Approaching Yad Vashem, the Israeli holocaust museum, as part of my Birthright Israel group I figured I would have moments where I saw parallels between the rise of Hitler and the rise of Trump. I had no idea the hateful echo of Trump would be a constant companion through much of the museum.
I don’t say this lightly but here in the United States, Donald Trump is our Hitler moment I have full confidence he will be defeated in November but he continued popularity is terrifying.
You can argue that even Trump’s most grotesque proposed policies: deporting all illegal immigrants, banning Muslims from entering the country, pale in comparison to the genocide of six million people. But, of course, Hitler did not come to power on a platform of “kill six million Jews” he came to power promising to more or less “make Germany great again” and it was the Jews who were ruining everything.
One of the most eerie similarities between the rise of the two demagogues is how people try to explain away their evil. Just like some German’s said “well I don’t like what he has to say about the Jews, the economy is improving” how many Republicans have offered a “well he’s still better than Hillary” defense of Trump.
Days after going through the museum I watched as much as I could stomach of Trumps speech to the AIPAC conference and I was repulsed to hear him welcomed warmly and at time raucously applauded. We Jews are and intelligent people, so to watch this demagogue be embraced just because he trotted out the standard pro-Israel talking points was embarrassing.
The fact that AIPAC leadership apologized for parts of his speech the next day is reassuring but I can’t get the image of Trump getting cheers after saying “Barack Obama may be the worst thing to ever happen to Israel.”
When comparing the Holocaust to other atrocities and genocides it is important not to get into a pissing contest about who had it the worst. Nothing is gained from that and no future atrocities will be prevented. Instead as Jews and as human beings we need to recognize hate and do everything in our power to stop it.
In the 1930’s in Germany it was the Jews, in 2016 in America the problem according to Trump is the Mexicans and the Muslims.
When we say “never again” we don’t just mean “never again for the jews” we mean Never again, for anyone.
Travels by Bickell 
Sobering but brilliant thoughts Nathan – one would have that we’d have evolved into higher thinking over the last 80 years:) Any pro – Trump Israeli’s?
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