On the 9th November, we remembered Kristallnacht.
Kristallnacht: also known as the Night of Broken Glass, was a violent anti-Jewish pogrom (a coordinated attack) that took place in Nazi Germany on November 9-10, 1938. During this two-day period, Nazi paramilitary forces and civilians attacked Jewish homes, businesses, synagogues, and individuals. The name “Kristallnacht” refers to the broken glass from the shattered windows of Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues that littered the streets.
Kristallnacht is considered a significant turning point in the persecution of Jews by the Nazis and is often seen as the beginning of the Holocaust, the systematic genocide of six million Jews during World War II. This event, marked by widespread violence and destruction, highlighted the Nazi regime’s escalating anti-Semitic policies and served as a precursor to the Holocaust. It stands as a grim reminder of the horrors of bigotry, intolerance, and hatred.
Each year, there are two days when we pause to remember the Holocaust. International Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place every year on January 27. Also, since its inception in 1951, Yom HaShoah, Hebrew for “Day of the Catastrophe,” takes place on the 27th of Nisan in Israel. At 10:00 AM Israel time, everything comes to a stop as a siren is heard all across the country. Motorists literally stop in the middle of the road and observe two minutes of silence. It is both eerie and poignant.
As times passes, we must continue to remember what took place in Nazi Germany, as it is still relevant: