Back to the courtroom that drew a line
When the world first heard the phrase “crimes against humanity,” it was at Nuremberg. Twenty-two top Nazi leaders were indicted; the charges included conspiracy, crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The court rejected “I was only following orders.” Leaders were held personally responsible. Twelve were sentenced to death, seven to prison, and three were acquitted. Most important, the trials put evidence on the record so the world could never say, “We did not know.”
The new film Nuremberg brings us back into that room. Russell Crowe’s Hermann Goering is unsettling not because he rants, but because he sounds reasonable. Rami Malek’s army psychiatrist listens and discovers the second lesson of Nuremberg: evil rarely looks like a cartoon villain. It can wear a clean uniform, speak in full sentences, and ask for a pass. The trials refused that pass and insisted on truth, evidence, and judgment.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” — Romans 12:9, NIV
When evil is excused instead of tried
Why tell this story now. Because in our moment, some have applauded or excused Hamas’s crimes as “resistance.” On October 7 and after, civilians were targeted for kidnapping, murder, rape, and terror. None of that becomes moral because a cause claims it. Nuremberg teaches us to name crimes against civilians as crimes, to gather evidence, and to seek accountability. It does not teach us to cheer them, rebrand them, or hide them behind slogans.
Scripture will not let us shrug.
“Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, ‘But we knew nothing about this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?” — Proverbs 24:11–12, NIV
Nuremberg put the world on notice: leaders, planners, jailers, and propagandists can be called to account. Today, that means we should welcome real investigations, public documentation, and trials that follow the evidence. It also means we stop pretending that applause turns evil into good. It does not.
Listen to the victims
Listen to Rom Braslavski. He says his captors stripped him, tied him, and used sexual violence “to crush my dignity.” He survived nearly two years in captivity, isolated beside the bodies of other hostages, telling himself each day, “I survived another day in hell.” Where is the outrage. Where are the trials for Hamas and Islamic Jihad war crimes. Where are the prosecutors taking sworn testimony, the indictments naming jailers, rapists, handlers, and propagandists, the court dates that put these crimes on the record.
Nuremberg taught the world to gather evidence and try crimes against civilians. Do not applaud them, excuse them, or turn them into content. We want victim-centered justice now: protected witnesses, medical forensics, survivor care, and courtrooms with names and dates. Until that happens, we keep the names, tell the truth, and refuse to let these stories be buried.
Memory that protects the future
The original trials created a public memory. Films of the camps were introduced as evidence because prosecutors wanted future generations to see. Elie Wiesel later warned that the opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Indifference is how evil outlives its news cycle. Nuremberg was a declaration that memory must be active: tell the truth, insist on justice, and defend the innocent so the future is different from the past. That is why we teach our children what Nuremberg was and why it still matters. That is why we speak plainly about moral equivalence and why it fails when civilians are targeted. That is why we support those who collect evidence and protect witnesses. And that is why we refuse to excuse Jew-hatred whether it appears on the left or the right, on a street, a campus, or a screen. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.” — Isaiah 1:17, NIV
What an Esther does now
Esther stood in a palace that preferred silence. She chose speech. She stood in a system that rewarded comfort. She chose risk. Our world needs that kind of courage again. When crimes against civilians are celebrated as victory, modern-day Esthers say, “No. This is evil, and it must be named and tried.” That conviction has practical shape. Support real accountability where it matters. Back efforts to investigate and ban UNRWA. Demand independent audits, and suspend funding until anyone who aids terror is removed and aid is protected from theft. Hold media that launder lies to a higher standard: write editors, cancel subscriptions, and refuse outlets that normalize attacks on Jews. Refuse products that mock Jewish grief. “Mintifada” ice cream turns terror into a pint label. Be ready to stand with your name, your choices, and your voice.
An Esther also asks and teaches her children and grandchildren to ask better questions. Who is telling the truth? Who is hiding behind chants? Who is protecting the vulnerable, and who is celebrating harm? When a crowd claps for brutality, do we join the noise, or do we stand apart and say, “No”? The courtroom at Nuremberg exists to remind us that justice is not vengeance; it is holiness at work in public. And justice begins when someone refuses to look away. “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14, NIV
Today’s Prayer
Lord, keep our love sincere. Teach us to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Give us clear words and steady courage to name crimes, defend the innocent, and support true justice. Let the memory of Nuremberg sharpen our conscience so that, in our day, crimes are tried and not cheered. Comfort the hostages’ families, heal survivors like Rom Braslavski, and guide leaders who must pursue accountability without fear. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
