Learn Lessons from Night of Murdered Poets

On August 12, 1952, 13 Soviet Jews were executed by Stalin’s regime for crimes against the state in what has been named Night of Murdered Poets. The executions followed an abhorrently unfair trial held in secret. Among those tried and convicted were several prominent Yiddish writers and poets.

Today, we remember not only those 13 people murdered in Stalin’s Soviet Union, but also all those who have been killed in cold blood because of their convictions, their beliefs, or their religion.

This topic is especially timely as Iran continues to be led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has vowed to wipe Israel off the map and denies the Holocaust.

It is imperative that we keep a watchful eye on such regions and hold those in charge accountable for the injustices they oversee or allow to proceed. We must listen to the voices of those calling out for help and act to protect human rights where necessary. Early intervention is imperative. For otherwise, we will not have learned the lessons of the Holocaust, the Night of Murdered Poets, or the countless other attempts to covertly silence the foes of the powerful.

This anniversary is a reminder of our duty to resist those who turn to violent means in order to achieve goals set in hatred and intolerance.