TW: Holocaust:
Today on Shabbat and in the run-up to Holocaust Memorial Day, we will learn about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprisers.
It’s a common misconception that during the Shoah, Jews ‘went like lambs to the slaughter’. This is erroneous and offensive.
Today on Shabbat and in the run-up to Holocaust Memorial Day, we will learn about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprisers.
It’s a common misconception that during the Shoah, Jews ‘went like lambs to the slaughter’. This is erroneous and offensive.
From April 19 to May 16 1943, Jews staged an uprising.
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Nazi Ghettos and at its peak, it was the prison for 450,000 Jews. The conditions were unimaginable and the prisoners lived on 184 Calories a day.
The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of all Nazi Ghettos and at its peak, it was the prison for 450,000 Jews. The conditions were unimaginable and the prisoners lived on 184 Calories a day.
In response to the mass murder, some of the survivors set up ZOB.
Another organisation, ZZW was also set up and by April 1943 there were about 750 Jews in these movements combined. The ZOB were able to obtain a small number of weapons from the Home Army.
Another organisation, ZZW was also set up and by April 1943 there were about 750 Jews in these movements combined. The ZOB were able to obtain a small number of weapons from the Home Army.
In October 1942, Himmler ordered the total liquidation of the Ghetto. On January 18, during an attempted deportation, Jewish fighters attacked the Germans at the Umschlagplatz (areas where Jews were forced to assemble in order to be deported to death camps).
After initially deporting around 6,000 Jews, the Nazis halted deportations due to the attack. This success spurred the Ghetto fighters on and they built bunkers and shelters to prepare for an uprising.
On the first day of fighting the ZOB, led by Mordecai Anielewicz stunned the Nazis. Sadly, within days, the organisations had been defeated and Anielewicz was killed at Miła 18, the secret headquarters of the ZOB (featured in the images).
Fighting carried on until 16 May and the ghetto was eventually destroyed, building by building.
The fact that the Uprisers were ultimately murdered by the Nazis, does not diminish their achievements or their bravery.
The fact that the Uprisers were ultimately murdered by the Nazis, does not diminish their achievements or their bravery.
We Jews today should be inspired by the courage of Jews who came before us who stood up to the oppressive crushing pressure of antisemitism.
Now, as they said then, let us yell ‘Am Yisrael Chai’, the Jewish People live!
Now, as they said then, let us yell ‘Am Yisrael Chai’, the Jewish People live!
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