Kyiv chief rabbi on Holocaust remembrance: ‘We must not live inside it' - interview

For us at The Media Line, the story of Rabbi Jonathan Markovitch is a poignant reminder of the enduring weight of history, especially in the context of contemporary conflict. His personal connection to the Holocaust, rooted in the harrowing experiences of his grandmother and grandfather, is not a distant memory but a living reality that informs his work in Kyiv.

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This is something I live with. Something I feel.

Rabbi Markovitch's decision to return to Ukraine, a land with a complex and often tragic Jewish past, to rebuild Jewish life is a testament to resilience and continuity. He highlights a critical, often overlooked, aspect of Jewish identity in post-Soviet states: the profound disconnect from religious and cultural heritage due to decades of suppression.

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She was in Auschwitz. I remember the number tattooed on her arm.

His perspective offers a unique insight into how the legacy of the Holocaust intertwines with the current struggle for survival in Ukraine. While Western media often focuses on the geopolitical and military dimensions of the war, Rabbi Markovitch's narrative brings a deeply human and historical dimension, underscoring the importance of remembrance not as an elegy, but as a powerful call to action and a foundation for rebuilding.

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They were burned alive. They put them inside a wooden building and burned them. I am talking about the neighbors.