On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rabbi David Baum’s sermon for Parashat Vaera, Protecting Our Hearts: Confronting Evil Without Losing Ourselves, offers a profound reflection on the role of suffering, resilience, and the human heart in the face of injustice. Drawing parallels between the biblical Exodus, the civil rights movement, and the challenges of our modern world, Rabbi Baum invites us to confront the timeless question: Is suffering necessary to bring about change? Rabbi Baum shares the story of his great-uncle Andrew Baum, a Holocaust survivor whose unwavering hope and optimism sustained him and others in the darkest of times.

Protecting Our Hearts is not just a reflection on the past but a guide for the present. It challenges us to confront evil without losing ourselves, to choose hope over despair, and to remember that the power to shape our hearts—and our world—lies within us. As we remember the victims of the Holocaust and all who have suffered under oppression, let us commit to opening our hearts, strengthening our resolve, and working together to bring light into the world.

This sermon is a reminder that while suffering may be a part of our history, it does not have to define our future. The choice is ours.

Visit Rabbi Baum's website for more www.rabbidavidbaum.com