The Holocaust, understandably, haunts the Jewish people. We can never forget the millions of Jews who were tortured and murdered by the Germans and their collaborators. Whenever a crisis erupts that threatens Jews, there is an almost visceral reaction to call up the memory of the Holocaust.
After the Hamas massacre of Israelis on , Jewish media was quick to report that this was the highest number of Jews murdered in a single day since the Holocaust. In attempting to in New York, a program was initiated to bring all eighth-grade students to the Museum of Jewish Heritage, where they could learn about the Holocaust. When international leaders visit Israel, a visit to Yad Vashem is almost always part of the itinerary.
The prevailing wisdom is that when people – especially young people – learn about the horrors of the Holocaust, they will become more sympathetic toward Jews and aware of the dangers of religious and racial hatred. With more knowledge about the Holocaust, it is assumed that people will be less prone to antisemitic attitudes and behaviors. The various efforts at Holocaust education have had a positive impact on many.
And yet, Holocaust education – unless handled very well – can have negative consequences. For those steeped in , the Holocaust may actually encourage their antisemitism. They view Jews as a despised minority group that is an easy target for hatred and violence.
They see that millions of Jews were systematically slaughtered while much of the world.