What Do We Do When?
the power of collective good
Hi All,
Last week I wrote an essay reflecting on International Holocaust Remembrance Day which we commemorate yearly on January 27th. For a long time now, it has weighed on my heart and mind that there is a confrontation between studying the past and being active in the present day. Knowing history is not nearly enough. To make true change in this world, we must combine action with the lessons we receive from the past. This essay explores that.
The essay was published by Religious News Service. Read it here: We say ‘Never again’ as we remember the Holocaust. But what do we do to make it true?
When I wrote this essay, my community in Maine was (and still is) experiencing a heightened threat inflicted on us by our own government. I witnessed some neighbors hiding in their homes and others putting all of their energy into helping at-risk families. In a moment of despair, it was a vision of what a community can do right when a leader is doing wrong.
While I encourage you to read the whole essay, I wanted to share an excerpt here.
“I’ve spent much of my career studying and retelling her story. Among those like me who work in Holocaust education, there is a healthy conversation about which stories and facts are most important to teach: Do we focus on death and destruction or rescue and resistance? For me, it’s always been the latter. My grandmother’s survival has taught me that there is a ripple effect when you focus a hopeful story — one that illuminates the power of collective good. You learn what to fear and resist, but also receive a blueprint of how to show up for neighbors in times of crisis and need.
Through this work, I’ve participated in a collective goal: Never again. It’s a mantra we say about the Holocaust in every classroom and on every commemorative day. It’s a hope for the world, and I subscribe to it. But “Never again” can feel like an empty drum we keep beating. There has been political violence in every decade since the Holocaust, including subsequent genocides. Rather than “Never again,” I believe we should refocus our mantra to a question: What do we do when?”
If this is a topic you’d like to explore further, I invite you to join one or both of of my upcoming writing workshops that are focused on Remembrance and Resistance. The next workshops are February 22 and April 12 (read more about this theme here). My pricing model is different for these than usual; sessions will be $90 each, but if you are a paid Substack subscriber, sessions are $54 each. 100% of proceeds will go directly to bringing WE SHARE THE SAME SKY into schools.
With hope,
Rachael
Further Reading: I recommend a beautiful piece of writing by my friend Julie Lindahl, author of The Pendulum. I sent her a voicenote one morning in January and she layered it with meaning by sharing her reflections in context of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The essay is titled: Voice Message at 6 a.m.
