Kehillat Ma'arav - Santa Monica, CA | Conservative Synagogue

Voice Articles

Home > Education > Voice Articles > President's Message > February 2008

President's Message
February 2008

One of the ubiquitous questions asked by students learning about the Holocaust is why did the German Jews not flee as Hitler was rising to power. Of course, many individuals did escape. Regarding those that stayed and perished, however, this is a fair, and perplexing question.

The three most convincing answers to me are: First, Germany was an educated, post-enlightenment, cosmopolitan place in the 1930s. To educated people, it was likely difficult to imagine colleagues and neighbors sending them to the gas chambers.

Second, Germany had been home to some Jewish families for hundreds of years. It is not always easy to leave one's home, even in the face of danger.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, one can never underestimate the power of denial. What happened to the Jews of Europe was just simply to horrible to contemplate. As a result, many blinded themselves to what was happening.

We utilize the phrase "never again" to evidence our determination that genocide not occur in the future. It is my belief however, that given human nature, similar events are, unfortunately, assured.

Indeed, in 1994, the entire world stood by and watched hundreds of thousands of Africans slain by their own neighbors based on a constructed tribal affiliation. For the past seven years, the government of Sudan and its allied militia have been trying to wipe out African Christians in the Darfur region.

It is, accordingly, my hope that the phrase "never again" will not just be used as a mantra against genocide, but will also be heeded by Jews to avoid the denial that leads to inaction in the face of evil. This hope leads me to deliver a message to the Jews of Venezuela. The message is: Get out now.

Venezuela has a Jewish population of approximately 12,000. The Jewish community, dating from the mid-19th century, has lived in relative harmony with the greater Venezuela population, at least until recently.

In December 2007, armed policeman raided the Hebraica Community Center in Caracas to look for weapons and "subversive activity." Thankfully, no physical violence occurred. However, this is the second time in the last three years that the Jewish community center has been raided.

State television has accused Jews of plotting to overthrow the government and of being agents for the Mossad and the CIA. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been an honored guest of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.

Finally, the newly installed head of Chavez' security apparatus is the son of the former Iraqi Baath Party representative to Venezuela.

Many Jews have already fled. Prior to socialist Hugo Chavez' ascension to power, the population was approximately 16,000. Accordingly, about one-third of the Jewish population has already gotten out.

To the others, I say: "Never again." Get out while there is still time.

Jamie Green
President