Holocaust Museum

For some reason as I went through this museum I looked at the psychological effects and tactics used by the Nazi's--probably because I am a psych major.

This quote caught my eye:

The camp's law is that those going to their death should be deceived until the end.
         Tadeausz Borowski

Talk about heart wrenching.

One of the video's shown was about a man who survived the concentration camps. At night he woke up and realized that someone had stolen his hat. If you showed up to the line the next morning without your hat you were shot on the spot. So the man went through and found a poor soul and stole his hat so that he would live. During roll call the next morning he heard a shot and knew that a man died. He couldn't turn around and look at the man because he knew it was his fault that the man had died.

He shared another story where his father fell down during the roll call. He didn't stop to help his father up because doing so would have gotten him shot on the spot. He didn't help his father. Then his father was taken to the infirmary and died a few days later. To this day he still feels shameful because of his actions.

It really was people trying to survive at all costs.

I can't imagine the psychological trauma associated with what each member in the concentration camps went through. It really was a living Hell.

These are a few of the other quotes that stood out to me.

I don't know what a Jew is, we only know what human beings are.
          Pastor Andre Trocme

I know that when I stand before God on judgement day, I shall not be asked the question posed to Cain--where were you when your brothers blood was crying out to God.
          Imre Bathory

It was really great to see that some people did good. Not everyone. But many did.

I saw a copy of Schindler's list. I want to see that movie when I go home. I think it is time for that. I learned that he was a Nazi and wanted to get rich, but then he had a change of heart and did what he could to save lives. Amazing!

Work or the crematory--the choice is in your hands.
         SS Officer to inmates.
              Elie Wiesel, Night

We have no destination, our purpose is for you to drop dead.
         SS Officer to women on death march

The psychological influence that Hitler had on the Nazi's and that the Nazi's had on the Jews is terrifying, absolutely terrifying.

Statue of the Jews who rebelled.

Very discouraged.  There is no hope here.

A million and a half children.  This section had a lot of candles lit for the children who had died.  Possibly a connection with the promise given to Abraham that his children would be as stars in the heavens.

When I was at the museum I really felt like there were dementors there because I felt like I could never be happy again.

Then we left the museum and climbed to Mount Herzl. This is what wikipedia has to say about it. It is a "'Mount of Remembrance' and is the national cemetery of Israel on the west side of Jerusalem. It is named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. Herzl's tomb lies at the top of the hill. " In reality I had no idea why I was there. We were there for a few hours and it was freezing! We all worked together to stay warm and didn't pay attention at all.

It was a great experience to be there and learn more about the Holocaust. One thing I did appreciate about it was that it did talk about the people who helped the Jews. There is a garden with a tree planted for each of those who helped. There is hope even in a depressing world.