Could this question be a college 25 page senior paper,Should the word"Holocaust" apply only to Jewish victims?

Question

Simon Wiesenthal and Elie Wiesel had a falling out over this question. Wiesenthal thought it should apply to all victims, and Wiesel thought it should only apply to Jewish victims.

Answer 1

If you do, you might want to research the meaning of "Holocaust."  I was told it means "burnt offering."  Surely Jews would not use that term!!!  For Jews, human sacrifice is the ultimate heresy!  The word Shoah means catastrophe which is a much more appropriate description.

I would love to know the origin of the word "Holocaust" when referring to the victims.

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Answer 2

I think it would be a difficult paper to write.  You'd have to go into a lot of depth to come up with enough arguments and pros and cons to write 25 good pages.   Personally, I respect Elie Wiesel's view, and if you have ever looked him in those haunting eyes, I don't know how you could feel otherwise.  This is not a question that relates just to a disagreement between two great men, but one that I'm sure has been addressed by a multitude of authors.

I'd prefer a paper about some aspect of the Holocaust to one about semantics.  I think one would have to go into extreme depth about Holocaust history just to be able to make the reader understand the argument about semantics.  But as a matter of sociology, where you're posting, the tension between Jews and many non-Jews over this question, or over the broader question of whether the Holocaust was a unique event at all, is an interesting subject.

Answer 3

Yes Sir. I approve very much. Many people suffered. Many suffered even worse. The word should not be confined to only the jews.

Answer 4

It really does have two applications, but generally is applied just to the Jewish victims Elie Wiesel is much more known than Wiesenthal who specifically tracts down n***s who were part of the holocaust.

I happen to be Jewish and lost many relatives, yet in it all there had just been a revival at that time of Messianic Judaism, Especially centered in Krakow Poland, and others that helped Jewish people too like Corrie Ten Boon 'the Hidding Place' that helped my people find our Messiah Jesus just in time too.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is a big key "He shall be rejected, and lay down his life to make atonement for our sins."

peace/shalom and may we never forget, and may a Holocaust never happen again, and yet still share as Romans 1:16 says to the Jewish people first and all people the gospel unashamed to share the good news.  Hope peace and joy in salvation from Messiah Jesus.

Answer 5

Two things:  great idea for a paper, but I'm not sure you'll be able to get 25 pages out of it.  We already have a specific word--Shoah--for the holocaust which happened to Jews during World War II, although I personally feel that any reference only to "The Holocaust" should be applied to the six million.

And:  ignore the Biblical reference from the "Messianic Jew"--or should I say apostate Jew--above me.  The Isaiah reference has *nothing* to do with Jesus; read the passage **in context** with the previous 10 chapters and you'll see that this is *clearly* about Israel.

Answer 6

Would make a good thesis, especially if you cover the Gypsies (Roma) who suffered so much and are still treated as sub human in many parts of Europe in live in ghettoes.

Answer 7

i think "holocaust" should refer to all victims. Many things honor those who have died in the holocaust ...... it would be a very good question you would get many different answers and opinions