In the introduction to the essay titled "Weaponizing Language: Misuses of Holocaust Memory and the Never Again Syndrome," Omer Bartov states: "In what follows, I will attempt to briefly discuss some fundamental questions regarding the use and abuse of the Holocaust as a historical event, a traumatic memory, and a warning to future generations. I will ask: Was the Holocaust unique, and if so, what can we learn from it? Was the pledge to prevent genocide from happening again kept, and if not, why? Can the mass murder of the Jews serve as a guide to the nations of the world, and in what ways? And, most importantly perhaps for the current moment: If the Holocaust was the clearest justification for the need to create a Jewish state, what role has it played in Israel’s history for the last seven decades? Finally, I would like to suggest how a better understanding of the misuse of the terminology of Holocaust, antisemitism, and genocide, can help us not only perceive the current crisis in Israel and Gaza more clearly, but also imagine and work toward a new path of reconciliation and justice for all."
Date
March 15, 2024
Weaponizing Language: Misuses of Holocaust Memory and the Never Again Syndrome
Omer Bartov recently authored an essay for The Council for Global Cooperation titled "Weaponizing Language: Misuses of Holocaust Memory and the Never Again Syndrome."