Near, but so far: Marking the Holocaust in a pandemic

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Esther Solomon

For the first time ever, Israel has opened its rollercoaster season of commemoration and celebration, from Holocaust Remembrance through Memorial Day for fallen soldiers to Independence Day, under the shadow of a pandemic which necessitates social isolation, and in the wake a new “emergency government” whose establishment thoroughly undermines the promise of a principled political opposition.   There has been much debate about the Bundestag’s vote to define the Israel boycott movement as anti-Semitic. For David Ranan, it is just one more sign of the unhealthy, overly-symbolic post-Holocaust relationship between Germany, Jews and Israel. For Adam Sacks, a trip to Cambodia’s genocide museum triggered an analysis of why a Christianized imperative of ‘forgiveness’ has become such a feature of Holocaust remembrance. As an Armenian-Israeli, Sivan Gaides is in a unique position to contrast the public awareness of the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide – and why it matters. As ultra-Orthodox Jews suffer a disproportionate number of coronavirus fatalities, there are plenty of voices blaming the community for their apparent defiance of social isolation rules: Ben Kasstan warns that the situation is more complicated than that. Shalva Weil calls for violence against women, which has spiked worldwide during lockdowns, to be recognized as a pandemic, too. And Fiyaz Mughal describes how violent Islamists including ISIS are hoping to exploit COVID-19 to source recruits.   Anshel Pfeffer asks if the coronavirus crisis is testing Israel’s promise to be a haven for Jews in distress – and whether the state is more comfortable welcoming Jewish bodies rather than living Jews. And Colin Shindler investigates UK Labour’s new shadow foreign secretary, and wonders if her clear distinction between being pro-Palestinian and against anti-Semitism will determine the party’s post-Corbyn era.

Jews in Germany Don't Need Special Treatment Any More David Ranan | 20.04.2020

The Coercive Christian Takeover of the Holocaust Adam Sacks | 20.04.2020

Recognizing the Trauma of the Armenian Genocide Doesn't Diminish the Holocaust Sivan Gaides | 16.04.2020

Angry at ultra-Orthodox Jews for 'Defying' Coronavirus Rules? It's More Complicated Than That Ben Kasstan | 16.04.2020

For Women, Lockdown Can Be More Dangerous Than the Coronavirus Shalva Weil | 19.04.2020

'Jews and Apostate Muslims Deserve Punishment': How Jihadists Justify Coronavirus to Hustle for Recruits Fiyaz Mughal | 12.04.2020

Pro-Palestinian, Without the anti-Semitism: Post-Corbyn Labour's New Foreign Secretary Colin Shindler | 12.04.2020

Should Coronavirus Mean Israel Shuts the Door on Jews, Dead or Alive? Anshel Pfeffer | 17.04.2020

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