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ˈ häləˌkôst. Terminology, Definitions. Systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approx. six million Jews by the Nazi regime “life unworthy of life” Other groups persecuted Racial ideology 1933-45 Nazi—National Socialist Party
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Terminology, Definitions • Systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approx. six million Jews by the Nazi regime • “life unworthy of life” • Other groups persecuted • Racial ideology • 1933-45 • Nazi—National Socialist Party • 11.5 million people exterminated (5.5 mil others)
Definitions of the Word • Holocaust: • A sacrifice consumed by fire • A thorough destruction by fire • Often Cap.: the mass slaughter of European civilians and especially Jews by the Nazis during WWII
Greek roots • “holo” = whole • “caust” from “caustos” meaning “burned” • Originally used in a religious rite meaning consumed by fire
Hebrew roots • “olah” meaning “burnt offering” • In the version of the Bible translated by Ptolemy II (3rd century BCE), the word “olah” is consistently translated by the Greek word, “holokauston,” which means “an offering consumed by fire” • Shoah—Hebrew word meaning “great disaster” • Jews refer to the Holocaust as the Shoah, or Sho’ah • Free of religious connotations
French & German • French have, until recently, preferred the more precise term “genocide” • Germans use “Judenvernichtung” • Same term used by Nazis • “destruction of the Jews” • Detached • Methodical • Scientific
Unprecedentedness • Genocide of unprecedented type
Questions to Answer: • How would different countries react to the discussion of the Holocaust today? Would some be on board with it? Horrified by it? Guilty about it? • Can this happen again in today’s society? • What is the basic problem posed by the Holocaust for Christianity, Judaism, and other modern religions? • How would the eradication of the Jewish people make the Nazis more powerful?