By Eli Bass, Director of Jewish Life
This week the Jewish community remembers our biggest catastrophe, the Nazi Holocaust. During the Holocaust, six million European Jews were killed including through systemic operations in factories created for murder.
Holocaust Remembrance Day, called Yom Hashoah in Hebrew, occurred on Thursday. It is the day of memorial where the Jewish community commits to never forget the terror of this genocide.
The Holocaust is often taught with the phrase, “Never Again.” Modern scholars remind us that genocide continues to occur across the globe. Genocide and hatred are attempts to take power, to blame on others and to live hate. The growth in antiJewish sentiment in Germany happened because blaming and “othering” was easier than facing the true economic challenges of Germany. This genocide was perpetrated by a democratically elected regime. Learning about others and embracing a diverse community can open doors and reduce skepticism and fear of our neighbors and the unknown. It is harder to hate a neighbor than a stranger.
At Susquehanna University our diversity is a strength of our community. As director of Jewish Life, I am proud to facilitate a community which welcomes students to have their first experiences in a Jewish community. I believe that experiences like these deepen knowledge of others’ experiences and add value to our entire University community. If you’ve never been in, I’d love to welcome you.
For me, being welcomed by many diversity communities at the university has given me new insights into different identities and my own identities as well. So many in our community reach out and build connections with those who don’t look, act or believe the way they do. I can think of a few identities I have first encountered while working at SU. We have so many students who are willing to explore and support the diversity of our campus community. It is the convergence of this diversity which strengthens our capacity as an educational institution.
Our University Trustee Statement on Ethical Living challenges us to be a community that “Tolerates neither acts of bigotry nor silence in the face of such acts.” We all come into contact with moments of hate and bias. Speaking out against hate and bias is one of the ways we are able to embody the values of our institution.
I also think it is important to look inward. We must confront the hate and judgement which lives inside of so many of us. I challenge you to slow down. For me, confronting my own personal biases helps me to be more sensitive to the experiences of others. This assists me in being a better ally.
I also am committed to working hard to apologize when I realize I’ve said something which is problematic or biased.
It is my hope along with that of the #liveagainsthate committee that you will join us in supporting diversity and combating hate. Stacey Pearson-Wharton, Christie Kracker, Michael Thomas, Abigail Antoine, Brianna Watson and I have worked hard to build a campaign to speak out about what I believe should be a campus consensus. I hope we can stand together to fight bigotry against any person at Susquehanna.
Holocaust history helps us to look at the brave few who took actions to protect the Jewish community. These actions typically involved great personal risk. It also forces us to confront why so many individuals were silent.
It forces me to also ask when I choose to be silent and when do I speak out. I’m inspired by the words of, Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
Materials will be available on campus next week to show your commitment to #liveagainsthate. I encourage you to join in as we affirm the values and commitments of Susquehanna University.
