November 9th marks the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or Night of Broken Glass, when in 1938 violent pogroms were carried out against the Jewish population throughout the Nazi German territories. Over the course of two days, more than 1,000 synagogues were burned, over 7,000 Jewish businesses were trashed and looted, and hundreds of schools, hospitals and homes were damaged or destroyed. Jewish cemeteries were desecrated throughout Germany and hundreds died as a result of the violence. Over 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to local concentration camps such as Dachau and Sachsenhausen.
Disguised as spontaneous actions, the state-sponsored pogroms represented a profound shift for German Jews, from an environment of discrimination to outright persecution with the radicalization of antisemitism. The bystanders to the events of Kristallnacht did not know what the devastating effects of their indifference night be. Kristallnacht was the prelude to the annihilation that would follow.
So, how is this event relevant today after 85 years? The answer is a prescient one. We live in a time when rising antisemitism, hate and indifference remind us that we have failed to learn from the flashing warning signs of history. It is up to us as individuals to consider the implications of this history and what roles we choose to play in shaping our future.
Join us as we unite as a community to remember this historic Holocaust turning point and stand in solidarity against antisemitism, racism, hatred and intolerance.
This event is free and open to the public. To order advance tickets, click HERE.
Remembering Kristallnacht 85 Years Later
Sunday, November 12, 2023 3:00-4:30 pm
The Sarah Belk Gambrell Center
Queens University of Charlotte
2319 Wellesley Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Sponsorship opportunities available here. Please indicate Kristallnacht under Gift Notes.