Angels and Demons

This week the Jewish world commemorated Tisha B'Av – an annualfast day in Judaism recalling the destruction of both the First and SecondTemple in Jerusalem, in addition to a number of other disasters in Jewishhistory. Unfortunately, our history is marked with tragic periods like theSpanish Inquisition, crusades, pogroms and horrifically, the Shoah.  

In every generation, however, there are demons which bring havocupon humanity (not just upon the Jews) and there are Angels – ordinary peoplewho try with all their might to help. Angels define the highest potential forhumanity – when we are at our finest. Demons are remembered for theiratrocities. Angels are venerated and used as role models for good character andfor taking action to counter hate and intolerance.

A few days ago, I posted a short video about Jewish Holocaustrescuer Moritz Hochschild on my Facebook page, anticipating perhaps severaldozen "Views" and a couple of "Likes" and"Shares". Instead, the video has received nearly 10,000 views todate, over 300 shares and more than 50 likes. In this day and age, when theworld is in flux and demons abound – when our safety and security is calledinto question daily, we are all looking for Angels.

Hochschild was a successful Bolivian mining tycoon who rescuedover 9,000 Jewish people from Hitler's clutches. He convinced the Boliviangovernment to grant them entry visas; provided the new refugees with employmentand housing and even built a school for them. Like many other Angels, hisrescue efforts were discovered and publicized years after his passing – and hesought no recognition.

Contrast this act of valour with the stain that will forevertarnish Canada's human rights legacy when it turned away 907 Jewish refugeesaboard the MS St. Louis on June 7, 1939. Sadly, 254 of its passengers weremurdered in the Holocaust, having been forced to return to Europe. Forgovernment officials involved in this defining moment, they could have beenjudged as Schindler-like saviours who stood up to evil. Instead, by turningback the ship, they became complicit in Hitler's genocide.

What defines us as humans is theability to make choices and positive contributions to humanity. Measuredagainst history and depending where one lives on the planet today, humanity hasmade incredible advances. People are fighting back against the demons of hateand intolerance. In Berlin for example, a number of street graffiti artists arecountering neo-Nazi graffiti by painting over swastikas into messages ofinclusivity and hope.

There is no greater effort that can be made other than to inspireand empower people to become Angels in their home, at work or school and intheir daily lives. The surest investment we can make – or insurance policy wecan undertake – is to educate people about the demons in humanity's past – foras Tisha B'Av reminds, history has a tendency to repeat.

Shabbat Shalom,

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Avi

CLICK HERE to watch the video on Moritz Hochschild.