Stealth Altruism: Forbidden Care As Jewish Resistance In The Holocaust
by Arthur B. Shostak /
2017 / English / PDF
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Though it has been nearly seventy years since the Holocaust, the
human capacity for evil displayed by its perpetrators is still
shocking and haunting. But the story of the Nazi attempt to
annihilate European Jewry is not all we should remember.
Though it has been nearly seventy years since the Holocaust, the
human capacity for evil displayed by its perpetrators is still
shocking and haunting. But the story of the Nazi attempt to
annihilate European Jewry is not all we should remember.Stealth Altruism
Stealth Altruism tells of secret, non-militant,
high-risk efforts by “Carers,” those victims who tried to reduce
suffering and improve everyone’s chances of survival. Their
empowering acts of altruism remind us of our inherent longing to
do good even in situations of extraordinary brutality.
tells of secret, non-militant,
high-risk efforts by “Carers,” those victims who tried to reduce
suffering and improve everyone’s chances of survival. Their
empowering acts of altruism remind us of our inherent longing to
do good even in situations of extraordinary brutality.
Arthur B. Shostak explores forbidden acts of kindness, such as
sharing scarce clothing and food rations, holding up weakened
fellow prisoners during roll call, secretly replacing an ailing
friend in an exhausting work detail, and much more. To date,
memorialization has emphasized what was done to victims and
sidelined what victims tried to do for one another. “Carers”
provide an inspiring model and their perilous efforts should be
recognized and taught alongside the horrors of the Holocaust.
Humanity needs such inspiration.
Arthur B. Shostak explores forbidden acts of kindness, such as
sharing scarce clothing and food rations, holding up weakened
fellow prisoners during roll call, secretly replacing an ailing
friend in an exhausting work detail, and much more. To date,
memorialization has emphasized what was done to victims and
sidelined what victims tried to do for one another. “Carers”
provide an inspiring model and their perilous efforts should be
recognized and taught alongside the horrors of the Holocaust.
Humanity needs such inspiration.
