Frank DuNN: Conversations at the junction of faith and politics
I Made a Promise
On a visit to the Yad Veshem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, I was not prepared for what I saw...
Alan Zimmerman, CA
4/25/20251 min read
In November 2015 on a trip to Jerusalem, I had the opportunity to visit Yad Veshem, the Holocaust History Museum. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw and experienced.
There it was. A concentration camp uniform with the pink triangle identifying prisoner 70096. Many, many questions. Who was this man? What did he look like? What did he do? Was he rounded up or was he disappeared? Why is evil and hatred so often the default reaction in society? What happened to his family and friends? What happened to him? A dystopian tragedy hanging in front of me.
I experienced a sadness that I’ve never been able to shake. I did my best to remain calm and made a promise to never forget. I have kept that promise. I prayed for him and six million more.
Jesus suffering on the cross was minor consolation that morning, but I went with it. Maybe that I understood, but 70096’s humiliation and suffering I could not.
Fear is what they want. Right here, right now. And while I am afraid, I try and not be fearful. Stand up, push back. Spiritually and politically . It was a promise I made to 70096. I intend to keep it.