Shoah

Definition

Shoah is a Hebrew term that translates directly as 'catastrophe' and is used specifically to refer to the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II by Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

Analogy

Think about an earthquake that destroys an entire city leaving nothing behind. That's how devastating Shoah was for European Jewry - it aimed at their complete destruction.

Related terms

Holocaust: Holocaust is a term more commonly used outside Jewish communities to describe the same event - the mass murder of six million Jews during World War II by Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

Final Solution: Final Solution was Nazi Germany's plan developed during World War II for annihilating all Jews living in territories under their control.

Anti-Semitism: Anti-Semitism is a term for prejudice, discrimination or hostility directed against Jews. Anti-Semitism was a key factor that led to the Shoah.