Mazal tov to the Chaggim Va’ad below for producing this virtual Kristallnacht ceremony.

Eden Grynberg

Kristallnacht

Kristallnacht – often referred to as the “Night of Broken Glass” occurred on the 9 and 10 of November 1938. The events of Kristallnacht represented one of the most important turning points in Nazi policy. It marked the commencement of the many horrors that were to come during the Holocaust.

On the night of 9 November 1938, Nazis attacked Jewish businesses and religious sites around Germany, destroying thousands of stores and synagogues. Today we continue to learn about what happened during those nights of terror to ‘zachor’ – to remember, the destruction of life, synagogues, businesses, buildings and culture. We remember the disastrous consequences, which can occur when hatred, racism and tolerance are left unchecked. We think about the message sent by the bystanders, who did not speak or act out against such hatred and destruction.

This year we ask you to think about this phrase – Wisdom to see, Courage to want, Power to act – in order to move forward and not repeat the events of the past, we as human beings must have the wisdom to see what is happening in the world around us, the courage to want better for ourselves and others and the power to act, through Tikkun Olam, doing our part to make the world a better place.
By Eden Grynberg

Modern Genocide

Lily Berger

It is crucial to remember that genocides are far from gone in our modern world. Ever since the end of the Shoah numerous other genocides have occurred, with the same hate and persecution that the Jews faced in the Shoah still prevalent. Although these genocides have generally targeted other religious or ethnic groups, it is vital that we stay educated and vigilant, ready to protest against injustice and stand up for others. 

In 1994 in Rwanda, between 500,000 and one million Rwandans, predominantly Tutsi people, a minority ethnic group in the country, were killed by armed militants at a devastating speed and scale.

In Srebrenica, Bosnia in 1995, 8000 Bosnian boys and men were murdered by the Bosnian Serb forces as they were part of a Muslim minority within the country. At the same time, more than 20,000 civilians were expelled from the area, in an attempt of an ethnic cleansing.

In 2016 Isis committed genocide in its areas of control in Iraq and Syria against Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims. Thousands of these people were executed, sexually abused and displaced from their homes.

Clearly, Genocides are not an act of the past. As we speak today the Uyghur people, a largely Muslim ethnic minority in the XinJiang province of China are experiencing the genocide of their people. Human rights groups believe that more than 1 million Uyghurs have been detained against their will over the past few years and forced into what the Chinese government call ‘ re-education camps’. Within these camps the Uyghur people are being used as forced labour and there are reports of women being forcibly sterilised and of inhumane living conditions and treatment. The treatment of the Uyghurs and the Jews during the Shoah, whilst very different do share many parallels. Both peoples have been forced into hard labour, both have been criminalised because of their religion and beliefs, and both have been subjected to life in a detention camp.

The phrase “never again” is often heard in relation to the Shoah. Kristallnacht was the beginning of this genocide for our people, and as we are here today we have a responsibility to recognise genocides of other people when they are happening and stand up against them. By Lily Berger

Eden Glass

Possibly the most shocking part of Kristallnacht is the role of German civilians. Those who stood by and watched as their neighbours and friends were tormented, harassed, beaten down and eventually killed. As Jewish shops were smashed and burned to the ground they stood by. It’s easy to choose not to get involved when you are not the target. When someone else is suffering, it would only threaten your own safety to stand up for them and fight to protect their rights. That’s why it is such a heroic choice to make. As Jews and good people, it is our responsibility to stand up against discrimination in all forms. Kristallnacht was only a hint of the impending genocide. To many it might have seemed like a once off, a simple event that would soon pass, but it was the acceptance of the event by the German people that allowed the government to continue pushing the boundaries of discrimination, leading ultimately to the Shoah. Similarly, small offensive remarks might seem minor, once off saying a racist or sexist slur or making a hateful comment, appear to be harmless but through your actions you are accepting a culture of discrimination. It is these seemingly minor actions that become normalised and lead to far larger issues.

The standard you walk past is the standard you accept. Call out others for their actions, stand up to even your friends and family and remember that words have power. Refuse all forms of hate and together we can make the world a better place, and ensure that the horrors of the Soah are never repeated. By Eden Glass

Jayda Sacks

 “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out –  because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”

Similar to the German pastor who wrote this prose in 1946, only after the atrocities of Kristallnacht and WWII did the world come to realise the importance of standing up against injustice in all its forms – against any political or economic status, or ethnicity.

Kristallnacht commemorates the beginning of a catastrophic event, which was in many ways detrimental to the collective culture, morale, and faith of the Jewish people. However, in even more ways, it made us stronger as a people. It forced us to unite, taught us to fight for ourselves and our own nation state. Today, Kristallnacht embodies the hardships that the Jewish people have survived and conquered; and reminds us of the importance of utilising our resources and influence to fight against prejudice and discrimination for all people, and on all levels. 

While eradicating modern genocides altogether may seem beyond your power; it was the combination of the few individuals who made small acts of upstanding during the Holocaust that allowed the Jewish people to stand here today.

Start by educating yourself and others on worldly issues and human rights violations. Sign petitions. Join protests. Follow social action pages and share their information through social media or word of mouth. Subscribe to Amnesty International; an organisation that educates you through emails, makes petitions and catalyses legal action. 

And on smaller levels, make sure you are always standing up against the common hate speech, bullying, the casual sexist, racist or discriminatory comments. Even signs of prejudice and judgement between people. 

We are all the same. We must stand together and speak up for those who need it as we once did. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter”. By Jayda Sacks