The Seventh Million Summary

How does the catastrophic loss of six million lives shape the identity, politics, and culture of a nation rising from its ashes?

1. The uneasy collaboration between Nazis and Zionists paved a path to Palestine

The 1930s marked a strange and unsettling relationship between Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime and the Zionist movement in Palestine. While the Nazis wanted to rid Germany of its Jewish population, Zionists wanted to bring Jews to Palestine to establish a Jewish homeland. Their goals aligned temporarily, leading to the Haavara agreements.

Jews leaving Germany could transfer a portion of their wealth to Palestine in the form of goods, which incentivized Jewish emigration amidst persecution. Individuals fleeing this tragedy, however, were not always welcomed by the Jews already living in Palestine. They often felt these refugees were unsuitable for their vision of Hebrew culture, resulting in tensions between the incoming and native Jewish populations.

The German-Jewish immigrants experienced layers of trauma. Not only had they survived persecution, but many faced rejection in their new homeland because they were seen as either too bourgeois or too broken to contribute to the Zionist cause.

Examples

• The Haavara agreement allowed Jewish emigrants to transfer $4,000 plus additional goods worth $5,000, ensuring financial stability for the emigrants upon arrival.
• German Jews frequently clashed with the Zionist settlers, as the latter favored young, single individuals ready to work over families fleeing for survival.
• Eliahu Dobkin of the Jewish Agency dismissed immigrants who came as refugees, referring to them as "undesirable human material."

2. The Holocaust initially failed to register as a defining catastrophe in Palestine

While the Holocaust annihilated two-thirds of Europe's Jewish population, its full brutality did not immediately penetrate public awareness in Palestine. Early reports of Nazi atrocities were relegated to minor sections in local newspapers, overshadowed by trivial news like football match results.

Palestinian Jews, or Yishuv, were largely preoccupied with nation-building and saw the suffering of Jews in Europe as one more tragedy in a long history of diaspora persecution. Official focus remained on settling and securing Palestine rather than mounting rescue attempts for Holocaust victims.

Resources for land acquisition and infrastructure development were prioritized over rescue missions. The justification was pragmatic: limited resources could either save a few lives short-term or serve the longer goal of creating a sanctuary for all Jews in the form of a Jewish state.

Examples

• In 1942, Ha’aretz newspaper reported atrocities in Kharkov, Ukraine, but buried the story on page two, highlighting local sports on the front page instead.
• Although millions of dollars were allocated to rescue efforts, far more was spent on land purchases and settlements in Palestine.
• The majority viewed persecution as another pogrom, failing to grasp the genocidal scale until much later.

3. Calls for revenge symbolized deep trauma and unresolved anger

As the extent of the Holocaust horror emerged post-World War II, many Jews in Palestine felt guilt for not having done more to save European Jews. This collective sorrow led to private and public calls for revenge, though not everyone agreed on how this should unfold.

Abba Kovner, a Holocaust survivor, spearheaded a group called Nakam, dedicated to exacting revenge on Germans. Their plan to poison water supplies to kill millions ultimately failed, though they did succeed in assassinating some former SS officers. The Jewish Agency distanced itself from such responses, fearing they would derail efforts to build the State of Israel.

On the other hand, many Holocaust survivors were too devastated to even contemplate vengeance. Psychological wounds haunted them, making it difficult to adapt to life in Palestine. Some survivors sought refuge in privacy, unable to integrate into communities or kibbutzim because of the haunting similarities to the camps.

Examples

• Abba Kovner and his Nakam group planned to poison water in multiple German cities.
• The Jewish Agency prioritized state-building over vigilante justice.
• Survivors reported nightmares, depression, and guilt, often isolating themselves due to their emotional scars.

4. Reparations from Germany stirred national debate yet transformed Israel’s economy

The Israeli government chose to negotiate with Germany for reparations payments in the early 1950s, sparking widespread outrage. Many Israelis saw the money as "blood money" and accused their government of indirectly absolving German atrocities.

Despite fierce protests, the negotiations succeeded, delivering $820 million in monetary compensation and goods. This helped build Israel’s economy, funded infrastructure, and created tens of thousands of jobs. Beyond the financial benefits, engaging with Germany also laid the groundwork for a diplomatic relationship that was previously unthinkable.

Nonetheless, the reparation agreements revealed the fiery divisions within Israeli society, highlighting the difficult moral and emotional terrain stemming from Holocaust connections.

Examples

• The Knesset signed agreements for reparations worth $820 million, usable for German goods and fuel.
• Protests and riots erupted, with stones thrown during parliamentary debates.
• Roughly 45,000 Israeli jobs resulted from investments fueled by reparations funds.

5. Arms deals with Germany divided public opinion

As Israel found itself in conflicts with neighboring Arab nations, military supplies became essential. Germany emerged as an unlikely partner for these exchanges, offering both imports and mutual arms sales. This move reignited lingering emotions about Jewish collaboration with a country recently complicit in genocide.

Debates raged over whether Israel should supply weapons to former Nazi soldiers. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion argued that these pragmatic decisions were necessary for both economic and security reasons. Critics countered that providing arms to Germans betrayed the memory of Holocaust victims.

Similar moral wrestling unfolded in the fallout of individuals like Rudolf Kastner, whose efforts to save Jews during the Holocaust led to accusations of collaborating with Nazis. His controversial actions and eventual assassination symbolized unresolved dilemmas about survival under oppression.

Examples

• Der Spiegel revealed that Israel was buying and selling arms to Germany in the late 1950s.
• Rudolf Kastner secured the escape of 1,684 Jews via the Kastner train but faced accusations of abandonment from his critics.
• Kastner’s trial and murder polarized the Israeli public.

6. The Eichmann trial became national therapy and global criticism

Adolf Eichmann’s trial in Israel in 1961 was a watershed moment for national introspection and international scrutiny. Eichmann, a central figure in orchestrating the Final Solution, declared himself guilty only of obedience during his defense, labeling himself a bureaucrat.

For Israel, the trial united citizens through radio broadcasts and collective mourning. It also opened extensive dialogue on how to preserve Holocaust memory while reckoning with its legacy. However, international observers like Hannah Arendt criticized the trial for its show-like nature and questioned declaring crimes specifically against Jews rather than humanity.

Eichmann’s execution signaled a moment of justice, yet reflected broader debates about how to address historical atrocities through legal and moral frameworks.

Examples

• Mossad operatives captured Eichmann in Buenos Aires, smuggling him to Israel for trial.
• Overwhelming public attention turned the trial into a "national group therapy" session.
• Hannah Arendt’s critique challenged the trial’s legal scope and impartiality.

7. Existential threats fueled segregation and occupation in the 1960s

The specter of annihilation loomed heavy over the State of Israel, particularly as Egypt’s militarization under Gamal Abdel Nasser stoked fears comparing him to Hitler. Driven by self-preservation, Israel expanded its territories during the 1967 Six-Day War, occupying areas like the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Living under occupation deeply fractured Israeli society. Discrimination took root, with Arabs in occupied lands and within Israel subjected to racism reminiscent of dark histories. Calls for Arab expulsion from Israel echoed nationalist rhetoric, advancing racial divides.

This volatile period reinforced an internal conflict within Israeli identity about balancing survival against ethics and morality.

Examples

• In 1962, Nasser displayed 20 missiles in Cairo, sending a chilling message to Israel.
• The 1967 war saw Israel defeat its neighbors in under a week, gaining significant land.
• Rabbi Meir Kahane demanded separation of Jews and Arabs, garnering public attention.

8. Holocaust remembrance became institutionalized

Debates on how to memorialize the Holocaust found resolution in the 1950s with the declaration of Holocaust Memorial Day. The annual event unified Israeli society in solemn reflection, halting typical daily activities and broadcasting testimonies to collectively honor survivors.

Education about the Holocaust eventually became mandatory in schools. By the 1980s, children studied its history multiple times and even visited concentration camps as part of school trips. This ensured the Holocaust remained a central component of Israel’s identity across generations.

Structured remembrance anchored Holocaust history into the Israeli psyche, shaping its narrative for future citizens.

Examples

• Holocaust Memorial Day shuts down leisure activities and features mourning-centric media coverage.
• Holocaust education became a standard subject in schools starting in the 1980s.
• Students regularly visit Auschwitz during educational trips, fostering emotional connections.

9. The Holocaust shaped modern Israeli identity and policy

Holocaust history is inseparable from Israel's creation, policies, and societal evolution. Its memory guides decisions about security, diplomacy, and internal cohesion. The shadow of genocide leaves an imprint, influencing national debates on survival, ethics, and responsibility.

Each layer – from survivors' private struggles to public outcry over reparation funds, and from military alliances to educational reforms – showcases how deeply intertwined the Holocaust is with Israel’s journey. Emphasizing unity, the country continues striving to balance its past with its future.

Examples

• Policies regarding Holocaust survivors initially reflected their marginalization, later shifting toward reverence.
• Reparations and trials opened debates that remain emotionally and morally potent.
• Holocaust studies structure lessons in empathy, history, and national purpose.

Takeaways

1. Acknowledge how collective trauma can influence the political and cultural identity of a nation, even decades later.
2. Foster spaces to memorialize tragic events meaningfully and educate future generations.
3. Balance historical reflection with modern responsibilities when addressing injustices and conflicts stemming from the past.