(Jewish Group) Why I forgave Whoopi Goldberg on national TV a day after her remarks on the Holocaust

For those of us who remain deeply concerned about the increasing trends of trivialization and outright denial of the Holocaust in our society, this has been a week for the record books.

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Coming at a time when Holocaust denial is on the rise globally, and at a time when trivialization and false comparisons to the Nazis have proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, Whoopi’s remarks were all the more hurtful and damaging.

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She also made clear that she had been a friend of the Jewish community all throughout her career – and to be sure, the record reflects that.

At the Anti-Defamation League, we believe that when an individual – whether a celebrity, an elected leader or even a close friend – makes a mistake, they should be given a second chance. And that a mistake, no matter how hurtful, can serve as an opportunity for learning and growth. In Jewish religious tradition, there is a concept known as “T’shuvah,” or repentance, which offers someone an opportunity to reflect on misdeeds and to repair them. That certainly applies here.

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