REMEMBERING THE KRISTALLNACHT BY KEEPING A LIGHT ON
Eight decades on, the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) continues to commemorate the events of the Kristallnacht. Following on from the 80th anniversary and the United Synagogue’s ‘Leave a Light On’ initiative last year, the AJR once again encourages the illumination of synagogues and households on the night of the 9th November to remember the Kristallnacht.
AJR Chief Executive, Michael Newman stated, “We place great effort on ensuring that key dates in the Jewish calendar, like the anniversary of the Kristallnacht, are remembered and that future generations are informed about the atrocities committed in the hope that they will never happen again. By building on the success of last year’s ‘Leave a Light On’ initiative, we believe the AJR is in a unique position to further create awareness through remembrance in the Jewish community, while encouraging support from non-Jewish organisations that would like to stand together with us on the night.”
Gaby Glassman, chair of the Yom Hashoah committee of Pinner Synagogue and a trustee of AJR, paid tribute to the powerful symbolism of the ‘Leave a Light On’ initiative.
She mentioned, “On 9 November 1938, our synagogues were set alight and last year, on the 80th anniversary of the Kristallnacht, we chose to illuminate our synagogues to remember what happened 80 years ago. I would like to encourage this initiative each year to ensure that the Kristallnacht event in 1938 will never be forgotten. Given the current climate of antisemitism and the recent attack on a synagogue in Halle, on Yom Kippur, it is vital that we do not stand by but raise awareness early on.”