THE HOLOCAUST IS OVER WE MUST RISE FROM ITS ASHES

nations that do not know you and on the kingdoms who do not call in your name” 1but as in a sixteenthcentury German Haggadah: “Pour your love over the nations thatdo know you and on kingdoms that call in your name on behalf of graces that theydo to the seed of Jacob and their defending of your people from their enemies. Maythey see the booth of your chosen and rejoice in the joy of your nations.”A couple of months later, early on May 9, we will commemorate with theimmigrants from the former Soviet republics the victory over Nazi Germany. Duringthis day we will honor the heroes in the ghettos, forests, camps, and in the rank andfile of the regular armies. These immigrants have changed the landscape of life inIsrael. Many of them, if not most, feel that they were the ones who defeated Hitler.The massive, heroic partnership of Jews with the Red Army made them into theproudest of Jews. Many of them are not Jews according to Jewish religious law, butthey are Jews because they share our fate. The day will mark the amazinginternational partnership that brought Hitler down. Therefore it will no longer bedefeated Israel, the victims’ sole heir, but Israel and Israelis in the family of victorswho did not relent until the tumor was removed and the world began its healing. Thefact that so many of the former Soviet Jews who live in Israel are non-Jewish is alsoan invitation to alter our own private identities. They are Israelis on account of fate.They are not bearded rabbis, but Israelis like Ruth the Moabite. Their definition ofIsraeli identity is through life: their studies, language, hard work, culture and service.Their absorption is our return to our ancient tradition of welcoming those who wish tojoin our people and our nation. As our Talmud tells us, the descendants of some ofour worst enemies, Sisra, Sanherib, and Haman, studied the Torah and taught it inJerusalem and Bnei Brak. 2With them and for all of us, Israel must understand that after the Shoah, geneticJudaism has to end. We have to connect to the Judaism that shares a common fateand values with others. There will be among us descendants of Abraham and Sarah,but we will all be the children of Adam and Eve. Unlike many rabbis among us, likeRabbi Yehuda Halevi and his predecessors and followers, who believed that a nongeneticJew is not equal to us, we will adapt the medieval scholar Maimonides’astoundingly modern views and bold positions. This is what he wrote to Ovadia theProselyte, his contemporary: “There is no difference at all between us and you in anymatter...and do not underestimate your origins. If we are descended from Abraham,Isaac, and Jacob, you are descended from the Creator of the World.” 3 Victory Day