Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, has been commemorated by Jews across the globe for 87 years. It is customary during the commemorations to listen to stories from Holocaust survivors who recall the Nazi attack on Jewish families and their property in Germany and Austria on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938.
Broken glass from homes, Jewish-owned businesses and synagogues littered the streets after the violence, which was a prelude to the Holocaust.
Temple Israel of Lawrence is observing the somber anniversary with a complimentary dinner and service on Sunday at 7 p.m.
“The commemoration of Kristallnacht has been a tradition at Temple Israel,” Rabbi Galina Makaveyev said. “This is my 24th year, and since I came, I know that Kristallnacht, Nov. 9, is always observed by the congregation.”
Every year, the temple asks its congregation — including students from local schools — to participate.
Makaveyev, whose mother survived the Holocaust, grew up hearing stories about it. “It’s not only professional, but personal for me,” she said. “I try to align among all of the generations. For the younger ones, it’s important for them to learn about and witness. For the older ones, it’s important for their parents and grandparents to witness again and reinforce this knowledge and understanding.”
This year, Temple Israel’s program, “Inspiring Voices of Light and Hope: A Kristallnacht Commemoration” will feature stories of survival from a Queens couple, Judith and Gabor Gross.
“To have these two people, who are husband and wife, come in to speak is very special,” Makaveyev said. “We’re trying to honor the memories of those who are not with us anymore, but also, if there is a possibility, through the Claims Conference, to make sure those who are still alive and present a platform to share their remarkable stories of surviving.”
Founded in 1981, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany is a nonprofit that secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world, according to www.ClaimsCon.org.
Gabor Gross was born in Hungary in 1935, and was 8 years old when he was deported with his family. He survived forced labor and imprisonment before being liberated from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. His wife, Judith, was an infant who was hidden inside one of Raoul Wallenberg’s safe houses in Budapest, an effort that saved tens of thousands of Jewish lives, including her grandmother’s.
“In sharing their life experiences,” Makaveyev said, “we are reminded that faith, courage and the human spirit can illuminate even the darkest moments. As we gather to commemorate Kristallnacht, may their presence inspire us to act with compassion and help create a future filled with light, dignity and peace for all.”
Temple President Ed Gottlieb said it has hosted a Kristallnacht event for at least 25 years, and that it is important to do so while there are still living survivors.
“There are so few survivors left,” Gottlieb said. “It amazes me how the survivors can continue to not just live but thrive in America, and become a successful part of the American fabric despite the atrocities they’ve lived through.”
“There are so many deniers of the Holocaust,” he added. “If you don’t hear these people now, you’ll never know when you will hear a firsthand account.”
With all the antisemitism in the world now, Gottlieb said he wonders whether another Holocaust could happen.
“We must be reminded always that the past can repeat itself,” he said. “It’s our job this generation to be sure that it doesn’t. When you see anti-Israel within the U.S. Congress, it reminds you that there is never-ending antisemitism and anti-Israel right here in America.”
Douglas Segan and his family sponsored last year’s commemoration event at the temple, in honor of his father, Ben Segan, a U.S. Army World War II veteran who helped liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp, on April 11, 1945.
The stories of Holocaust survivors not only serve as a reminder of what happened in the past, but also educate younger generations, Segan said. “A lot of people don’t know the history of the Holocaust, and why Jews around the world feel so strongly to have a safe homeland,” he said. “To understand the psychology of the Israeli government, you have to study the Holocaust.”
He added, “Even as my dad approached 90, he never forgot how emaciated the prisoners were, and it stuck with him his whole life. Seeing the concentration camp prisoners at Buchenwald when they were liberated stuck with him his whole life.”
To register for Sunday’s event, contact Temple Israel of Lawrence at (516) 239-1140.
