Jewish Scene
Rabbi detained after singing Jewish songs at Auschwitz
Liron Nagler-Cohen
Published: 06.08.14, 00:22
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. shame to visit Poland and give them money
Larry ,   LA (formerly)   (08.06.14)
no one is and was as anti-Semetic as the Poles. It was not the Nazis that caused them to hate Jews, it was centuries of their own stupidity and indoctrination from the Catholic church. It is a shame to spend money there; too bad we can't take the remains of the concentration camps and the graves of the Jewish martyrs and bring them to Israel.
2. WHY VISIT THESE PLACES ?
CAPTAIN OBVIOUS ,   SAFED OBVIOUS   (08.06.14)
Who in their right mind would ever wish to go to these evil , vile death camps?
3. Protest
Corinne LevyOvermars ,   Purmerend Holland   (08.06.14)
Disgusting. Now we know why we have to fight . We have no choice.
4. I've never visited Auschwitz
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (08.06.14)
I've never set foot in Germany, Austria or Poland because they are stained with so much Judischer Blut. There were many Righteous among the Nations in Poland, but probably even more N*zi sympathisers. Since when do you need a passport to visit a cemetery? They delayed others who wanted to go into the crematorium? Do they ring a bell when time is up? The guard chased them shouting to stop singing ??? This makes apprpriate Tisha B'Av reading.
5. Singing at Auschwitz
Chutia ,   New Delhi, India   (08.06.14)
I am inclined to agree with the rabbi here. Though i haven't been there, can understand the kind of thoughts and emotions that would have passed through anyone, especially a Holocaust survivor in that evil place where so many people were killed. However, at the same time, decorum must be maintained and of course try not to scream anti-semitism every time :) All in all, the Poles could have been more tolerant.
6. Concentration Camp Guards
Arni Eisen ,   U.S.A   (08.06.14)
My opinion is simple. Any JEW that still lives in Europe today deserves exactly what they are going to get. I understand that the birds have not returned to some of the camps even after all this time. You european jews give new meaning to the expression "birdbrain", Get out! Especially from Poland, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Belgium. Get out!
7. Poor Jews
libi4ever ,   Libya   (08.06.14)
4000 years and you're still in deep trouble wherever you go? Just to remind you fellows that in WWI, 45mln people died, 27 out of which were Russians and the rest was from all around, so don't cry victims as you are not the only one who suffered, gays, gypsy's, germans that opposed Hitler, writers, jornalists and so many others, even the hanicaped and mentally ill people, so don't go to places like these and start your theatrical shows, respect all humans in silience and stop thinking that you're Gods beloved superior race ... thanks and shalom to all.
8. "chosen" aren't above the rules.
Stereotypical   (08.06.14)
9. Sensitivities: Polish and Israeli
Richard ,   Poland   (08.06.14)
Dear Israeli friends, 1. It was a GERMAN camp, not only a "Nazi" one. It was the GERMANS who run it, GERMANS killed Poles, Jews, Belorussians, Hungarians, Russians, etc. there. See the Wiki article about Auschwitz I on how many nationalities died there, by numbers. 2. I am not a Catholic, for the record. Still, Polish crosses and Polish nuns were removed from Auschwitz I - remember? Now, the Jewish lunatics who insist on singing, disturbing the victims' families peace, are politely asked to stop, by the same token. If they do not desist, they should be locked for months, en masse, and not one day, for the disrespect shown to us all. 3. Analogy for you: there were many Orthodox victims who were murdered in Oświęcim and other death camps. Imagine Moscow priests who keep singing alound in Russian with groups they may lead in Yad Vashem, in Jerusalem, over their Orthodox brethren who were murdered in their hundreds of thousands in the camps by the Germans. Do you now feel the outrage it would cause? It's the same. So, dear Rabbi and the other insensitive extremists tourist on our soil: feel it in your hearts and stop showing your disrespect to the place of martyrdom in the country where millions of us, Poles, Jews, Gypsies, etc. were murdered by the Germans in WWII and before.
10. Right Decision
Rob ,   Tel Aviv   (08.06.14)
You cannot go around and sing, making noise at a museum or memorial. The rabbi and his group shows a lack of respect to other visitors who come from around the world to pay respect in their own way. The guard even asked him to stop multiple times and he just don't give a shit. This type of incident makes us all look bad and is why Israeli tourists have a very bad reputation abroad!!! Lack of respect of rules and other people!!
11. Guards
Rob ,   EU   (08.06.14)
Have you seen or ever experienced, how "guards" are treatening people at the Gates to the old city in Jerusalem?
12. I dont think you can sing or make disturbance at Yad Vashem.
Adi ,   Israel   (08.06.14)
I dont think you can sing or make disturbance at Yad Vashem.
13. My experience
ראובן ,   Milan, Italy   (08.06.14)
I was in Treblinka in the '90s. We gathered 10 jew males and recited a Kaddish Yie Shelama. We had no problem.
14. When I visited Auschwitz all I wanted was a deep silence.
Michael ,   California, USA   (08.07.14)
The experience of visiting there was traumatic and the memory of it shocks me to this day. I would not have wanted any singing to disturb my silent crying. When you grieve you don't sing, you make any noises while in pain, and you make no statements. This rabbi and his group were making a statement "we are different, we are chosen." They were exuberant with their singing. In my opinion the Polish guards acted correctly. This Jewish group had no right to disturb other visitors, like me for instance when I was there. No group has the right to disturb grieving people, in any way.
15. #9 Richard
Edwin ,   Canada   (08.07.14)
Wow! I am not Jewish, but after reading this article and your feedback, add me to the list of people to never visit Poland.
16. SOS (same old shit)
James USA   (08.07.14)
Jews have a believe that are above social restrictions, human and international laws. The "victim card" doesn't play very well. Its not an excuse for arrogance, rudeness, loudness, being pushy & cheap. Many hoteliers get the shakes when the Jewish guests.
17. To #15
Richard ,   Poland   (08.07.14)
"I am not Jewish, but after reading this article and your feedback, add me to the list of people to never visit Poland. " We will visit you in Canada and move there for good then. Then we will start to sing aloud in Polish in the most inappropriate places, like cemeteries, OK? More seriously - consider the sensitivities and fellow beings. You are not the only victim in the world.
18. Annoying Poles
Isac   (08.09.14)
I believe that both parties somewhat contributed to that incident. However, knowing how anti-semitic entire Europe is I would also believe that the Polish guards and the police overreacted and it could have been easily resolved without any arrests. But that again is the Polish way!
19. You can choose to forget
j ,   Galut   (08.08.14)
The rest will not for if you do, history will repeat it self.
20. He was singing "quiet" with "microphone"??
Albrecht ,   EU   (08.11.14)
21. Libi you phony-hope U stay in Libia!
Dina   (08.11.14)
22. SOFTLY Albrecht Think before u write post
Dina   (08.11.14)
23. #22 A micro is for a LOUDspeaker, not for a SOFTLYspeaker.
Albrecht ,   EU   (08.12.14)
Don't write anything about "thinking".
24. Singing at concentration camps is appropriate?
Dave ,   Montreal, Canada   (08.19.14)
While I condemn the guards insensitive behaviour, is it not possible that the singing was disturbing other visitors to the site? Visiting Auschwitz should be a quiet solemn experience, not a time for joyous singing. From the article, it does sound like this Rabbi was a bit of a troublemaker, but the guards at the camp should also think twice about pushing around Jews given the history of the site.
25. @1
Greg   (08.22.14)
"no one is and was as anti-Semetic as the Poles" Is that why the Jews lived in this ONE AND ONLY country on earth that never persecuted them nor kicked them out? Because Poland is and was the MOST antisemitic country ever, right?
26. Edwin, Canada
Greg   (08.22.14)
"add me to the list of people to never visit Poland" Thank God!
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