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A Palestinian remembers the Holocaust
By Aziz Abu Sarah
Tags: Israel news, holocaust 

A few weeks ago, the world commemorated Holocaust Day with memorials, moments of silence, and time taken to remember the lives of loved ones lost.

For years this day has been a source of internal conflict for me as a Palestinian, so this year my wife Marie and I decided to hold our own memorial by doing something I have put off for a long time: we watched the movie "Schindler?s List."

It was my first time seeing the movie, which tells the story of a German man who risked his life to save hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust.
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Although it may seem strange for a Palestinian to take time out to remember the Holocaust, I felt it was an important step for me. I needed to connect with the pain of those who suffered, and I needed to go beyond nationality to acknowledge the loss of human life.

I must admit that growing up I did not know much about the Holocaust. As Palestinians, we simply did not learn about it.

There was a stigma attached to it, an understanding that Israel would use the Holocaust to lobby for sympathy, then turn and use the sympathy as a terrible weapon against the Palestinian people.

So when I was asked about the Holocaust, I always felt that defensive urge to say "It was not my fault! I suffered for it too." Deep down, I think I felt that by acknowledging their pain, I would betray or marginalize my own suffering.

Also, some part of me feared that if I sympathized with "the enemy," my right to struggle for justice might be taken away. Now I know this is nonsense: you are stronger when you let humanity overcome enmity. However, it took me time to learn this lesson.

Many years ago, I decided there is no way I can understand and communicate with my Jewish friends if I don't learn their history, their narrative, and their story.

I decided that the Holocaust Museum would be the place to start my journey. My heart was racing as I crossed the threshold of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. I began looking at the pictures and reading the stories with the distinct awareness that I was the only Palestinian there.

As I walked through the museum, however, my self-consciousness was replaced with shock. I could not believe how denigrated men could become to commit such atrocities. How could racism strip men of all humanity?

A few days later, I shared with some of my Jewish friends about my trip to the Holocaust Museum. Many were surprised, and wondered what had prompted me to make such a visit.

As I explained my reasons, I could see the walls that divided us crumbling apart. Yacov, a Holocaust survivor, told me his personal story. As a young boy in Poland, he had been separated from his parents and forced to pretend to be Christian, praying the Catholic prayers and attending church. His father was murdered during the war.

One of my best friends, Rami, described the horrors his father suffered in Auschwitz concentration camp. Again, my heart was gripped with pain and sympathy in hearing their stories.

Visiting the Holocaust Museum and allowing my friends to share their stories was pivotal for my relationship with them. I could understand where they were coming from. I could empathize with their feelings that the world is against them.

The Holocaust had shaped their awareness of the world around them, and my understanding of this tragedy was important for them to successfully communicate with me.

This is why I decided to remember the Holocaust this year. Watching Schindler's List, I was moved by the story to a degree that I cannot describe. It was impossible to fight the tears streaming from my eyes.

The connection I made with those who suffered the Holocaust goes beyond nationality, religion or race; it was the connection of one man to another in the face of universally understandable pain.

At the end of the move, Oscar Schindler was given a ring inscribed with the words "If you save a life you save the world," a phrase from the Talmud.

Today this statement stands true for all of those men and women active in bringing an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But in my story, I want to deliver a message to the cynics, the hopeless, and the ones who have given up on the quest for peace.

This message is also to the many people who have questioned the small grassroots initiatives, the meetings, the dialogue groups, the interfaith projects, the demonstrations, and protests against the killing of people, Arabs and Jews. If you can save one life, you are saving the world.

My challenge is this: Oscar Schindler regretted not doing more to save more people. He cried for not selling his car, his pin, and everything else in his possession just to ransom one more life.

Governments, nations and even some religious groups donate billions of dollars for weapons, yet when it comes to promoting understanding, life, and coexistence, our governments and people are broke.

I want us to consider, can we put a price on saving one life? Can we put a price on saving the world? It is vital to protect our values and humanity regardless of the cost we must pay for it. Oscar Schindler was able to save a thousand lives, and it was well worth it. How many lives can you save?

Originally published on Aziz Abu Sarah's 'A Blog for Peace in Israel-Palestine'
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  1.   We Still Have Choices 10:13  |  Yosemite 07/05/09
  2.   i am speechless 10:43  |  g. lee 07/05/09
  3.   Palestinians and the Holocaust 10:55  |  Iymen 07/05/09
  4.   even for the cynics 12:21  |  gen 07/05/09
  5.   Aziz Abu Sarah, you are a Mensch! 12:31  |  Shoshanaci 07/05/09
  6.   A voice worth listening to 12:51  |  Leah 07/05/09
  7.   Positive 14:07  |  Sam 07/05/09
  8.   I am not speechless..I am incredibly astonished,Wish there were 15:13  |  Whiskey 07/05/09
  9.   Both sides need to listen to each other 15:30  |  Lynn 07/05/09
  10.   Palestinians and Respectability 16:09  |  YesToPeace 07/05/09
  11.   10 more like you and... 16:11  |  Hertzel 07/05/09
  12.   Thank you Aziz Abu Sarah for taking the time to learn 16:22  |  Smadar 07/05/09
  13.   Now comes the time... 16:31  |  Sam Soul 07/05/09
  14.   we must also recognise the pain suffered by Palestinians 16:46  |  Reuben Jacobs 07/05/09
  15.   Great Article 17:04  |  Will B Free 07/05/09
  16.   Article 17:25  |  Alain 07/05/09
  17.   Some of my best friends are Jewish 18:04  |  Mike L 07/05/09
  18.   May this article end the occupation one day sooner 18:07  |  Sylvie 07/05/09
  19.   I think the Palestinian leaders create their own Holocaust! 18:14  |  MMM 07/05/09
  20.   what are you all are happy about???? 18:23  |  felix 07/05/09
  21.   EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!! One Arab watched "Shindler`s List!" 18:27  |  Boris 07/05/09
  22.   attempting peacemaking 18:31  |  Ilse Hadda 07/05/09
  23.   One of the most beautiful I`ve read 18:55  |  Debbie 07/05/09
  24.   To Sam #5 Well I sent one congratulating the man above.BUT! 19:16  |  Whiskey 07/05/09
  25.   Are their Palestinians like her? 19:26  |  Rami 07/05/09
  26.   Thank you Aziz, 19:26  |  Herzlich 07/05/09
  27.   And what about the 1 million Jews from Arab countries who became 19:30  |  Arlette 07/05/09
  28.   Shoshanaci..most of us Palestinians are Mensch ! 19:38  |  Charlie 07/05/09
  29.   say hello to each other 19:49  |  dov 07/05/09
  30.   wow, you have shocked me 19:51  |  Israeli 07/05/09
  31.   Greta Thanks to Aziz Abu Sarah. First step in 19:58  |  Israeli Observer 07/05/09
  32.   21 Boris ALL my friends watched Shindler`s list 19:59  |  Charlie 07/05/09
  33.   Israel less recognizable to me every day 20:21  |  Jonathan 07/05/09
  34.   I believe majority of Palestinians are against their government 20:30  |  MMM 07/05/09
  35.   Charlie...I think you`ve been treated fairly 20:34  |  Maria 07/05/09
  36.   Above 20:44  |  Elina 07/05/09
  37.   a beginning..... 20:47  |  Connie 07/05/09
  38.   To Felix #20 20:53  |  Sam 07/05/09
  39.   Not your fault? Individually-No! Collective Arab guilt-100%!... 21:24  |  bat yam 07/05/09
  40.   Article Misleading 21:37  |  Chris Barghout 07/05/09
  41.   A lesson fo humanity and dignity - thank you 21:48  |  DISRAELI 07/05/09
  42.   # 17 Boris - your comments are depictable 21:49  |  DISRAELI 07/05/09
  43.   Hey, Charlie - start a web counter 21:52  |  Boris 07/05/09
  44.   Arlette 22:04  |  Maki 07/05/09
  45.   We need to communicate and, 22:07  |  Robert Haymond 07/05/09
  46.   Charlie`s response to Boris 22:14  |  Alain 07/05/09
  47.   Charlie`s post 22:34  |  Alain 07/05/09
  48.   Thank you! 22:46  |  Shoshana 07/05/09
  49.   Thank you. You are a good man. 22:51  |  judith 07/05/09
  50.   The Immense Loss - Israeli and Palestinian Victims 23:03  |  YesToPeace 07/05/09
  51.   MMM not worthy 23:05  |  David J 07/05/09
  52.   Connie tries to pass a con 23:14  |  Woody 07/05/09
  53.   Jews would love to have had 25 countries to flee to, like Arabs 00:48  |  jae 08/05/09
  54.   #34 Maria 00:54  |  BDS 08/05/09
  55.   A lesson in courage 01:56  |  The Prophet 08/05/09
  56.   JESUSALEN 02:27  |  JESUSALEN 08/05/09
  57.   #44 Maki: Exactly "both" sides have to recognise suffering of bo 03:40  |  Arlette 08/05/09
  58.   to aziz abu sarah 04:06  |  neil 08/05/09
  59.   Re Sylvie 04:06  |  shlomog 08/05/09
  60.   sam soul from parrris 04:20  |  neil 08/05/09
  61.   Woody 07:52  |  Connie 08/05/09
  62.   This is good but 09:03  |  Palestinian 08/05/09
  63.   Price for a life 10:09  |  naomi 08/05/09
  64.   Bless you, Aziz Abu Sarah 10:17  |  sg 08/05/09
  65.   You might also thank 10:50  |  Sakrayami 08/05/09
  66.   to all the astonished 11:09  |  someone 08/05/09
  67.   He is not the only Palestinian 11:37  |  Free_Thinker 08/05/09
  68.   Sakrayami: difference between hand gestures and peace offers 15:31  |  Boris 08/05/09
  69.   I would like to read more of these articles 22:36  |  Daniel 08/05/09
  70.   Connie is right 09:06  |  Lola 09/05/09
  71.   As a Jew, I feel it is our responsibility.... 14:57  |  Fred G. 09/05/09
  72.   Empathy- G-d bless Abu Sarah 16:03  |  Erin Tas 09/05/09
  73.   Jonathan in San Diego 06:30  |  NetNut 11/05/09
  74.   Eichman spoke Yidish 06:38  |  NetNut 11/05/09
  75.   Danger Danger Danger. 07:01  |  NetNut 11/05/09
  76.   To Aziz Abu Sarah 02:27  |  MARC ABITBOL 12/05/09
  77.   SHAME ON ANYONE WHO COMPARES THIS TO THE "NAKBA" 11:34  |  Micah 12/05/09
  78.   A Palestinian remembers the Holocaust 08:35  |  Yvonne Bartfeld 16/05/09
  79.   this entire area of the ME is traumatized - recognize the pain 19:18  |  world observer 06/06/09
  80.   # 40 Chris, you were mislead re: your own history 19:24  |  world observer 06/06/09
  81.   Israels Indifference to Muslims? 19:36  |  Reza Santorini 06/09/09
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