Our ShinShinim

Omri- 

Kristallnacht, also known as the Night of Broken Glass, refers to the pogrom against Polish and German Jews, which was orchestrated by SS and SA forces along with the participation of German civilians, throughout Nazi Germany on November 9-10, 1938.

Eighty-five years ago, Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues were ruthlessly smashed, set on fire, and destroyed, leaving the streets littered with shattered glass. Let's take a moment to imagine the horrors of that night from the perspective of a simple Jew who used to live under the Nazi regime. 

As more and more small and big chunks of glass began to pile up on the streets, sparkling and reflecting the light of the torches. Big crowd of people full with hate and again with only one goal in mind to aim to destroy as much. More and more sparkling glass on the streets, more and more tears sparkling as well, scared faces trying to find a  safe place to hide. 

When all your safe places are destroyed one by one, it feels as if your world is falling apart. Your own shop, your refuge to secure a livelihood. Your Jewish institution, your haven to connect with your heritage. Your temple, where you worship God and come together during holidays. 

And now, it's time to say "enough."

This event serves as a stark reminder of the hatred, intolerance, and persecution that millions of Jews endured during the Holocaust. In times like these, we must shout louder than ever, "NEVER AGAIN." And, yes, never again is now as the war in Gaza against Hamas continues.

Sharon -

In Israel, holocaust education is a big part of growing up. You are constantly surrounded by reminders that Israel was founded on the statement of ‘never again’ following the horrific events of WW2 and the holocaust.

In history lessons, you learn that the holocaust did not start out of the blue.

It followed a long period of systematic and deep-rooted antisemitism.

The premise of Never Again was meant to make sure jews all over the world will never endure the same kind of hate, discrimination and helplessness. Israel was founded, for jews to not be at the mercy of their neighbors. So we would have an option to defend ourselves, and so jews could always have a safe place to turn too.

However, since October 7th - Never again feels more relevant than ever.

In Israel, people were attacked for being jewish - by a terrorist organization aiming to clear jews from the middle east, and from our country.

Around the world, antisemitism has been skyrocketing. 

Omri and I just came back from a conference of all the Shinshinim in Canada in Montreal.  The day we were there, the synagogue that one of the shinshiniot works in had a Molotov cocktail thrown at, and two yeshivas were shot at.

While some people find a resemblance between a hundred years ago and now - I find it important to emphasize that our ‘Never Again’ still stands strong. 

Israel still stands strong, and the jewish nation still stands strong.

Am Israel Chai.

Shabbat Shalom