If I am only for myself, what am I?
We have published several statements marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, drawing lessons for the whole of humanity from the Nazi extermination of the past, against the background of a current genocide committed by Israel against Palestinians.
Robert Cohen, a writer and activist whose Twitter/X feed is titled Edgy Jewish Thinking, combined active protest with thoughtful reflection in his speech at a demonstration in Leeds on January 27. We share his sentiments.
“In a wretched and tragic turn of history, the victims of injustice have become the perpetrators of injustice. And it breaks my heart, as it does for many Jews all around the world, that this has happened.”
NWI
A wretched and tragic turn of history
My name is Robert Cohen. I am another British Jew who says “Ceasefire Now!” Another British Jew who says “Not in my name!”
Another British Jew who refuses to allow Jewish history and Jewish values to be distorted and perverted to justify ethnic cleansing, occupation, apartheid, war crimes and now genocide against the Palestinian people.
I am glad to tell you that I am among a growing number of Jews around the world who are rooted in their Jewish identity, proud of their Jewish heritage, and committed to Jewish well-being who have rejected Zionism as a flawed and failed project.
Tragically, our own trauma and our own experience of racism has been used to justify another great injustice. Our self-determination should never have been built on the destruction of another people.
In a wretched and tragic turn of history, the victims of injustice have become the perpetrators of injustice. And it breaks my heart, as it does for many Jews all around the world, that this has happened.
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. Exactly 79 years since the liberation of Auschwitz. ‘Never Again’ must mean more than a slogan for western liberal democracies to feel good about themselves.
‘Never Again’ must mean ‘no’ to state sanctioned racism; ‘no’ to ethnic nationalism; and ‘no’ to genocide – no matter who is carrying it out.
What took place against Israelis on 7th October was an atrocity. It was a war crime. But an atrocity against Israelis does not justify an even greater atrocity against Palestinians.
For the Israeli Prime Minister to describe the Hamas attack as a repetition of Holocaust crimes removed the entire context of more than a 100 years of Jewish settler colonialism in Palestine.
I am not saying this to excuse the violence of Hamas. I’m saying it because there needs to be an honest reckoning with the violence and victims of Zionism.
An honest reckoning not only by Jews, but by the Western nations which have used support for Israel as an alternative to facing up to their own histories of antisemitism and racism.
Today, genuine solidarity between minorities means recognising that it was the same racism used to justify European colonialism in Africa and India and the Middle East, which then laid the foundation for the Nazi destruction of Europe’s Jews.
The same racist thinking. The same evil ideologies that make some people less than human. The Jewish story of the Holocaust should not be isolated from the global story of racism and discrimination.
On Holocaust Memorial Day, we must connect in our hearts native Americans, enslaved Africans, Armenians, Jews, Cambodians, Rwandans, Bosnians, Darfuries, Rohingyas…and now Palestinians. ‘Never Again’ must mean Never Again for Anyone, Anywhere.
Like many other Jews, I hear in the Palestinian story echoes of my own people’s history. What it means to be cursed. What it means to be abandoned by the world. What is means to be considered less than human.
A famous Rabbi called Hillel once said, many centuries ago: “If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” My name is Robert Cohen I am another British Jews who says: ‘Ceasefire now!’, ‘No to genocide’, ‘Not in My Name’.
Other articles on our blog for HMD 2024
- Remembering is easy: acting to prevent future genocides seems less so – Mike Cushman
- Rabbis say Remember the Holocaust: stop the genocide in Gaza – Rabbi Brant Rosen
- Three statements for Holocaust Memorial Day
Bravo! If only we could see each other’s humanity more often and more clearly!
That is a splendid article. I only wish more people could read that and hopefully temper their views on the situation in Gaza.
Beautifully written & from the ❤️ heart.
It takes the breath away when words are so poignant & painful.
All is true & anyone denying these comments lacks humanity.
Thankyou Robert Cohen.
I was at the Leeds demo but left after a couple of speeches. If I’d known Robert was to speak, I would have stayed. I’ve read some of his writings. He is a good man as is evident in this speech.
That is very powerful. Thank you.
Thank you Robert, every time I read an affirmation that #ZionismIsNotJudaism it moves me to tears..and is a chink of light in the utter devastation and darkness of the Zionist agenda of Palestine Holocaust
Great to hear the words of our Jewish comrade in Leeds. Our own group, Sheffield Jews Against Israel Apartheid has been making our presence felt at Sheffield and London rallies. We are making links up with the Leeds groups and hoping to build more alliances with Jewish blocs in Yorkshire and the north.
I am from Sheffield. I read your articles. I am in a group called Jews against Israeli apartheid. Is it possible to connect us with any group of anti Zionist Jews in Leeds as we are very close by. We want to try to link up across South Yorkshire. Thank you Leni Solinger [email protected]