
        • 5B. Eastern Europe
    • Judeo-Arabic Philosophers
    • Sermons >
      • Rosh haShana >
        • Hardships That Generate Inspiration (2019)
        • Rosh haShana Meditation (2018)
        • Abraham’s Struggles and What We Can Learn From It (2014)
        • The Blessings of Monotheism (2013)
        • Rejecting Human Sacrifice (2012)
      • Yom Kippur >
        • Confession: Guilt Trip, or Acknowledgement? (2019)
        • Yom Kippur and Being Connected (2015)
        • Changing Your Brain (2014)
        • Grow Up and Become a Better Person (2012)
    • Other Presentations >
      • 370 Years Portuguese Jewry
      • Holocaust Commemoration
  • OTHER LANGUAGES
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        • Soekot
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        • Histórias do Dilúvio
        • J e E Comparados
        • Profetas de Israel e Judá
        • Escritos Sacerdotais
        • Poesia Bíblica
        • Helenismo e a Septuaginta
  • UGANDA
    • Pesach in Uganda
  • Contact

Holocaust Day Commemoration Speech
​


Yom haSho'ah Commemoration Speech; Dordrecht (Netherlands), May 2, 2019
​
During its long history as a vulnerable minority, the Jewish people have found themselves in a precarious situation. On the one hand, Jews were – and still are – admired for their rich history, their special heritage, and their achievements. Some people believe them to be smart and point out how Jews have disproportionately contributed to science, have received Nobel prizes, and are successful businessmen. Others admiringly refer to the State of Israel where so much was achieved in a relatively short period of time.
But on the other hand, Jews are sometimes portrayed as the incorporation of evil, even as the Devil’s henchmen. While in the Middle Ages, Jews were suspected to have spread pestilence by poisoning the wells, today Jews are accused of bringing aids into the world. Rumors have it that Jews are responsible voor 9-11, ISIS, economic recession, even for tsunamis and earthquakes.
My friend Maher, the owner of sandwich shop Cairo, here in Dordrecht on Scheffers Square, once told me that his Kindergarten teacher in Egypt warned the children never to pick up a pencil with an eraser should they find one on the street. “At night, the Jews come and scatter them around. But never take them home, because there is a bomb inside. When you use them, they explode!”
Even though crucifixion was a typical Roman form of execution and never a Jewish punishment, Jews were historically portrayed as the sadistic murderers of Jesus. I was told that a passion play was recently performed in Dordrecht… (Luckily, you all got through this in one piece.) Historically, such passion plays, performed around Easter often ended in violence against the Jewish population. If, let’s say, the body of a murdered child was found around that time, the Jews automatically were condemned. It was believed that the blood-thirsty Jews wanted to murder Jesus again and again but lacking the desired victim they would lay their hand on an innocent Christian child. On numerous occasions, entire communities were eradicated based on such allegations.
Even now, one can find claims on the internet that Jews kidnap people, murder them, and drink their blood. Such and other irrational convictions have been remarkably persistent and have led, once again, to an increase in assaults on Jewish targets, most recently, a few days ago, the shooting in a synagogue near San Diego.
It is a quite uncomfortable situation: On the one hand admired, adored almost, on the other vilified and demonized. When will Jews be seen as normal people? Not as special or extraordinary? Normal! Or perhaps I should say ‘unique’. But then, just as unique as everyone else. Just like all other people, with our own qualities and our disagreeable traits. It is like Tevye said to God in Fiddler on the Roof: “Dear God… I know, I know, we are the chosen people. But once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?”
The story goes in the Torah that the Jewish people received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Moses our teacher then ascends the mountain where he receives these Ten Commandments on two stone plates, the Stone Tablets. When he climbs down again after having been in God’s presence for a long time, he sees that the people have not been faithful to their mission and are involved in a paganistic ritual. Moses then smashes the Stone Tablets; the covenant is broken. After a process of repentance, Moses receives two new stone plates with these same Ten Commandments which are placed in a gold-plated, portable crate, the “Ark of the Covenant” and carried along during the long journey to the Promised Land. Besides a burden, they are also a roadmap. The Promised Land is more than just a geographic location. It also stands for the idea of an ideal society. As such, the Ten Commandments would later prove a priceless contribution to the world and not in the least to Western society. They are the principles of respect for life, for property, justice, and integrity, carved in stone.
Why am I telling you this?
Not only did the Israelites carry with them the new, undamaged Stone Tablets, symbol of our dignity and ideals, but they took the broken plates with them as well. The awareness, the reality of human failure and brokenness. There is the proud, celebrated reality of being Jewish, and the not-so-pretty, the regrettable side. Both components do we carry with us throughout the ages.
But, even though those two opposites are both part of our lives, they do not have to be exhibited each day. There is a time for everything under the sun, and today it is certainly good to stop and contemplate the horrors spawned by the dark side of our existence. But that crate, the Ark of the Covenant, was made portable for a reason. The ultimate Promised Land, the ideal of global justice and peace has not been reached yet. Therefore, first and foremost, our goal is not to ruminate on the past but to look forward, to forge ahead. After a great tragedy, Judaism’s central question is not “Why?” The essential question to ask is “Whereto?” Now that this tragedy took place, what can we learn from it, how can we grow from it and contribute to a better future?
That question (how can these atrocities that we commemorate today inspire us towards building a better world?) is not an easy one to answer. Arguably, the answer to that question will be different for each and everyone of us. Nonetheless, we all should ask ourselves this very question continuously and insistently.
​
Picture
  • Personal
    • Introduction
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • My Journey to Judaism
    • Testimonials
  • JUDAISM
    • Judaism - Introduction
    • Jewish History and Texts >
      • Paleo Hebrew
      • The Pentateuch
      • Stories of Creation
      • Stories of the Flood
      • J and E compared
      • Priestly Writings
      • Prophets of Israel and Judah
      • Biblical Poetry
      • Hellenism and the Septuagint
      • Flavius Josephus
      • The Dead Sea Scrolls
      • Midrash
      • Oral Torah and Talmud
      • Origins of Christian Anti-Jewish Attitudes
      • Byzantine Jews Before the Advent of Islam
      • Yannai
      • Jews Under Islam
      • Byzantine Jews After the Advent of Islam
      • Qara'ites
      • Saadia Gaon
      • Saadia Gaon's Poem Telóf Tèlef
      • Salmón ben Yeruḥám
      • Hasdai ibn Shaprut
      • Yoséf ibn Abiṭúr
      • Andalusian Poetry
      • Samuel haNagîd and Ibn Gabirol
      • Christian-Jewish Polemics
      • The Crusades and Maoz Tzur
      • Rashi
      • The Tosafists
      • Yehuda haLevi, Background and Thought
      • Yehuda haLevi, His Poetry and Journey
      • Ritual Murder and Blood Libel
      • The Ḥasidé Ashkenaz
      • Toledot Yeshu
      • Moses Maimonides, Philosopher
      • Moses Maimonides, Rabbi, Leader, Physician
      • Abraham Maimonides
      • Maimonidean Controversies
      • Host Desecration Libels
      • The Barcelona Disputation
      • Qabbala and the Zohar
      • The Cairo Geniza
      • The New Sephardi Identity
      • David Reubeni and Shelomo Molkho
      • Shabbatai Tzevi
      • Da Costa and Spinoza
      • Yiddish Texts
      • Ḥasidism
      • The Jewish Enlightenment
      • Modern Jewish Thinkers
      • Could Jews Accept Jesus as a Prophet?
    • Jewish Thought >
      • Blessings and Challenges of Modern Orthodoxy
      • Could Jews Accept the Prophets ​of Christianity and Islam?
      • Could Jews Accept Jesus as a Prophet?
      • Why do Jews not Accept Jesus as the Messiah?
      • Why do Jews not Believe ​in the Prophet Muhammad?
      • Do Jews Follow the Sunna of Moses?
      • Saadia Gaon’s Solution to Anthropomorphisms in His Tafsîr
    • Jewish Law >
      • A Mikwèh in Uganda
      • Shabbat Distance
  • Scripture
    • Torah - Pentateuch >
      • Genesis
      • Exodus
      • Leviticus
      • Numbers
      • Deuteronomy
    • Nebi'im - Prophets >
      • Joshua
      • 1 Samuel
      • Isaiah
      • Jeremiah
      • Jonah
      • Zekharyah
    • Ketubim - Further Scriptures >
      • Tehillim - Psalms
      • Ruth
      • Lamentations
      • Esther
  • Liturgy
    • Daily Prayers >
      • Morning Prayers
      • Afternoon Prayers
      • Evening Prayers
    • Shabbat >
      • Shabbat Eve Prayers
      • Shabbat Eve at Home
      • Shabbat Morning
      • Shabbat Afternoon
      • End of Shabbat (Saturday Evening)
    • Rosh Ḥodesh (New Moon)
    • Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh >
      • Eve of Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh
    • Shabbat Zakhor
    • Purim
    • Passover/Pesach >
      • Eve of Passover Prayers
      • Passover Night at Home
      • First Day of Passover
      • Second Day of Passover
      • Intermediate Days of Passover
      • Eve of Shabbat Hol haMo'ed Pesach
      • Seventh Day of Passover
      • Eighth Day of Passover
    • Omer Counting
    • Shabu'oth >
      • The Eve of Shabu'oth
      • First Day of Shabu'oth
      • Second Day of Shabu'oth
    • Tish'a beAbh Evening Service
    • The Month of Elul
    • Rosh haShana (New Year) >
      • Rosh haShana Eve in Synagogue
      • Rosh haShana Eve at Home
      • Morning Service First Day
      • Morning Service Second Day
    • Shabbat Teshubá
    • Yom Kippur
    • Sukkot (Festival of Booths) >
      • Prayers for the Eve of Sukkot
      • ​Meals and Festivities in the Sukka
      • First Day of Sukkot
      • Eve of Shabbat Ḥol haMo'ed Sukkot
    • Sheminí ʻAṣèreth
    • Simḥàt Torah
    • Ḥanukka >
      • Ḥanukka - History, Meaning, Customs
      • Eve of Shabbat Ḥanukka
      • Morning Service of Shabbat Ḥanukka
      • Eve of Shabbat Rosh Ḥodesh Ṭébét
  • OTHER RELIGIONS
    • Christianity >
      • Christianity - Introduction
      • Jesus, the Jewish Messiah
      • Could Jews Accept Jesus as a Prophet?
      • Why do Jews not Accept Jesus as the Messiah?
      • The Barcelona Disputation
    • Islam >
      • Islam - Introduction
      • Islamic Dietary Laws
      • Torah and Qur'an >
        • Tafsîr Al-Tabarî
        • Tafsîr Al-Qurtubî
        • Tafsîr Al-Mîzān
      • Why do Jews not Believe ​in the Prophet Muhammad?
      • Do Jews Follow the Sunna of Moses?
    • Interreligious Dialogue
  • (DIS)COURSES
    • Biblical Hebrew
    • Medieval Jewish Literature >
      • Syllabus
      • Course Classes
      • Prep Readers
      • Paragraph Assignment >
        • Assignment Explanation
        • Original Text
        • Guidelines for your Paragraph Assignments
      • Essay Assignment
      • Glossary
    • The Jews of Medieval Western Christendom >
      • Introduction
      • Chapter 1. Prior Legacies >
        • 1A. The Muslim Legacy
        • 1B. The Christian Legacy
        • 1C. The Jewish Legacy
      • Chapter 2. The Roman Catholic Church >
        • 2A. Theological Doctrine
        • 2B. Ecclesiastical Policies
        • 2C. Imagery of the Jews
        • 2D. Cultural Creativity
        • 2E. Looking Ahead
      • Chapter 3. The Older Jewries of the South >
        • 3A. Southern France
        • 3B. Christian Spain
        • 3C. Italy and Sicily
      • Chapter 4. Newer Jewries of the North . I >
        • 4A. Northern France
        • 4B. England
      • Chapter 5. Germany and Eastern Europe >
        • 5A. Germany
        • 5B. Eastern Europe
    • Judeo-Arabic Philosophers
    • Sermons >
      • Rosh haShana >
        • Hardships That Generate Inspiration (2019)
        • Rosh haShana Meditation (2018)
        • Abraham’s Struggles and What We Can Learn From It (2014)
        • The Blessings of Monotheism (2013)
        • Rejecting Human Sacrifice (2012)
      • Yom Kippur >
        • Confession: Guilt Trip, or Acknowledgement? (2019)
        • Yom Kippur and Being Connected (2015)
        • Changing Your Brain (2014)
        • Grow Up and Become a Better Person (2012)
    • Other Presentations >
      • 370 Years Portuguese Jewry
      • Holocaust Commemoration
  • OTHER LANGUAGES
    • עברית ישראלית עכשווית
    • عربي
    • فارسي
    • Bahasa Indonesia >
      • Pembacaan Kitab Suci
      • Liturgi Yahudi
    • Deutsch
    • Español >
      • Sagrada Escritura
      • Liturgia
    • Français >
      • Écriture
      • Liturgie
    • Igbo
    • Italiano
    • Kiswahili
    • Luganda
    • Nederlands >
      • Tanach (Bijbel) >
        • Thora >
          • Genesis
          • Exodus
        • Profeten
        • Geschriften >
          • Psalmen
          • Ruth
          • Klaagliederen
          • Esther
      • Liturgie >
        • Daily Prayers
        • Sjabbat Avonddienst
        • Sjabbatavond Thuis
        • Sjabbat Ochtenddienst
        • Sjabbatochtend
        • Poeriem
        • Pesach
        • Omertelling
        • Sjaboe'ot
        • Tisj'a be-Ab
        • Rosj haSjana Avonddienst
        • Rosj haSjana Ochtenddienst
        • Kipoer
        • Soekot
        • Chanoeka
      • Joodse Geschiedenis
    • Português >
      • Sagrada Escritura
      • Liturgia
      • História e Literatura Judaica >
        • Textos Paleo-Hebraicos
        • O Pentateuco
        • Histórias da Criação
        • Histórias do Dilúvio
        • J e E Comparados
        • Profetas de Israel e Judá
        • Escritos Sacerdotais
        • Poesia Bíblica
        • Helenismo e a Septuaginta
  • UGANDA
    • Pesach in Uganda
  • Contact