JBPHH hosts Holocaust historical and educational brief

John Allen describes the details of the Nuremberg Laws during Holocaust historical and educational brief May 2, held at Hickam's Hollister Auditorium. This year's theme is 'Learning from the Holocaust, Acts of Courage,' which highlights the courageous actions of various Jewish individuals during the pre, during and post-World War II era. The brief provided in-depth insight to various atrocities the Jewish people encountered in the face of Germany's Third Reich. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz)

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JBPHH hosts Holocaust historical and educational brief

Published May 3, 2016
By Staff Sgt. Christopher Stoltz
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM -- In recognition of Holocaust Memorial Week, JBPHH, along with the JBPHH Diversity and Observance Committee held the Holocaust historical and educational brief May 2, at Hickam’s Hollister Auditorium.

This year’s theme is ‘Learning from the Holocaust, Acts of Courage,’ which highlights the courageous actions of various Jewish individuals during the pre, during and post-World War II era.

The brief provided in-depth insight to various atrocities the Jewish people encountered in the face of Germany’s Third Reich. The event also provided information about the difference between the concentration and death camps, and the gruesome methods used to commit systematic genocide.

Providing the briefing was John Allen, cantorial soloist, co-leader of military Chavurah at JBPHH’s Aloha Jewish Chapel and University of North Carolina-Charlotte graduate, specializing in Holocaust literature and history.

“Remembrance is important for two reasons,” he said. “The first reason is honoring and remembering the victims, both Jewish and otherwise. Many people forget Roma, homosexual, and people with any type of physical or mental disabilities were also killed in the Holocaust.”

Allen said this during his brief, and added if people who were not Jewish in any way, but married a Jewish person were deemed ‘unfit’ in the eyes of the Third Reich -- and were subjected to the same cruel and inhumane mistreatment.

“(The second reason remembrance is important) is to always remember the sentiments which led ultimately to the holocaust,” he said. “To understand those (sentiments) and to be especially vigilant whenever we hear similar sentiments echoed in our society today.

Allen said a perfect example in today’s society is comments he said he sees on a daily basis – including those on news websites and Facebook threads, which often contains threats of physical violence and intolerance directed at certain ethnic groups.

"’Never again’ wasn't meant exclusively for us Jews,” he said. “It is to remind us to stand up against hate and intolerance when any group is persecuted – to speak out when politicians or people who have strong social power harness such sentiments to forward an agenda of intolerance and discrimination.”

For more information about the Holocaust Remembrance Week or its events, contact the JBPHH Diversity and Observance Committee at (808) 673-3903 or (219) 808-7355.