Final Reflection on Poland

Poland has a fascinating history of which alone is worth studying. For centuries, Poland was a safe haven for the oppressed in which many could go about their lives and practice their faith in peace. The extremist politics of the 20th century brought a lot of that to an end through violent and bloody means. Through all that’s happened, there are many ways to look at Poland. Some see Poland as a giant cemetery where graveyards are everywhere and mass graves are still being uncovered. Others see this bad history but are optimistic about Poland’s future. Neither is necessarily wrong. 

It goes without saying that Poland played a role in the oppression of Jews during the Second World War as well as before and after. Some Poles collaborated with the Nazis and outed their neighbors. Some actively killed their Jewish neighbors. But, we cannot forget about the Poles who risked everything to protect their Jewish neighbors. The risk of helping Jews in Poland was death to all involved and their families. Many were successful in hiding Jews and some were not. These righteous gentiles are cherished today for the heroism that they showed in the face of evil. But lastly, there were Poles who were indifferent. They did not care whether Jews were there or not and did not care that they were taken away. It is unfair to tell the story of Polish Jewish history without including all of these three groups. 

What scares me today is that it seems the world is ready to forget the Holocaust. Polls have come out revealing that many American millennials know little to nothing about the Holocaust. I believe it was Elie Wiesel who said something along the lines of “to forget the dead would be akin to killing them again.” The pathetic Polish Holocaust denial bill is an effort to distort history and embolden the extremists. Thankfully there is pushback through the hard work of educators and activists. The Holocaust will and must never be forgotten and those who try to deny it will never be successful. 

I am grateful that there are amazing people in The U.S., Poland, Israel, and other countries that are working to preserve the memory of those we lost in the Holocaust and work tirelessly to prevent genocide from reoccurring. Many are unmotivated as we say “Never Again” but it happens again and again. I can’t blame them for thinking that because they’re right. It continues. But we have to keep trying to stop genocide as it wreaks it’s destructive forces. I saw the remnants of the Holocaust on Polish land. I live with the scars of the Holocaust on the Nation of Israel. But that motivates me to never let those scars reopen nor to let any force rise to hurt us as we’ve been so hurt before. As I reflect on my walks through Warsaw, Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Brzesko, Pinczow, and Chmielnik and reflecting on the destruction that took place there, I fight for “Never Again.” 

Please stay with me on this fight. Travel when you can. Expand your mind. Educate. And maybe some day “Never Again” will mean Never Again! 

~Noah Goldman