Butterflies

Today is Yom HaShoah, the day we remember the victims of the Holocaust. Last year I went to the JEA - Savannah's Jewish Center - for an evening of memories and reflections and was greatly moved. Yesterday I ushered at a memorial concert at the same center. The auditorium was festooned with cut out, vibrantly colored paper butterflies intended to bring to mind Pavel Friedman’s poem, The Butterfly. Again I was greatly moved. Then on Sunday as I watched The Courageous Heart of Irene Sendler, I reflected not only on those who perished but on those who survived and on those who took great risks to help them. Then I thought of those today who through being born in the “wrong” family, the “wrong” faith, the “wrong” gender are persecuted even unto death. And I ask myself, what risks am I taking for them?