Ghosts of Babi Yar

Ghosts of Babi Yar

Mark Davis, MD

 

Anti-semitism has reared its ugly face once more in the Ukraine. Donetsk, a city in the eastern section of the country, has become immersed in a World-wide controversy. Jewish worshipers emerging from a synagogue claim they were given leaflets ordering them to register with pro-Russian officials who have established a temporary presence there. Refusing to register and pay a fee could lead to confiscation of property and revocation of citizenship. Worse deportation to an unknown destination was thrown into the mix of demands. These reports were verified by Ynet News of Israel and Ukraine’s Dunbass news agency.  Condemnation came quickly from many sources, including Secretary of State John Kerry who noted: “this is beyond unacceptable.” Chairman of the temporary government Denis Pushilin, whose name appears on the document, denies any connection to these flyers.  In order to complete registration the Jewish community is being told to provide passports and other IDS along with religious documents concerning certain family members. Evidence is also required to established property ownership including motor vehicles.  Could this be happening in a country that witnessed genocide of its Jewish population in World War II. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/world/europe/efforts-to-register-jews-in-ukraine-are-denounced-and-denied.html?smprod=nytnow&_r=0

 

Babi Yar is a ravine in the Ukrainian City of Kiev. During the Second World War over 33,000 members of Kiev’s Jewish community were massacred over a 2 day period there. Germans claimed the massacre, which occurred on September 29-30^th in 1941, was in retaliation for guerilla attacks on their forces. Indescribable in nature, the slaughter displayed a level of hatred towards Jews that is so profound mere words cannot flesh out the reality.  Turmoil caused by the clash between Ukrainian and Russian troops may have brought these intrinsic hatreds to the surface. Denial of involvement was quick from all the factions fighting for regional control. Anti-semitism did not evaporate with the end of World War II, it went into hibernation for a few months. Generations later anti-Semitism has had a resurgence across the globe. Jews throughout history have been a default scapegoat when times were rough, nothing has changed today. Memories of genocide have done little to quash present day emotions harbored by those who continue to want the Jewish population decimated.  The events in Ukraine may fade but the historical constants that instigated these latest actions will linger for generations. “Never Again” has new meaning in the context of these revelations. Unfortunately history recycles too often with very harsh consequences to all it embraces. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/04/17/jews-ordered-to-register-in-east-ukraine/7816951/ 

 

Mark Davis, MD President of Davis Book Reviews and Healthnets Review Services

www.healthnetsreviewservices.com  platomd@gmail.com  Dr. Davis’ latest book, Obamacare: Dead on Arrival, A Prescription for Disaster