Dr. Chaim Botwinick
As a child, I can vividly recall how my father, z”l would describe the manner in which he and his United
States Army Chaplain colleagues liberated concentration camps at the end of World War II
I recall hearing how he and other army Chaplains and officers, together with then General Eisenhower
where the first to enter these camps of death only to witness first-hand the pile of deceased souls next
to the skeletal bodies lying in the mud or in filthy wooden barracks, barely still breathing.
My father’s memory of these images were so evident and vivid throughout his Rabbinic career that they
became a central theme for many of his drashas, diveri Torah and speeches, interspersed with powerful
words of chazal and inspiration.
His numerous sermons during the Yom Tovim and on Shabbat were replete with images and stories of
holocaust victims (whom he referred to as true tzadekkim). He would describe how he and his
colleagues helped nourish them back to life in displacement camps. Until this very day, his drashas are
still seared in my memory.
As he described these experiences, he would often say – “My friends, it can happen here!”
For many, especially for me as a child, his words resonated with alarming reflection and realism. This
was especially the case for those who they themselves experienced the horrors of the Holocaust.
Friends, I often think that if my father were to be alive today, how he would respond to the volcanic
explosion of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic violence now sweeping the globe. I dare not wonder how he
would have reacted with fire and brimstone, anger and consternation at the current state of global anti-
Semitism and Jew-hatred in public spaces
My father was a man of true shalom. He was also known to be a brilliant Talmud Chocham, an influential
orator and a powerful speaker. As a realist and pragmatist he was haunted by his memories of those
images of thousands of emaciated concentration camp inmates he held, carried and comforted in his
arms after their liberation.
Today’s growing global anti-Semitic cancer now metastasizing in our communities is overwhelming. This
new hatred is no longer restricted to the fringes of our society but are now being fomented by many
public figures, politicians, and the media. It is now the new post-October 7 th normal to publically hate
Jews.
The recent events in New York City are just one example of how harmful public comments and rhetoric
can spark and ignite a firestorm of hatred, not unlike the burning blaze of pre-Nazi Germany.
I keep hearing my father’s voice echoing in the background “it can happen here”
There are those who feel that the only solution is aliya to Israel; yet, there are others who strongly
believe that we must fight this malignancy domestically with all of our resources.
My father of blessed memory would suggested that complacency, apathy or running away from Jew-
hatred is not the solution; and with the conviction that if unchallenged, history will repeat itself. Having
said that, he probably would have also opted to encourage aliya for those who have the resources,
ability and means to fulfill the mitzvah of yishuv eretz yisrael – to settle in Israel.
Throughout Jewish history, we have confronted the face of evil and the daunting reality of persecution,
pogroms and hatred. Yet, as a people we were resilient and we survived.
This survival does not happen in a vacuum, but is rather the result of a fight or flight reality which is
baked into the DNA of Am Yisrael and the result of our unswerving bitachom and emuna in HaShem.
Having just observed Tisha B’Av and the horrifying stabbing of a young Jewish man in the streets of
Upper Manhattan, we are all a bit on edge and unsettled about when and how the next shoe will drop,
whether it be in Manhattan or in any other major metropolis.
Just last week, I heard a story on a national podcast about child who asked his mother, “Mom, do I need
to wear my kippah in public”. The mothers response was “I would rather you wear a hat…. and please
tuck-in you tzitzit when in public’.
My dear friends, I never thought I would ever witness the day when a child in the United States would
be fearful to wear a kippah or his tzitzit in public. But unfortunately it has become a harsh reality.
Of course there a growing number who would opt to wear kippot and tzizit in public. And to those who
do, I say kol Hakavod!
We must continue to be proud of our Jewish identity and not shy away from displaying it publicly.
As a People we are all very effective confronting these concerns and fears from behind a typewriter or
laptop, or even by delivering fiery speeches from a podium. But are we as a global Jewish community
really and truly ready to confront antisemistm and Jew-hatred head on.
When the entire world is turning against the Jew in public spaces, it is so daunting and disconcerting to
confront an enemy with such savagery, barbarism and hatred.
Chazal teach us that we should never be discouraged and that we must always continue to focus on the
positive – especially when confronting evil.
Throughout our history, we learned how to never give up hope and that adherence to Torah values
ensures our resilience. We learn that Holocaust survivors created new families, schools and
communities…. proving that life and faith can start over and even flourish after total destruction.
Jewish history is defined by a cycle of crisises and renewal …where communities repeatedly transformed
moments of near-destruction into cultural and spiritual resilience and rebirth.
Several of these remarkable turning points included the return to Zion when 538 BCE Jews were finally
allowed to leave Babylon and return to Yerushalayim, the permanent abolition of the Spanish Inquisition
in 1834; the UN Partition Plan (Resolution 1810), and the Freedom of Soviet Jewry in 1987.
Moving into the Future with Hope and Promise
As we continue to focus on the impact of anti-Semitism, Jew hatred and anti-Israel violence, we must be
mindful that we will always be protected by the fact that we were endowed by HaShem as an ohr lgoyim
and as a mamlechect kohanim.
No individual, group of individuals or country will ever change this reality. Nor will any government or
governmental official ever take this honor and endowed privileged reality away from us.
When I think back to by dear father’s warning that It Can Happen Here, I sincere believe it can. But I also
firmly believe that with HaShem’s oversight, acheinu bnai Yisrael has the ability, capacity and ratzon to
fight this growing cancer head on.
But first and foremost it will require a true sense of urgency anchored in reality on our part and a
commitment to ensure a safe, strong, viable Jewish community.
As our summer respite comes to a close and as our children return to school, let us hope and pray to
HaShem that they, their families and achienu bnai yisrael remain safe, vigilant and aware of the
potential dangers and threats surroundings us.
Not doing so would be foolish, unwise, imprudent and delusional.
In the words of my dear father z’l, “it can happen here”!
We are hopeful that it will not, but today’s reality points to a strong indication that it may.
Are we as a community prepared?
Am Yisrael Chai
About the Author
D. Chaim Botwinick is an organizational consultant and senior executive couch. He served as president
and ceo for the central agency for Jewish education in Baltimore and Miami. He also served as head of
school and principal for a variety of Jewish day schools an yeshivot. As an Influencer in education, Dr.
Botwinick has written and lectured extensively on topics relating to strategic planning, leadership
development and school change. He is the co-founder of LEV Consulting Associates and host of the
Chinuch Horizons podcast series. Dr. Botwinick is the author of Think Excellence, Brown Books, 2011.
