This week, Yulia Lipnitskaya, Russia's youngest athlete to nab an Olympic Gold Medal caught the attention of Jews the world over. Olympics aficionados or not, she got everybody talking about her seamless performance to the soundtrack of Schindler’s list, in a red bodysuit no less.
Emotions were high with comments such as “Sorry Russia, figure-skating to the overture of the murder of the little girl in the red coat is NOT COOL”, as well as “Absolutely heartwarming .... chills!” and “absolutely wonderful!!!! And with the music ... that choice at this age .... speechless.”
What is it about the Holocaust that evokes such emotion and passion to even the most disconnected Jew?
It is undeniably the most defining event of this era. It's impossible to ignore it.
Some people choose to define their Jewish Identity through the Holocaust. Others define their Jewish Identity despite the Holocaust.
A popular Chabad Chassidic band, Eighth Day sings about a Rabbi’s son taken by the Russian army. As he was being whisked away his father reminded that “A Jew is always a Jew and can always find his way back home”. After losing his way, years later the son recalled:
How can I know where I’m going
If I don’t know where I’m coming from?
How can I know why I’m living
If I don’t know what he was dying for?
Hitler didn’t really care how observant or how Jewish you were. All he noticed was the soul, that Jewish ember that never goes away. It was this that he tried to snuff out. But the Jewish soul lives on and can never be extinguished. It is that indescribable Jewish feeling.
So how will we live our lives? How do we live for what they’ve died?
Mrs. Chanie Mondshine spoke eloquently at the recent International Convention of Chabad Women in New York of what inspired her to become a Chabad Rebbetzin. She told the moving tale of her great grandfather, Reb Yitzchok, who was a mohel in Russia. As the Communists dragged him away for his 'crimes against the state', he took one last look at his four terrified daughters, the last time he would ever see them again, and bravely instructed them to 'continue in the ways for which they are taking me'.
The Mondshine family now lives a proud Jewish life, building a strong and joyous Jewish Community in Moscow, despite the prevalent anti semites.
Much more than Holocaust Memorial day, it’s about living Jewishly. About doing another Mitzvah a day. Reviving the Jewish soul.
So what does the Holocaust mean to you? Is it a tragic event, one in a string of many acts of virulent hatred toward a people who have suffered enough? Or is it a burning reminder of who we are and where we are headed?
To know why they have died, to know why we live.