When we remember the six million kedoshim (martyrs), the elderly men and women, fathers and sons, boys and girls murdered in the Holocaust, we fulfill the great mitzvah of “ve’ahavta la-reicha ke’mocha” (love your neighbor as yourself) in the Parasha we read on Shabbat, the first component of which is to identify with each of our Jewish brethren.How much more so is this true when each and every one of those murdered in the Holocaust was murdered because he was a Jew; had we been there ourselves, we would have been murdered along with them.
Consequently, a sacred duty is incumbent upon us to remember the Holocaust martyrs, and give as glorious expression to their memory and heritage as possible.
Their Heritage in the Building of the Nation and the Land
Out of the memory of the Holocaust martyrs, we should be inspired to contribute our part to the strengthening of the State of Israel, reishit tzimichat geulateinu (the beginning of the flowering of our redemption), which arose from the ashes of the Holocaust crematoria. Just as the commandment to remember Amalek is meant to inspire Israel to stand guard against its enemies, so too, and even more so, the memory of the Holocaust should inspire us to stand guard against all our enemies and haters, while defending our nation and our country. READ MORE
