TEMECULA —— "Never again" is the rallying cry of those who work
to prevent another Holocaust by providing historical information on
the German attempt to wipe out the Jewish people and encouraging
tolerance among people of different races and religions.
The Holocaust killed about 6 million Jews, as well as gypsies,
homosexuals and others deemed undesirable on political, social and
racial grounds by the Nazi regime in Germany, which wanted to
create a pure Aryan race.
These statistics only paint a partial picture; they don't fully
reflect the complex themes swirling around the Holocaust —— the
nature of anti-Semitism, the existence of evil and the search for
meaning in the face of suffering.
A six-week course being taught by Chabad of Temecula Valley
attempts to delve into the thicket of moral and religious questions
raised by the Holocaust that are still relevant in today's world.
"Beyond Never Again," strives to make sure the lessons of the
Holocaust are remembered in the 21st century and foster tolerance,
moral courage and integrity.
About 25 people are taking the course, which meets at The
Comfort Inn on Tuesday mornings and evenings, providing flexibility
for those who work. Several of those taking the course said they
already are familiar with the historical underpinnings and gruesome
details of the Holocaust. What they are looking to get out of this
class is a more spiritual understanding, they said.
"I think the more understanding I have, the more value I have in
teaching my children, not just about the Holocaust, but about the
pain and suffering as to why God allows this to happen," said Suzi
Maldonado, 36, of Menifee.
The course was created by the Jewish Learning Institute, a
network of adult education that offers classes around the world.
This is the first time "Beyond Never Again" is being taught as one
of three courses offered in a yearlong program. The course is
taught at the time of the year coinciding with the 67th
commemoration of Kristallnacht, "the night of broken glass," which
started Nov. 9, 1938 —— when German mobs attacked Jews in their
homes and at their businesses and synagogues. It is considered to
be the start of the Holocaust.
The teacher, Rabbi Yitzchok Hurwitz, started Chabad of Temecula
Valley in 1999. He said he spoke to two Holocaust survivors before
starting this course to gain insight into their experiences. Both
told him, "You can't understand." Even hearing that was helpful,
"Sometimes what you don't understand teaches you a lot," he
said. "It's so brutal and evil and bad. No matter how much you
contemplate it, you will never understand."
And trying to understand it isn't an objective of the class,
"The world leader of Chabad … said there is no reason man could
give to understand the Holocaust," he said. "If they can, then it
cheapens the whole thing."
The course encourages vigorous discussion among students and
invites them to share their personal responses to the Holocaust.
Each class focuses on a question that sparks discussion. A recent
class focused on the question: "Is it appropriate to speak of the
Holocaust as a war against the Jews when people of all
nationalities suffered during the war?"