By Rabbi Ben Kamin
ENCINITAS, California –They all look well in the photo. Under sunny skies and tight security in St. Petersburg, Russia, the leaders of several key nations gathered and discussed issues—mostly in the economic realm.
On the glaringly clear and shockingly factual gassing and chemical genocide of Syrian adults and children by their own government, there was diplomatic posturing, vacillating, and a towering lack of genuine outrage. President Putin of Russia was actually questioning the urgency of the whole crisis; Prime Minister Cameron of the United Kingdom was cringing from the “Nay” pummeling he received from his parliament; President Obama of the United States was waiting for his Congress to shake off its latest recess and gather for the opportunity to debate his proposal that America eventually do the morally correct thing.
Russia isn’t going to help because it actually retains Soviet sentiments about President al-Assad of Syria (who—like the late Josef Mengele of Auschwitz—is a physician). Britain isn’t getting involved because, well, it’s a lot of trouble and British equivocation is historically well-oiled. And Americans are still smarting (understandably) about former President George W. Bush’s deceit about Iraq.
And then there’s Germany: best place to live in Europe, strongest economy in the world. Very contrite about the Holocaust yet not getting the connection between that and an opportunity to move beyond sober platitudes about such matters. Intervening against the chemical mass murder of children? Nein.
Where’s the Vatican? What about the sundry assemblies of “pro-life” movements in North America that remain silent about the unchecked killing of kids happening and escalating? Wherewith the indignation in the major mosques?
The nearly two million Jewish children who were gassed, burned, and vaporized in Europe make room now in heaven for more of the forgotten kinder. And in Israel, the children line up for gas masks. Some people understand that history is not a discussion; it’s a reminder.
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Rabbi Kamin is a freelance writer based in Encinitas, California. He may be contacted at ben.kamin@sdjewishworld.com