In this episode of Connecting the Dots, I sat in for Dan Happel and spoke with Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg about Israel, Holocaust history, and the realities facing the Jewish people today…
Connecting the Dots Audio
…Rabbi Rosenberg shared his parents’ remarkable survival stories. His father endured Auschwitz during World War II, possibly spared from immediate execution due to his trade in the meat business. His mother worked in Nazi munitions factories. Both lost family members to the Holocaust. Born in a displaced persons camp in 1948, Rabbi Rosenberg has devoted his life to Holocaust education and the commitment to “never again.”
We explored the industrial scale of the Holocaust, the role of companies like IG Farben, and the economic and political collapse in 1930s Germany that allowed antisemitism and extremist ideologies to thrive. We discussed how the Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, and propaganda paved the way for Adolf Hitler’s rise to power.
The conversation moved from historical antisemitism — stretching back to ancient times — to modern-day threats against Israel. From the Dreyfus Affair and Herzl’s call for a Jewish homeland to the Jewish diaspora and the founding of Israel in 1948, we looked at how history shapes today’s Middle East conflict.
We also covered the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, Iran’s influence through Hamas and Hezbollah, the challenges of urban warfare in Gaza, and how antisemitism is manifesting on university campuses in the United States. Through it all, one theme stood out: the resilience of Israel and the Jewish people in the face of ongoing threats.
As always, Connecting the Dots puts the information out there for you to see the patterns yourself. The history is there. The facts are there. What you do with them is your choice.
Key Points from the Episode
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Holocaust Survival Story – Rabbi Rosenberg’s parents endured Auschwitz and Nazi labor camps, later starting a new life after the war.
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Industrialized Mass Murder – How IG Farben and other industrial giants supported Nazi operations.
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Economic & Political Collapse – The Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation, and social unrest in 1930s Germany.
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Antisemitism Across Time – From ancient scapegoating to modern political rhetoric.
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The Dreyfus Affair’s Legacy – How it fueled Herzl’s push for a Jewish homeland.
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The Jewish Diaspora – Historical displacement and the reestablishment of Israel in 1948.
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Middle East Conflict Today – Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran’s regional influence.
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October 7 Attacks – The assault on Israel and the humanitarian and military fallout.
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University Antisemitism – How funding and ideology shape anti-Israel sentiment on campus.
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Israeli Resilience – The determination to defend their nation against existential threats.
