Remembering Kristallnacht
Dear Congregational Family,
Eighty-two years ago, November 9-10, 1938, was Kristallnacht. The night of broken glass was for many the start of the Shoah. On that tragic night, Jewish shops, homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed, shattered, and sent into flames.
In contemporary Jewish life, this season has became a second time of year to formally memorialize the Shoah, next to Yom Hashoah, which occurs in Spring a few days following Pesach. In the GTA, it is noteworthy that Holocaust Education Week surrounds the anniversary of Kristallnacht.
Now, more than ever, continuing efforts must be made to further the memory of the Shoah. We today have living with us the last survivors. It is imperative that their stories be shared and documented for posterity. I would suggest that every Jew consider himself or herself as a witness by identifying with someone's particular experience.
While I did not have any biological relatives who perished or survived, my father made me learn the name and story of a particular survivor who lived in our community. From a young age, I identified with this man and even knew the number which had been etched on his skin.
The best way to honor the memory of the six million is by living a faithful Jewish life and by continuing to celebrate the sacred moments of the lifecycle and holy day cycle.
When I officiate a wedding and instruct the groom to break the glass, I often mention the night of broken glass as an example of the broken pieces in Jewish history. At the same time, I mention that the broken glass under the Chuppa is a symbol of the eternity of the Jewish people, the Jewish spirit, and the Jewish resolve to celebrate Jewish life.
May the memories of our six million brothers and sisters be for a blessing.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison
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