As the days count down, Nov. 9 approaches. Many people may overlook the significance of this day, thinking it’s just another ordinary Sunday. However, the reality is that Sunday, Nov. 9, marks the 87th anniversary of Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass. This is the night when anti-Jewish riots broke out in Germany, fueled by the Nazis’ hatred. Although it was meant to appear as riots independent of the government, it was state-sponsored vandalism and terror, taking the livelihoods, businesses and freedoms of many Jewish citizens. This night of terror would be followed by even more anti-Jewish laws and acts from the Nazi German government. People who are aware of the tragedy that happened on this day typically light a candle and let it burn throughout the night to commemorate the victims.
On Nov. 5, there will be a Kristallnacht program performed by the Farkas Center, a nonprofit that helps give Holocaust survivors the chance to share their testimony. The Farkas Center is a Bay Area-based organization that understands the value of personal testimony and truly appreciates the effect that it has had on the youth. By giving people, including Holocaust survivors, the chance to share their story, the Farkas Center aims to build a community full of passion and empathy. Additionally, by sharing the events of the past, this organization aims to build a better future for all.
Mr. Campos looks at the Farkas Center’s work using an ethical lens, saying, “To commemorate a historical event imposes a moral responsibility for those of us in the present. How might learning from the past shape our choices? Who will benefit? And why?” This embodies the Farkas Center’s goal. The Kristallnacht program’s purpose is to commemorate the tragedy, while also raising awareness about past oppression and encouraging students and others to become more educated so that they can make informed moral decisions that benefit all people.
More specifically, regarding this year’s program, the Farkas Center will include additional speakers to connect the program to current human rights tragedies in today’s world. The program will feature three speakers, including Paul Schwarzbart, a Holocaust survivor. This event will take place over Zoom and be roughly 90 minutes long. In a time when antisemitism is on the rise, it’s abundantly important to listen to people, especially survivors, who have experienced injustice. By attending this year’s Kristallnacht program, people can become more aware of current and past injustices and be more engaged members of their community.
Overall, the Farkas Center, an organization that honors Holocaust survivors and gives the youth a chance to use their voice, is hosting an event to commemorate the tragedies that happened during Kristallnacht, as well as relating those tragedies to the present day so similar injustices are never repeated.