Kristallnacht (Crystal Night or The Night of Broken Glass), refers to the night of the 9 November 1938 when thousands of shattered windows littered the streets after violent anti-Jewish demonstrations and attacks broke out across Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia. Together with arrests and deportations to concentration camps, synagogues, Jewish schools, homes and shops were looted and burned.

Kristallnacht was a turning point, marking the shift from antisemitic rhetoric and legislation to the violent, aggressive anti-Jewish measures that would culminate with the Holocaust.

In each of our Tefillah groups, students wrote and shared prayers and poems in commemoration of Kristallnacht. We share our students reflections, responses and questions below.

Rabbi Daniel Siegel

 

God without form 

All knowing

All powerful 

God the creator 

Of the universe 

Of opposites 

Man exists 

To exercise his free will 

Out of evil comes good 

Out of darkness comes light 

From winter comes spring 

From death comes rebirth 

By Hannah Corke 

 

If the Shoah was a punishment from God,

Then let us refrain from further transgression,

And remain good people, ethically and spiritually

But if it was a product of man,

Then let us learn, and use this as an example,

To encourage future generations to be sympathetic and understanding of each other’s differences.

If it is God who has given me free will,

Then let it be God who inspires me to do good by my fellow Jews and my fellow people.

But if it is me,

And everything is my choice,

Then let me have the strength to make good, fair, kind decisions.

If God is at the root of my Judaism,

Then let God remain a figure to which I can turn for inspiration, education and guidance.

But if it is care for people and for the world,

Then never let me lose sight of my roots, and let me stay a good person and a good Jew.

By Lara Fosberry

 

God, please answer me

Belief, faith, hope, happiness and safety. 

Words that we as people, as a community, want to live by each and every day. 

Not tragedy, fear, lost hope and terror. 

Where was our God to protect us? Why was he hidden through it all? 

There is no real answer for it, it is a question that will be forever asked. 

So, how can one lose hope in something we don’t know the answer too. 

The tragic history, the time that is mourned, it was the Shoah that tested the Jewish people’s survival. We made it as a strong community, one that is guaranteed to fight and survive through any strong battle. Yes, we lost millions, but we can say we won due to the land we call our home and the millions of people that are part of our community today. 

So maybe God did help us. Maybe he wanted to teach us as people how to fight our own battles, to show that we are capable of keeping our religion alive through anything. 

Through the Anti-Semitism, the torture, the beatings, the murder, the loss of our loved ones. 

God, please answer me. Tell me where you were. 

The human race turned against each other, they turned on our religion. 

Why didn’t you come? 

Or did you? 

I don’t know what to believe, although, I haven’t yet lost faith. 

But please, answer me, give me a sign. 

The Jews were promised showers, and they were given death, it’s not fair.

Promises were broken and lives were stolen. 

Humanity just turned its back on itself. 

It makes no sense, how one can feel that murder was the solution. 

God, I still believe, I still hold faith, I still hold hope. 

Your existence may have been inevitable 

And I may never understand why, 

But please God, just answer me. 

Give me some closure, help me understand, 

Where was man during the Shoah? where were you? 

Loyalty, support, safety and faith, is what I hope you can still provide for me. 

If so, God, please, just answer me. 

By Alexis Joffe

 

God who gives light in the darkness,

God who created our universe,

Our nature, our creatures, our home,

We shall love Adoni our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our might

For it is God who will direct me in my path and protect my ancestors and children

However, why have you created so much darkness?

Where were you Adoni when millions perished?

Where were you Adoni through the pain?

Where where you Adoni when you were needed the most?

Where where you Adoni?

Yet, you heard all our cries and brought to us our Israel

Bless you Adoni who brought the light

The redemption of the holy land 

Strengthen the hands of those who protect the holy land

Grant them with your loving-kindness and bestow them of our prayer

Bless you Adoni,

The one who has guided us victory and happiness

Bless you Adoni,

The one who brings light 

Bless you Adoni 

אלוהים שנותן אור בחושך,

אלוהים שיצר את היקום שלנו,

הטבע שלנו, היצורים שלנו, הבית שלנו,

אנו נאהב את אדוני אלוהינו בכל לבנו, בכל נפשנו, בכל כוחנו

כי הוא אלוהים אשר יכוון אותי בדרך שלי להגן על אבותי וילדים

 

עם זאת, מדוע יצרת כה הרבה חושך?

איפה היית אדוני כשמיליון נספו?

איפה אדוני?

איפה היית אדוני כאשר היה צורך ביותר?

איפה אתה אדוני?

 

עם זאת, שמעת את כל הצעקות שלנו והביאה לנו את ישראל שלנו

יברך אותך אדוני שהביא את האור

גאולת הארץ הקדושה

לחזק את הידיים של מי להגן על ארץ הקודש

תן להם את חסדך האדיב ולהעניק להם את תפילתנו

יברך אותך אדוני,

מי שהנחה אותנו בניצחון ואושר

יברך אותך אדוני,

זה שמביא אור

יברך אותך אדוני

By Jade Berson

 

Thank you, God

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for providing us a world with endless possibilities;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for providing challenges which can overcome and learn from;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for seeing the good within every individual;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for letting us express our individuality;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for providing with a perfect world full of miraculous wildlife;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for believing in the power of humanity;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for allowing us to learn and grow;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for allowing us to appreciate the world we live in;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for being rewarding and not punitive;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for teaching us that a perfect world is an imperfect world;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for listening to us and caring about every person;

Thank you, our caring and loving God, for allowing us to get the most out of life

By Zac Levenson