Carrie Gross Charney

Today is the commemoration of Kristallnacht. We must never forget history. Kristallnacht took place on 9-10 November 1938. Across Germany, Jewish people and their belongings were attacked with 1,400 synagogues destroyed. We must never forget history. Let’s remember that “The road to Auschwitz was built with hatred, but paved with indifference." as author Ian Kershaw wrote about the Nazi horror. We must sincerely reflect on all the suffering the Jewish people have carried for generations. Even today, Jews continue to suffer because they are Jews. We saw that on 7 October in Israel. What a terrible day for humanity. Decades later, the story of hatred is being repeated. We must continue to tell the stories and pass them on to our children and grandchildren. So that we never forget and never become indifferent. Today, there are many reports of anti-Semitism in European countries due to flaring Jew hatred and too much indifference. Of course Jewish people across the world feel alone and worry day and night. Not only about themselves but also about their children and unborn children. The hate goes through generations. More people should visit Auschwitz sometime. The images of piles of hair, glasses, shoes, personal belongings remain burned into your retinas. The victims were people like you and me but reduced to one aspect of their identity and therefore slaughtered. With the energy of the same hatred with which people were humiliated and murdered in Israel on 7 October. Because of who they are. That hatred and violence that some people continue to deny even now is very dangerous. My deep respect to all the victims, then and today. We must never be indifferent when we see injustice. Otherwise, we are complicit. Assita Kanko