What does the slogan “Never again!” practically mean for Jews?

In relation to the brutal and large-scale Hamas attacks on the 7th of October 2023, many drew parallels with the Holocaust, and the well-known slogan, “Never again!” appeared from politicians, public figures, and on social media quite often.

The slogan “Never again!” usually expresses Jewish defiance, born after the Holocaust, vowing that Jews will never again allow themselves to be in the same, defenseless situation, giving others to decide their fate and attempt to exterminate them.

In our days, this defiance is mostly based on the existence of the Jewish State of Israel, its military and economic power, and its ability to defend itself and Jews all over the world. But, although the State of Israel has built a formidable army and a strong economy and so far successfully defended itself against different enemies and even started to build diplomatic relations with countries that earlier wanted to destroy the Jewish State, the Hamas attack and the developing global reactions to Israel military response show, that the existence of Israel and the existence of Jews, in general, is still very fragile.

Moreover, seemingly, Israel still needs external allies to help it defend itself, even against “proxy armies” armed, controlled, and manipulated “from afar.”

Although Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks seems to be successful, its strength and relentless push for the full eradication of the terror organization might provide immediate and short-term deterrence for others; Jews and Israel would better learn some deeper and more practical lessons from our history and present situation, so when we say “Never again!” it would not remain a simple and empty slogan!

If we keep placing our confidence and hopes into our weapons, the strength of the army, and into our technological and economic abilities, and hope that we will always have “friends” or “allies” who rush to our help, we might build on rickety foundations. Also, in this case, we do not understand the root cause of our incessant problems, the reason why Israel and Jews had to endure constant threats against its existence, and why a large part of the world still considers the existence of a Jewish State a problem and a threat to “world peace.”

If we go back in history and examine what preceded each and every Jewish disaster — including the events leading up to the latest Hamas attacks — directly or indirectly, we always find infighting, disunity, and mutual hatred among Jews.

This happened when the 12 tribes fell apart, and we lost 10 of them; this happened when the so-called Hellenistic Jews triggered a near-extermination of our people and culture; it happened leading up to the destruction of the Second Temple, ignorance towards each other, blaming one another and not helping each other — each Jew and Jewish group caring only about their own self-interest preceded the expulsion of Jews in many countries and even the Holocaust.

Violent political and social unrest and a “near civil war” situation unfolded in Israel in the weeks and months before the October 7th attacks this year.

We see it in history, we read it in our writings, and we remember it when keeping our Holidays: when Jews separate and start fighting and hating one another, calamities and existential threats unfold. When “unfounded hatred” overcomes “brotherly love,” Jews seemingly lose their right to exist in this world.

And it has a very deep and “evolutionary reason.”

The Jewish Nation is unlike any other. The original Jews were selected among many other nations and cultures in ancient Mesopotamia by “natural selection.” It was a unique group of assorted people with a special sensitivity and inclination towards a “nature-like” mutual integration and mutually complementing cooperation above and against the growing and intensifying inherent human nature that is 100% selfish, egoistic, and exploitative of others.

Only this sensitivity and inclination kept the original Jews together, and the first “constitution” of the Nation of Israel — that was formed later — was undisputed unity and mutual guarantee, where each member of the nation became absolutely and unconditionally responsible for each and every other member of the nation.

And while Jews changed and while the nation lost its connection to these original founding principles., as a result, Jews were scattered across the globe over 2000 years ago since we lost our familial bond with each other, the original “evolutionary” reason Jews were selected and developed to become a Nation has not changed.

We are still considered Jews wherever we are, and we are still expected to revive and keep our unique Jewish unity and mutual guarantee above and despite everything and anything that separates us from each other. We are still obligated to become the “shining and positive example” of this “supernatural” — above inherent human nature — unity because without our leadership and positive template, humanity cannot survive.

This is why as long as we do not know about it, we ignore or forget our role in the world; as long as we succumb to our instinctive nature and continue our infighting and the incessant mutual distrust and animosity, only calamities, blows, wars and disasters will come to us and the rest of the world will keep pressuring and rejecting us — using different illogical and meaningless excuses in a disproportionate way.

Only when we finally accept our unique and very high role and purpose in the world, only when we truly become partners with the single operating force in reality (G_d or the evolutionary force of Nature, it does not matter) will we assert our claim and right to exist on our Land and lead humanity towards a better, safer and sustainable future through the template of Jewish unity.

Thus, when we say “Never again!” we need to express that we will never again forsake our unity and mutual guarantee and allow our instinctive and 100% egoistic, selfish, and exploitative nature to separate us and turn brothers against brothers. We will never again forget the very reason we Jews exist and the role in the world we have to fulfill!

Then, “Never again!” will become truly practical, and we will be able to keep this promise to ourselves and others.