Today was a free day in Jerusalem without guided tours.

We took the opportunity to visit Yad Vashem – the Jewish memorial to the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah (שואה), meaning “calamity” in Hebrew (link to Wikipedia page on the Shoah – in Hebrew).

As a student of twentieth century history I have been learning about the Holocaust since childhood. Yet, by the end of this visit I was stunned as never before at the enormity and ruthlessness of evil that was exercised during the Holocaust as shown in this memorial. It is beyond words.

Lord, have mercy!