Growing up in a Jewish family in the 1960's and 1970's, the Holocaust was an important subject in our home. My father, as he did with most things, had very strong views about the Holocaust. He insisted that, as Jewish people, we must continue to discuss and learn about the Holocaust to honor the millions who died and to ensure that it never happens again.

My husband and I recently booked a river cruise from Budapest to Regensburg, Germany. Hearing my father’s voice in my head, I booked a hotel stay at the end of the cruise in Munich so that my husband and I could go to Dachau. When flight changes and work obligations required us to cancel that part of the trip, I looked for another way honor the victims of the Holocaust while in Germany.

I found my answer by booking an extra excursion through the cruise boat to Nuremberg.  I thought it would be interesting to see where the Nuremberg trials were held. But I learned so much more.

The first words from our tour guide were an apology for the atrocities of the Holocaust.  She also explained to us that, after a long period of trying to ignore what occurred during that period, most German people now realize that the way to move forward from the atrocities of the Holocaust is to learn, atone and never forget.

The Germans say that the Holocaust began and ended in Nuremberg. Nuremberg was the location where Hitler held his rallies in the 1930’s before, at least, 100,000 men at each rally. (women had their own rallies). The courthouse where the trials were held after the war is also located in Nuremberg. Visiting these sites was haunting to me, as if I could feel the souls of those who came before me.

We also learned that denying that the Holocaust occurred is illegal in Germany. Moreover, German school children cannot graduate high school unless they participate in a field trip to a concentration camp.

I am happy that I listened to my father’s “voice,” and journeyed to Nuremberg. I like to think that he, somehow, knows and approves.