Reflections on Majdanek by Sasha Friedman

I believe that “unfathomable,” “unimaginable,” or “incomprehensible” should not be used to describe the Holocaust because these words distance us from the truth. They convey a sense of fakeness. The Holocaust on the other hand is very real and it only made sense to me after visiting Majdanek. Unfathomable gives us the excuse to not learn. If it’s unimaginable why should we think about the death camps or if it’s incomprehensible then why should try to grasp the Holocausts impact? Instead I believe everyone, Jew and gentile alike, should see evidence of the Holocaust first hand and make it real for themselves. They should truly understand that we can never let something like this happen again by making each individual personally responsible for opening their eyes to our current world’s intolerances. Majdanek is one of those places that impacts humanity. Regardless of race, religion, creed, or background the stench of death is understood by all. It has not only changed me as a Jew, but moreover as a member of society.