Torah Commentary with Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal
Yom Hashoah 5782
Let Me Share with You!
By Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal
"Never Again!" This is the battle cry; the clarion call of our people when discussing the Shoah, the Holocaust. "Never Again!" But what does that mean? When I was growing up, my father used to say "Never Again" when discussing the Holocaust. He would often add that the educational center and museum in Israel, Yad VaShem, meant, "Never Again." It doesn't. Now I share this with you not to expose my father's lack of knowledge. He was the smartest person I've even known. I remember him connecting the phrase "Never Again" to the museum in Jerusalem because my older sister, who had Hebrew fluency would challenge him on it. Yad VaShem literally means, "Hand and Name." Unfortunately, my sister's rebuttal didn't help much. I liked the definition of Yad VaShem better when my father translated it. "Never Again" better captures the work that the Yad VaShem museum does by educating, honoring and advocating for the victims, survivors, and heroes of the Shoah.
The name, "Yad VaShem," is actually an expression in the book of Isaiah (56:5)
I will give them, in My House
And within My walls,
A monument and a name (Yad VaShem)
Better than sons or daughters.
I will give them an everlasting name
Which shall not perish.
The phrase is fitting although, in context, there is a lot to unpack. However, we will have to save the exploration of this Biblical verse and its application here for another Torah commentary. What is clear, is that it doesn't mean "Never Again." In defense of my father, the phrase "Never Again" was imbued in all the work of educating and advocating for the victims of the Holocaust. In that way, I am on board. Never should such horror happen again. Never should anybody seek the oppression, subjugation, and annihilation of another people. Never again should such darkness befall our world. I am in full support of such a sentiment. And, if I may appropriate a phrase from our sacred Passover narrative, Dayenu! If the world just consisted of me and those who seek my words and example for guidance, "Never Again" would be enough.
But it's not. It's not enough. It isn't an expression that lives in the hearts and minds of enough people. Since the horrors of the Shoah, there have been countless efforts by individuals, peoples, and governments to continue the heinous crimes committed by the Nazis, their collaborators, benefactors, and bystanders. And if we expand these horrific intentions to the oppression and murder of other people (non-Jews), the number grows exponentially. "Never Again" is a battle cry for a never-ending cosmic war between the forces of light against the insidious nature of darkness. By itself, "Never Again" feels destined to never being achieved.
I wonder if there are some new phrases that we might begin to share with the world. As the final eyewitnesses to the Shoah pass away, I wonder if there is a new phrase that might need to be shared which can begin to soften hearts and change minds.
This past weekend, we were honored and blessed by the presence of Mr. Brendan Murphy, professor of history at the Marist school. Mr. Murphy, a devout Catholic, is a hero of the Jewish people and of all people. During Mr. Murphy's presentation, he shared the ethic that brought him to dedicate his life to the work of Holocaust education and advocacy. At the end of his sermon, he talked about a remarkable statue recasting the ancient depictions of Ecclesia and Synagoga (For more on his presentation, watch it here).
The two statues depict Ecclesia, who represents the Christian Church and Synagoga, who represented Judaism, seated with each other, both crowned, sharing each other's sacred texts with one another. This is not the way that Ecclesia and Synagoga have been paired throughout our long difficult history with our Christian brothers and sisters. This sculpture now lives on the campus of the Marist school here in Atlanta because of the courageous work of Mr. Murphy. I wonder if this image might be sharing a new expression that we can share with the world moving forward, an additional clarion call for the sacred work of Holocaust education and advocacy – "Let me share with you."
Let me share with you our story
Let me share with you our pain!
Let me share with you our journey!
Let me share with you our hope!
Maybe we can even shorten it to 'Share with me!" inviting those who might be germinating ill will to open and explore the true root of their own pain.
As the last of the Holocaust survivors leave our earth, they entrust with us their souls, their memories, their struggles, and their hope. What we do with precious items will say everything about who we are. It is not a burden but a privilege. To dedicate one's life to such a cause is to sit in the Holy of Holies and speak face to face with God.
May Yom HaShoah open our hearts and make firm our resolve to do the holy work ahead.
We are looking for nominations for The Marvin C. Goldstein and Rita Goldstein Wolfson Volunteer of the Year Award (presented to a volunteer who has shown outstanding efforts to strengthen our congregation and community) to be presented at the Annual Meeting in June. To submit recommendations, please contact Jackie Nix (
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We are grateful for your continued support, patience, and fortitude as our community, country and world move through one of the most challenging times in modern history. With the guidance of the Center of Disease Control's (CDC) latest guidelines, we are sharing with you our updated protocols which will allow our synagogue building and community to live up to its traditional name, a Beit Knesset (A House of Gathering). Effective today, Friday, March 11, the following changes to our safety protocols will be in effect for our worship, cultural events, adult learning, and business meetings:
A joint committee representing AA Synagogue and The Temple, consisting of Betsy Teplis, Ivan Millender, Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Emilie Posner Haas, and Sperry Wilder (a tour guide at Oakland since 1999) has been formed to collect and compile your most relevant family history of those family members buried in Oakland Cemetery. Please note we are not soliciting funds for this project. It is voluntary. The information will be included on the tours of the AA and Temple sections in Oakland Cemetery and archived at the Breman Museum. We appreciate your participation in this worthwhile project. Please submit a brief synopsis of your interesting family history, hopefully by year-end, via email to Ivan Millender (
Do you know an AA congregant who is in the hospital or infirm? We are concerned about loved ones and friends who are in the hospital or infirm. Although our synagogue office remains closed, we are still working and would like to connect with you, especially in regards to pastoral care. If you have information about friends or family in the hospital or other care facilities, please contact Rabbi Rosenthal (
We are excited to move forward in aligning Ahavath Achim with United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism's (USCJ) membership section of Standards for Congregational Practice: "We celebrate diversity among and within our synagogues and encourage the engagement of all those who seek a spiritual and communal home in an authentic and dynamic Jewish setting." Most of us have or know Jewish families with loved ones of other faiths. Embracing these families will allow us not only to support their Jewish growth and identity with AA, it will also help them create a Jewish home of their own. To this end, we will soon be introducing proposed changes to our by-laws
We are in need of an online gabbai to help us deepen our Shabbat morning hybrid service experience. This opportunity will be facilitated from the comfort of your in-home "sanctuary." We seek somebody who can welcome our Zoom participants and invite selected individuals to participate in the service with honors like online aliyah to the Torah, English readings, etc. This position requires the use of the Zoom chat feature, computer camera, and a smiling, outgoing personality. Detailed instructions and training will be provided. We are looking for several individuals to create a monthly rotation. If you are interested, please contact Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal (
We have so many wonderful activities at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, from communal to spiritual to social action. The Membership Committee is requesting your help in asking others to come WITH you to any/all synagogue events! Share how many wonderful things are going on at AA with your friends and family! If you know of anyone who should be on our prospective member list or should be contacted by leadership in any way, please reach out to Miriam Habif Gelfond, Director of Outreach and Engagement (
Ahavath Achim's Sisterhood is a dynamic organization of women of all ages with diverse experiences, talents, and interests within our synagogue, community, and the Jewish world. Every woman counts for Sisterhood to grow and thrive. Basic membership dues are $45, but we encourage you to join at a Chai-er level. Your generous dues and donations are vital for Sisterhood to continue to offer programs and projects that strengthen and sustain our Jewish values.
We need your involvement in AA's social action programs! Motivate your family and friends "into action" towards the betterment of our community, and envision our current programs continued for the future. Reach out to your nieces, nephews, friends, and new neighbors for new contacts and ideas to help us increase our pool of volunteers for our wonderful existing and future programs. We need you! Find out how you want to be involved by reviewing the 
Are you a warm, friendly, dedicated volunteer who wants to make a difference in a fellow congregant's life through acts of loving kindness? Are you willing to make a personal call or visit to comfort and support a congregant who has lost a loved one or been ill? These caring touches – acts of loving kindness – make all the difference in the world to those receiving them. If you want to be a part of strengthening our community, then AA's new Chesed Initiative is for you! This committee will work with our clergy, staff, and lay leaders to connect members who need help with members who want to do good deeds! Additionally, if you know of a congregant who is facing personal difficulties related to health, loss, or grief, please contact Fern Schorr (
Donate to the Ukraine Emergency Fund of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
We are proud and grateful to formally launch the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund. Formerly the Cultural Arts Program, established in 1977, this fund was established by congregant Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein to perpetuate AA's broad cultural arts program offerings. AA's cultural arts programming currently consists of: the Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Memorial Lecture Series, the Chamber Concert Series, the Liturgical Music Artist-in-Residency Program, weekly Shabbat and annual High Holiday musical offerings, and jazz, pop, vocal and instrumental concert offerings. The Cultural Arts Program has long been recognized for its breadth of offerings and its excellence. We hope that you will consider making contributions to this fund as the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program offerings continue to present world-renowned speakers, dignitaries, artists, and virtuoso musicians.
