I met him at Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial that is in Jerusalem. We were both standing at an exhibit which held numerous menorahs, candlesticks and breastplates–all items used by Jewish families celebrating a variety of holy days. I hesitated to speak to him due to the solemness in the room, but I needed to know what the breastplates were; I had not seen them before that day. So, with slight hesitation I made eye contact with the man and quietly asked “English?” “Yes”, he answered. I asked my question and he gladly explained what the breastplates were and how they were used. Sadly, I cannot recall which holy day he told me.

The quiet of the room stirred me to ask this kind quiet man if he had family that lived through the holocaust. “My grandparents, all gone. I come here to gain more understanding of what happened. My father survived by jumping a train.” I didn’t detect anger or bitterness as he continued with his gracious conversation with me. In fact, he thanked me for my interest and his ability to teach me in that brief moment.

I could have ended our conversation after his short explanation of the beautiful family possessions displayed under the clean glass. But it didn’t. Knowing that I was in the presence of a Jewish man close to my age who had lost family members made my visit to the memorial museum take on a deeper moment in time now etched into my memories. I felt compelled to tell him “Sir, as a Christian I am so sorry for your loss and the horrible treatment they suffered”. His demeanor remained one of a quiet calm as he answered me “thank you, I come here to learn, to understand, and to make certain this never happens again.”

“Yes,” I answered. Yet, with another surge of boldness in sadness I responded to his gentle admonition “I fear in America we have our own holocaust happening as we allow the abortion of millions of our children”.

He looked at me. Our eyes met as he cupped his hand and with his same gentle voice said, “That is so wrong, for they are God’s created innocence.”

Millions of innocents during the holocaust of the 40s. Millions of innocents in America since 1973. Both groups are God’s created innocents. Both groups have faces, have eternal spirits, have value with God the Creator. Both groups held a valuable and memorable meeting in time on Sunday, March 31 as a Jew and Gentile met in a room illuminated by the lights behind clear glass displaying family heirlooms once used to worship their Creator. Their purpose has changed, yet now give way for encounters and conversations that can only be orchestrated by the Divine or a hint of quiet boldness from one stranger to another.