Synagogues across Europe kept their lights on overnight on Monday (9 November 2020) to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that “we will never let the lights go out”, describing Kristallnacht as leading to “humanity’s darkest moments.”
Kristallnacht, which translates to “Night of Broken Glass”, was a nationwide pogrom against Jews in Nazi Germany on the 9th-10th of November 1938. Rioters destroyed 267 synagogues and more than 7,000 Jewish businesses were destroyed or damaged. A critical moment that preluded the Holocaust, 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
The campaign #LetThereBeLight was launched by March of the Living, an annual educational program that brings people from around the world to Poland to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, the largest World War Two concentration camp complex. The campaign highlights that today, places of worship are still under attack around the world.
“Together we will unite the world against antisemitism, racism, intolerance, and hatred by shining light over the darkness of hate,” says the campaign page.
Rise in attacks
Recent years have seen a rise in anti-Semitic hate and attacks on Jewish places of worship. On 2 November 2020, at least four people were killed and 22 others injured in a shooting at a synagogue in central Vienna. Last year, on 9 October 2019, a gunman opened fire in a synagogue during a morning prayer service for Yom Kippur in Halle, east Germany. Two people were killed. The defendant, neo-Nazi Stephan Balliet went on trial in July 2020.
In September 2020, 29 German police officers were suspended for sharing anti-Semitic images, such as Adolf Hitler and depictions of refugees in gas chambers on their phones. The officers of North Rhine-Westphalia also used far-right chatrooms, sharing swastikas and other Nazi symbols. Some of the officers face charges for spreading Nazi propaganda.
These instances follow a worldwide trend of rising far-right groups becoming more prominent, with more people subscribing to their messages of White nationalism and hate for minority religious groups. A report by the Southern Poverty Law Centre found that White nationalsit hate groups in the US increased 55% throughout President Trump’s tenure. There were 155 of such groups counted.
Some countries have taken measures to combat anti-Semitism and the rise of neo-Nazi propaganda. In February 2019, Australia’s Federal Ministry of the Interior extended a list of banned political symbols to include two Ustasha symbols. The symbols are remnant of the 1941-1945 Nazi-style Ustasha regime in Croatia. Austrian members of the European Parliament also requested a ban of symbols across Europe of World War Two pro-fascist regimes.
Message from the UN
In marking the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for a global fight on two fronts: one against the coronavirus pandemic and the other against “the poison” of anti-Semitism and hatred of Muslims, refugees and many others. He highlighted a “steady stream of prejudice” in recent months from anti-Semitic assaults, attacks and vandalism of synagogues and Holocaust denial.
“It is within our power to emerge from the pandemic with stronger communities, and more cohesive societies, by addressing the inequalities and injustices that have been exposed so starkly”, he said.
The rise of hate crimes has also come amongst a spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, which he said has “gained alarming ground”. Guterres urged solidarity within and among countries, and for individuals to speak out even when they are not in the firing line. The right to practice religioun is one that must be protected, as part of the UN Declaration of Human Rights established in the aftermath of the Holocaust.
March of the Living President, Phyllis Greenberg Heiderman and March of the Living World Chair, Dr. Shmuel Rosenman also echoed the same message. “”We must use our voices to tell the world that attacks on Jews and non-Jews alike, whether on the basis of religion, race, color or creed are inexcusable,” they said, “in the days when synagogues and holy places for various religions are attacked on a regular basis all over the world, it is our duty to speak out loudly and clearly.”