BE A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS: HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY

In the UK, we are invited to observe today as Holocaust Memorial Day and at midday I was at a Zoom Memorial service to mark this day, which is a National commemoration day dedicated to the remembrance of the Jews who suffered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution.  It was first held in January 2001 and has been held on the same date every year since, which was the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945.

It was a very moving service today, attended by many people from Swindon but sadly, the Jewish community was not represented because one of their friends died last week and the funeral was taking place today.

It is estimated that during the war over 6 million Jews and also many others were killed so on this special Memorial Day, so we pray for those who died in the Holocaust and in many other acts of genocides since - and we must never forget all they suffered.

I am reading a book at the moment entitled “An Interrupted Life: The Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum - 1941-1943."  Esther "Etty" Hillesum, was born on 15th January 1914 and died on 30 November 1943 after she was deported and killed in Auschwitz concentration camp.  Her book describes both her religious awakening and the persecutions of Jewish people in Amsterdam during the German occupation.

I am usually a “skimmer” when reading, but this book demands my full attention and I certainly cannot say I am enjoying it, but I am learning a lot, not only about Etty and her life but also about what happened around her, which makes interesting and harrowing reading, especially when thinking about the Holocaust.

I was pleased to be a part of the service, because one of my very dear friends, who is also a Blip friend, mindful_life, was playing two cello pieces - and she did so well.  Not easy when you are playing in your own lounge and it is being broadcast over Zoom.  I even managed to record the pieces so was able to send them to her via WhatsApp - where would we be without technology in these difficult and challenging times?

The theme of the Memorial Service was “Be a Light in the Darkness” and we heard testimonies from different people during the service on this theme.  We are encouraged to light a candle and put it in our window at 8 o’clock this evening to remind us that in the worst of times, light cannot be extinguished and that we all have a responsibility to keep the light alive.

I couldn’t choose between these two quotes, so am sharing both of them for today:

"As life becomes harder 
     and more threatening, 
          it also becomes richer, 
because the fewer expectations we have, 
     the more good things of life 
          become unexpected gifts 
               that we accept with gratitude."
Etty Hillesum

"Suffering has always been with us; 
     does it really matter in what form it comes? 
All that matters is how we bear it 
     and how we fit it into our lives."
Etty Hillesum