Auschwitz and the Limits of Human Trust – A Timeless Lesson in Faith

The Auschwitz extermination camp was established because Nazi Germany didn't want to "waste" any time by killing one by one. They therefore set up a camp whose sole purpose was to annihilate multitudes.

This demonstrates how far a human being can deteriorate.

“Do not trust yourself until the day of your death” (Pirkei Avot 2:4) is said about each of us, at every level, because time and again, through foolishness, arrogance, or any other fault, a person can sink to the lowest depths, reaching a state where they can’t believe they acted the way they did. Just as today, the descendants of those corrupt and depraved people are unable to comprehend how their parents behaved in such a vile manner.

A Holocaust survivor once came to the Lubavitcher Rebbe and said that after what he saw in Auschwitz, he was very angry with God.
The Rebbe replied: “If you are angry with God, it means you believe He exists.”

The man said: “Yes, I believe He exists — but how can I trust Him?”

The Rebbe responded: “After seeing Auschwitz, do you have the ability to trust human beings?” The survivor answered: “Absolutely not. If the most ‘enlightened’ people in the world could descend to such depths, I can’t trust anyone.”

The Rebbe said: “That is the great lesson of the Holocaust — you cannot place your trust in any human being!”

The only One you can trust is the Almighty, because at least with Him, you know He can do things that you are not obligated to understand. A person who has sunk to such depths however, can never be justified.

Each of us must always consider ourselves second or third in line after the infinite divine power, and remember: I do not take ultimate responsibility, because in a moment of bribery, anger, or madness, I could deteriorate and cause disasters far greater than I can imagine.

Strengthen yourself in faith, and in giving power and control over to God, and you will be safeguarded from sinking to the lowest depths, both within and without.