The Holocaust

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For twelve years following 1933 the Jews were persecuted by the Nazi's. Jewish

businesses were boycotted and vandalized. By 1939, Jews were no longer

citizens,could not attend public schools,engage in practically any business or

profession, own any land, associate with any non-Jew or visit public places such as

parks and museums. The victories of the German armies in the early years of World War

II brought the majority of European Jewry under the Nazis. The Jews were deprived of

human rights. The Jewish people were forced to live in Ghetto's which were separated

from the main city. Hitler's plan of genocide was carried out with efficiency. The total

number of Jews exterminated has been calculated at around 5,750,000.

In Warsaw ,where approximately 400,000 Jews had once been concentrated,was

reduced to a population of 60,000. They,virtually unarmed, resisted the German

deportation order and had held back the regular German troops equipped with flame

throwers,armoured cards, and tanks for nearly a month. This heroism was similar to the

revolt which took place around 165BC. This uprising was led by the Maccabees, a

provincial priestly family (also called Hasmoneans). They recaptured the Temple and

rededicated it to the God of Israel. The Maccabees made there last stand on a

mountain and was able to hold back the syrians for more then a month. There is a

distinct similarity between the two stories and that is possibly why they are both

recognised as holidays in the Jewish faith.

These horrific events of the holocaust have let to some consequences which are

beneficial and some are unfortunate to the Jewish people. The population of the

followers has greatly declined. Also the Jewish people after the war still had problems

finding jobs. They had to essentially start there life over. Most of them lost a close

relative or at least knew someone who died in the gas chambers of the Nazi

concentration camps. This has put a psychological strain on Jewish survivors or no

longer having family and friends with them for support. This event has awaken the

world up to the needs of the Jewish people. It has given them political power and a

justification for some of their actions.

On May recognised,1945 ,the end of World War II was seen. Organized Jewry in the

European continent was damaged beyond repair. The Jews concentrated on the

preservation of Israel and on the bringing of Nazi war criminals to trial.

There is a day of commemoration, Holocaust Day, observed in Israel and elsewhere on

Nisan (April) 19 and 20. The date is considered the anniversary of the beginning of the

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.