Shoah - Academic Engagement

Description or definition

Shoah is described by the Holy See in the Commision for Religious Relations with Jews document as the Holocaust and the genocide of the Jewish people in Europe, who were marginalized, imprisoned and killed based on their faith identity. While World War II dedicated its actions to stopping allied Nazi Germany from taking over Europe, the overall tremendous loss of life for the Jewish community in a large-scale genocide has caused irreparable legacy for its cultural legacy. The Commission recognized the faith relationship of Jesus Christ with the Jewish ancestry and how inherently important it is for Christians.

b) Use by the Selected Author

The Holy See carefully narrates the human cost of the Shoah and the responsibility of Christians to be mindful of the historical relationships the have impacted Jewish people. Pope John Paul was intimately impacted by the Shoah living in his native Poland and in becoming a Priest during this period of time. Pope John Paul articulates guidelines through Nostra Aetate in this piece for Catholics to observe the tragedy of the Shoah and the duty to remember these events.  In noting this, Pope John Paul is also careful to note that, "there is no future without memory" (Holy See, 1998), and the prejudices that translated into the Nazi’s action’s. However, this document acknowledges the shortcomings of the Church’s actions all while expressing a way to move forward to build a common future together.

c) Further reflections

The Holy See’s critical examination of the Shoah and the Catholic church’s position in and around Shoah, highlights how delicate relationship building may be with the Jewish community in light of the past historical events. The guidelines that Nostra Aetate provides for Catholics works to illustrate the need for Catholics to assess the, “universal goals that are found in their common roots” (Holy See, 1998) and where the values are in moving forward for a common good. Yet what is very clear from Pope John Paul II’s words within the document, is that Catholics have a duty to remember the Shoah and to resist racism. The Holy See calls Christians to live up to as, “Pope John Paul II himself has repeatedly called upon us to see where we stand with regard to our relations with the Jewish people”(Holy See, 1998) and be what we want to see in our own relationships.

Sources used

Holy See. Commission On The Religious Relations With The Jews. We Remember: Reflection on the Shoah. March 16, 1998. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_16031998_shoah_en.html