Among the Righteous

PBS is showing a great documentary right now: Among the Righteous - Lost Stories from the Holocaust in Arab Lands.

You can watch the whole thing on the PBS website right now: here. It's 55 minutes and worth it. Interesting and enlightening. (There's also a bunch of interesting stories/info on that page, if you are in a "scrolling down" mood.)

I had no idea that there were over 100 concentration camps* in North Africa during WWII. Those sent there were either the Jews of North Africa (yes, there were African Jews), or European Jews who escaped to North Africa, but were sent to the camps upon arrival on the continent.

One of the items they open with is the fact that there are no Arabs mentioned in the "Righteous Among the Nations" garden of Yad Vashem, which lists those non-Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust. There are Muslims, but none of them Arab. This absence is not because none existed.

I think everyone would "enjoy" (appreciate?) this documentary. It does not come across as partisan. There is little editorializing. It basically just explores a history that has rarely been told and is hardly known. (Yes, I know history is always political in the manner of its retelling.) Personally, I know I've never heard of any of this (the camps, etc.), much less Righteous Arabs in the surrounding areas who rescued Jews.

Part of the reason? Then as now, those rescuers often didn't want people to know what they did because many didn't like the idea of helping Jews.

I am happy to hear of it. I only hope, in some small way, this can help people unclench their fists a bit and bring a little more peace.

I disagree with a statement they make at the end (which was something approximately): "By acknowledging him [a known Arab rescuer], they are acknowledging the names of all the unknown Arab rescuers."  I agree that it breaks the silence on acknowledging a group that had previously been unrecognized - and that is wonderful - but it is not enough. Acknowledging him is a start, but it sounds like an invitation to slack off in finding other names and a kind of dismissal. Had one of these people rescued my family, I would not be content with simply "leaving it at that."

Still, a very worthwhile film. Now go watch.




(*The film is not graphic, if that was a concern.)

Photo credits: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Please see the film's website for details, these images, and others: http://digitalassets.ushmm.org/photoarchives/result.aspx?search=north%20africa&page=1