Although all memorial ceremonies took place on Wednesday evening and Yesterday, today the 27^th of Nissan is actually "Yom HaShoah", the Memorial Day for the Shoah. Tomorrow, the Torah section we'll read starts with the words: "Kedoshim Tihyu" – "You shall be Holy".

Are we able to understand that very demanding – and maybe utopian – commandment at all, especially in the context of the Shoah?

Maybe this teaches us once more that we, as human beings, cannot be Holy; we cannot understand the tragedy of the Shoah and when we are confronted with absolute evil, we shouldn't try to "explain" or "justify" G!d, especially not by blaming this or other group; we should be able to remain with our questions and human emotions and nevertheless strive towards "holiness" in everyday life by observing the commandments mentioned in that chapter (Vayikra 19), as, for instance:

Do not steal. Do not deny [a rightful claim, Do not lie to one another. Do not swear falsely by My name; [if you do so], you will be desecrating your God's name. I am God . Do not [unjustly] withhold that which is due your neighbor. Do not let a worker's wages remain with you overnight until morning. Do not curse [even] the deaf. Shabbat Shalom to all