Growing up, I frequently encountered Holocaust survivors whose lives had been forever marked by Nazi persecution.
I remember seeing the numbers tattooed on their arms, painful reminders of the suffering they endured and the millions who never returned. These were not distant figures in a history book, but people living among us who had lost families, homes and entire communities.
My Uncle Joe helped liberate a concentration camp during World War II. His generation witnessed the terrible consequences of a society that embraced lies about an entire people and abandoned their fundamental humanity. Those who survived the Holocaust, together with the soldiers who liberated the camps, left us a solemn responsibility expressed in two words, “Never Again.”
That promise requires us to teach our children what happened, how it became possible and why its lessons must never be forgotten. That responsibility came to mind recently when I shared a simple historical statement on X. “Jesus Christ was Jewish.”
The post received approximately 330,000 views, generating thoughtful responses but also an astonishing degree of hostility, including antisemitic stereotypes and outright rejection of Jesus’ Jewish identity. I was troubled that a fact so clearly established in scripture could provoke such anger, particularly among people who profess to follow Christ.
The New Testament leaves little room for doubt. Matthew identifies Jesus as a descendant of Abraham and David. Luke records His circumcision on the eighth day, His presentation at the Temple according to the Law of Moses and His family’s observance of Passover. Luke also describes Jesus attending synagogue on the Sabbath and reading from Isaiah.
In John 4:9, the Samaritan woman identifies Him as a Jew, while Hebrews 7:14 affirms His descent from Judah. Jesus was born to a Jewish mother, raised among the Jewish people, worshipped at the Temple, and taught from the Hebrew Scriptures. His apostles were Jewish, and even the inscription above the cross identified Him as King of the Jews.
His Jewish identity is not a political assertion but an unmistakable part of the biblical account. For Christians, Jesus Christ is infinitely more than a historical figure. He is the Son of God, our Lord and Savior and the promised Messiah. His Jewish ancestry illuminates the fulfillment of God’s promises. In Romans 11, the apostle Paul reminds Gentile believers that they have been grafted into an existing olive tree and warns them against arrogance toward its branches.
History also reminds us why antisemitic falsehoods must be challenged. Nazi propaganda portrayed Jewish citizens as enemies of Germany, spreading conspiracy theories that prepared the way for persecution and ultimately the murder of six million Jews. Although every ignorant remark should not be equated with Nazi persecution, we must recognize the dangers of dehumanization and collective blame. Those dangers remain.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, 6,274 antisemitic incidents were recorded across America in 2025, including 281 in Pennsylvania. Behind those numbers are people who deserve to live without harassment, threats or violence because of their Jewish identity.
This is precisely why I introduced Pennsylvania Senate Bill 127, legislation requiring Holocaust, genocide and human rights education in our public schools. Current Pennsylvania law permits instruction on these subjects but does not require it. My legislation would ensure that students understand how Nazi persecution developed, how propaganda and the destruction of civil liberties contributed to genocide and how courageous individuals resisted these injustices.
The purpose of SB 127 is to equip students with historical knowledge. As Holocaust survivors pass from our midst, future generations will depend increasingly upon their preserved testimony, historical documents and teachers willing to confront difficult truths. We owe them an education that preserves these essential lessons.
I cannot forget the Holocaust survivors I encountered growing up, the numbers tattooed on their arms or the sacrifices of my Uncle Joe’s generation. Their experiences remind us that the promise of “Never Again” must mean more than words spoken at memorial services. It must be reflected in what we teach our children, how we confront prejudice and how we treat our neighbors.
Jesus Christ was Jewish. The Holocaust happened. Antisemitism remains a serious threat. Remembering these truths and passing their lessons to the next generation is a responsibility we all share.
Editor’s note: This piece was authored by state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin/Adams).
