As a survivor of the Holocaust, I have been asked countless times to speak on the subject of Jewish suffering and the atrocities committed against my people. And while I am honored to share my story and educate others about the horrors of the past, I cannot help but feel a sense of unease and discomfort when I am constantly asked to speak on this topic. It is not because I am ashamed of my heritage or my experiences, but rather because I feel that there is a crucial voice that is being silenced in these discussions – the voice of the Palestinians.
It is a bit of an obscenity, as I have stated, that I am often asked to speak on the Holocaust simply because I am Jewish. It is as if my identity and my survival are the only qualifications needed to speak on such a complex and sensitive issue. But what about the Palestinians? Why aren’t we listening to their stories and their experiences? Why are their voices constantly overshadowed and ignored in the discussions about the Holocaust and Jewish suffering?
The truth is, the Palestinian people have also suffered greatly at the hands of oppression and violence. They have been displaced from their homes, their land, and their livelihoods. They have endured decades of occupation, discrimination, and human rights violations. And yet, their suffering is often dismissed or downplayed in the larger narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, I cannot turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinian people. It goes against everything that I have learned from my own experiences and the lessons of history. The Holocaust was a result of dehumanization, discrimination, and the silencing of voices. And yet, we are repeating these same patterns by not listening to the Palestinians and acknowledging their pain.
I am not saying that the suffering of the Jewish people should be minimized or forgotten. It is a crucial part of our history and it is important to remember and honor the victims. But we must also recognize that the Palestinian people are also victims of violence and oppression. Their suffering should not be ignored or overshadowed.
Furthermore, as a survivor of the Holocaust, I feel a responsibility to speak out against any form of injustice and oppression. It is not enough to only speak about the suffering of my own people. We must also stand in solidarity with other marginalized and oppressed communities, including the Palestinians.
I understand that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a complex and sensitive issue, and there are no easy solutions. But we cannot continue to ignore the voices and experiences of the Palestinian people. We must listen to their stories, their pain, and their perspectives. Only then can we truly work towards a just and peaceful resolution for both sides.
In the words of Elie Wiesel, another Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Let us not be silent about the suffering of the Palestinian people. Let us listen to their voices and stand with them in their struggle for justice and peace.
In conclusion, it is time for us to broaden our perspectives and listen to all sides of the story. As a Jewish survivor of the Holocaust, I urge my fellow Jews and all those who are willing to listen to not only remember the suffering of our people, but also to acknowledge and listen to the suffering of the Palestinian people. Only then can we truly move towards a future of peace and understanding.
