Holocaust Remembered Amidst Recent Trauma
What’s happening: The worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023, which reignited fears of anti-Semitic violence for many Israeli citizens, is brought back into stark focus by International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Why it matters: Israeli communities are still reeling from the Hamas terrorists’ assault and grappling with the evident vulnerabilities the attack exposed, leaving an impact especially on the Holocaust survivors residing in Israel. Gad Partok, a 93-year-old survivor, invokes a chilling parallel between the terror of his past in Nazi-occupied Tunisia and the contemporary threats in southern Israel.
Living Room Horrors: The Attack from a Survivor’s Eyes
Personal perspective: Gad Partok witnessed atrocities both in his youth during the Nazi occupation of Tunisia and recently through the brutality unleashed by Hamas on Jewish communities around Ashkelon. His once-safe haven in Israel was shaken as missiles threatened his peace and terrorists captured his neighbors.
The number: The Hamas massacre left around 1,200 dead, contrasting shockingly with Partok’s haunting childhood memories of Nazi aggression.
The Cost of Conflict: Renewed Sense of Vulnerability
Critical response: Questions arise surrounding Israeli defenses and the government’s ability to protect its people, as echoed in Gad Partok’s dismay and the absence felt by many Jews after the destruction caused by Hamas in the recent attack.
The forgotten chapter: Gad Partok’s experience similarly casts a light on the Tunisia Jewish community’s suffering during the Holocaust, a historical narrative less known but preserved in the memories of people like him.
Proximity to Prediction: Threat of Further Conflict
Enduring impact: Less than 15 miles from Gaza, Partok’s haunted memories get amplified by ongoing violence, worrying residents of bordering cities like Ashkelon for their immediate and long-term security.
Amidst Calls for Peace: Israeli Defense and International Scrutiny
Global repercussions: Devastating civilian casualties in Gaza have invited widespread criticism and left Israelis stuck between their sense of self-defense and international concern over humanitarian implications.
Media focus: While international attention varied, Israeli narratives largely centered around October 7 as news channels concentrate on the event’s aftermath, relegating the humanitarian concerns elsewhere to the periphery.
Living Testament to History’s Repeating Tones
Reflections of the past and present: Gad Partok sits amidst reminders of his life’s journey—a testament not only to the survival against historical anti-Semitism but now also the enduring volatility facing Jews in present-day Israel.
This story was first published on timesofisrael.com.