Yad VaShem

Yesterday, we went on a guided tour of Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. The museum acts as a Jewish memorial to the Holocaust. An important aspect of the museum was focusing on the victims and survivors of the Holocaust by providing their names if known. The museum has an ongoing effort of identifying all six millions Jews who were murdered. Currently, 3.8 million Jews have been identified with their names recorded in the numerous books on display. There is notably enough empty shelf space for the remaining 2.2 million Jews. Everyone is encouraged to add names of any Jewish victims they know that have not been already recorded. The following link will allow you to search their database and submit names: http://www.yadvashem.org/wps/portal/IY_HON_Entrance

After viewing the various exhibits, we were fortunate to hear Effie Yeal, a Holocaust survivor speak to us about his experience. Like many Holocaust survivors, Effie would hardly speak to people about his experience, let alone inform his closest friends that he was even a survivor. Effie eventually made it his mission to speak to people about the Holocaust after revealing to his close friend (who happened to be his psychiatrist) that he was a survivor. Through his friends encouragement, Effie continues to tell his story and the importance of Holocaust surviors to speak to the younger generations about their experiences. It is important for the decreasing number of survivors to speak about their experience with family and friends to educate and most importantly, never forget.

While this is a horrific and depressing subject, we ended our visit on a positive and optimistic note. At the end of the tour, we were led to a beautiful view of Jerusalem with construction underway for the growing Jewish Population in Israel.

Josh