The Holocaust, at least in my mind, never really goes away. Even if you’re not a survivor or the relative of someone who went through that hellish time, it seems like you can never truly escape the pain and knowledge of what human beings can do to each other. If you’re only merely somewhat of a knowledgeable Jew, it still has to inform virtually every aspect of your life and viewpoint.

And that’s probably good (as long as it doesn’t border on all-out paranoia or pathological anger). Needless to say, we should never forget. But at the same time, too many people cavalierly invoke the Holocaust for their own agendas, identities and viewpoints, usually in manners that are highly offensive to the remaining survivors, their families and the memory of those who perished at the hands of the Nazis.

Since last Tuesday night’s elections, my colleagues and I have been approached by several people interested in something I reported at the campaign party headquarters of Sherrie Becker, the candidate for the 2nd District councilmanic seat for Baltimore County. (By the way, Ms. Becker, who lost to Vicki Almond, never had anything whatsoever to do with any comments regarding the Holocaust.)

As I reported in my article last week, one of Ms. Becker’s supporters, Paul Hollinger, was highly agitated and upset with the BALTIMORE JEWISH TIMES for not endorsing his candidate (or any Jewish county candidates). He called me over to his table and in forceful, angry tones (and with plenty of choice language), he said the JT should have endorsed Ms. Becker because she is a) Jewish and b) the most qualified candidate in the race. (FYI, Ms. Almond is not Jewish.)

He ranted for quite a while, seemingly wanting to drag me into a heated debate about the topic, and he didn’t seem satisfied with any response I offered. I stayed calm but, frankly, after a while I just walked away. I figured I had let him vent and that was enough.

But later in the evening, from across the room, he pointed me out to his wife, former state Sen. Paula Hollinger, and said something threatening and offensive about me that I won’t repeat here. (Let’s just say that, anatomically speaking, it would be quite a trick to pull off.)

When I confronted him and in no uncertain terms pointed out that his behavior did not reflect well on Ms. Becker or her supporters, he cooled his jets a bit and retreated to his earlier criticism of the JT.

But then he came up with a zinger – that the JT’s “spinelessness” in the 2nd District race was “just like” the international media’s failure to report the atrocities of the Holocaust and prevent the annihilation of six million Jews.

I must admit, I had to catch my breath for a moment when he uttered that one. I might’ve even chuckled, out of disbelief. I didn’t mention that I have a close family member who survived the Holocaust. I simply said something to the effect of, “Oh, so now you’re comparing something like this to something like the Holocaust?” and he reiterated his comment. Everyone at his table, including his wife, hung their heads and said nothing, seemingly quite ashamed.

I wasn’t totally shocked when I heard this. After all, it seems like people conveniently bring up the Holocaust all the time for just about every real or perceived debacle, fiasco, slight or obstacle. It’s a knee-jerk, cowardly reaction that comes up way too often in our society when someone does or says something that you don’t happen to agree with.

And it’s obscene and it’s something we all need to stop doing. As my friend Rubin Sztajer, a survivor of five concentration camps, has said to me on multiple occasions, “Anyone who didn’t go through it has no right to speak about it or use it in a false fashion. Only we, the survivors, know what it was really like—and if you did, you’d know that it was like nothing else.”

“JT’s “spinelessness”... was “just like” the international media’s failure to report the atrocities of the Holocaust…”

Shame on you,  Mr. Hollinger!!!

And one more thing - - we should all be grateful that John Sarbanes crushed Paula Hollinger in the last election.  She was a disaster as a State Senator.  She has zero ethics.  Sherrie Becker is a good woman but was a fool to let Paula and Paul Hollinger run her campaign.  The area was wise to vote for Vicki Almond, another good woman.  As to Mr. Feiler’s blog—comparing this to the Holocaust???  As I stated, Paul Hollinger is an unethical, corrupt, offensive jerk.  Thank you Mr. Feiler for having the guts to write your blog.  Anyone who has heard about this is outraged.  And now Mr. Hollinger is denying it and calling you a liar.  The Hollingers have no shame—no pride—and just got their collective rearends handed to them in this last election—- AGAIN!

Paul Hollinger is a complete jerk.  Anyone who has ever met him knows this.  And his former Senator wife is not much better.  I have worked on a number of local campaigns and have seen their shake-downs of candidates.  Paul makes his pitch for candidates to buy campaign supplies and reminds people how important his wife is in the community.  And don’t think Paula isn’t involved.  She is, and always has been involved in the shake-downs.  Ask ANY candidate from this area over the last 2 decades.  Nothing this guy says or does is a surprise.  He is a classless, rude, offensive jerk.  And so is Paula.