The word ‘holocaust’ in Hebrew originally meant “A great slaughter of burnt offerings.” [Strong’s #5930. Akin to #5766 with the implication of ‘unjust’ or ‘wicked.’]
Lessons From History
To understand what is now being called “The Holocaust,” we need to understand the history of Hitler’s awful wars, that triggered World War II, and the horrible destruction and slaughters he committed throughout Europe and even up into Russia. He not only killed Jews, but created the wars that also killed more than 50 million people worldwide, including my only brother and many multitudes of other innocent people. He justified his actions by claiming that the ‘Aryan’ race was superior to all others; in other words “the chosen people.”
There have been many “wicked, unjust great slaughters” since the days of Hitler’s Germany. For example, the slaughter of innocent Palestinians in Deir Yassin, Gaza, the Sabra and Shatila Refugee Camps, just to name a few. These too, were “holocausts,” unjust slaughter of innocent victims, again justifying their actions by claiming to be the “Chosen People,” and this slaughter is still continuing daily by denying the Palestinians the right to the basic necessities of life. Our wars are also the cause of the millions of other refugees who have been killed and bombed out of their homes.
We need also to remember that our own US of A has committed ‘holocausts,’ for example the slaughter and robbery of the Indian tribes as the pioneers went throughout the West, proclaiming “manifest destiny,” and using their superior weaponry, [the Remington rifle], to destroy multitudes of innocent Indian victims. [The doctrine of “manifest destiny” meant that they were doing “God’s will.”]
We Are Making History Now
Understanding history should teach us how to avoid making the same mistakes. “He who disregards the lessons of history is bound to repeat them.” And here we are engaged in wars of unjustified legitimacy. Here we are, still waging unjust wars and putting a price on justice that denies it to the poor.
Oh, yes – many tears are being shed for the awful ‘holocaust’ victims that Hitler caused. But our tears will not correct those horrible historical events. No amount of reparation money can atone for those past sins and those who were responsible for those sins are dead and gone to their judgment.
However, this is the here and now; this is where we live and where our responsibilities lie. We are here, now, being called to repent and to stand for justice in our own time and place. This is our day and our responsibility. For this we, too, will face the judgment of God.