(Jewish Group) Why I forgave Whoopi Goldberg on national TV a day after her remarks on the Holocaust

[Behind the Aegis]

For those of us who remain deeply concerned about the increasing trends of trivialization and outright denial of the Holocaust in our society, this has been a week for the record books.

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Coming at a time when Holocaust denial is on the rise globally, and at a time when trivialization and false comparisons to the Nazis have proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Whoopi’s remarks were all the more hurtful and damaging.

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She also made clear that she had been a friend of the Jewish community all throughout her career – and to be sure, the record reflects that.

At the Anti-Defamation League, we believe that when an individual – whether a celebrity, an elected leader or even a close friend – makes a mistake, they should be given a second chance. And that a mistake, no matter how hurtful, can serve as an opportunity for learning and growth. In Jewish religious tradition, there is a concept known as “T’shuvah,” or repentance, which offers someone an opportunity to reflect on misdeeds and to repair them. That certainly applies here.

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