#Kristallnacht ‎

[roamwithahungryheart]

Today marks the 85th anniversary of the kristallnacht.

We have spent decades saying 'never again', hoping for 'never again', and yet as we mark this day, history is repeating itself.

The broken glass from the windows of vandalised shops litters the streets. Crudely drawn stars of David and swastikas adorn the doors of synagogues and homes in once quiet and peaceful neighborhoods. Children are going to school without their blazers and kippahs. Families are removing menorahs from their windows on shabbat.

Today, there are communities afraid to mourn, lest they be harassed or attacked or mocked for simply expressing grief.

This is not okay. We are not okay.

85 years and not much has changed. It's truly heartbreaking.

[girlactionfigure]

[toon4thought]

Reminder that "The Ghost and Molly McGee" episode "Festival of Lights" has quite possibly the best Hanukkah representation I've seen in animation.

[matan4il]

Today marks 100 years since Hitler's first attempt to take over Germany by force, and 85 years since Kristallnacht, the Nazi-orchestrated pogrom that really forced Jews to realize how great the danger posed to them in Europe was.

A few years ago, I made a post with some of the updated data from research conducted in recent years, but this year, after the massacre of Oct 7, most of what I wrote doesn't feel relevant in the same way.

I'm thinking of this...

Up until that pogrom, it was a negligible Jewish minority that realized they HAD to get out, if they wanted to survive. Afterwards, as ALL Jews tried to flee, the world basically closed its doors to the Jewish refugees. Of those who got out in time, some found refuge in Israel, those who were lucky enough not to be blocked by the British, who were ruling this land at the time.

I've researched Jewish families' stories, and how they were torn apart. One youngster gets it and leaves in time. His elderly parents don't know how to start over in a different place, when being German was so embedded in their identity. They end up taking their own lives. These two single sisters make it to Israel. Their nephew writes them in Hebrew that he had dreamed at night of the whole family joining them in the Jewish homeland. He and his parents are murdered in shooting pits in Riga. A Zionist boyfriend makes it out. His girlfriend, trapped in the Lodz Ghetto, thinks back to his stories about Yossef Trumpeldor, a Jewish man who died in northern Israel in 1920, defending his community from Arab attackers, and whose last words were, "It's good to die for our country." She cries. "That's what I wanted, to die with dignity while fighting, not like this, like a human rag." She survives and joins him in Israel. To some people, she's an evil colonizer, whose rape and murder they are capable of justifying. They do so while quoting Elie Wiesel's words, about the importance of speaking up, because silence only never helps the oppressed. They're co-opting Wiesel's words, a Holocaust survivor himself, who was a Zionist, and extremely critical of Hamas.

Story after story, it's all the same. In families or communities that were split, those who got to Israel survived. For those who remained or tried a different escape route, most didn't make it (like Anne Frank's family, who fled Germany, tried to make it to the US or Cuba, were turned away repeatedly, and ended up going into hiding in the Netherlands... with only Anne's father surviving).

I am thinking about how, if there had been a State of Israel, a safe haven for Jews, that would automatically take them in when they needed to get away from the Nazis, we estimate that at least a million and a half Jews would have been saved.

I am thinking about how, there would have been a Jewish state to bomb the gas chambers in Auschwitz and save at least half a million Jews from them, instead of uselessly begging the allied leaders to.

I am thinking about how, if the allied leaders would have taken into account the political profit from cultivating an alliance with the Jewish state, that could have provided the political motivation to their begging Jewish citizens a different answer, and they would have actually done something to save at least some of the Jews.

I am thinking about how, for 80 years or so, the world has been chanting, "Never again," but when Hamas terrorists massacred the biggest number of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust, too many couldn't even condemn it. I'm thinking about how, when some justify the massacre of Israeli Jews, including Holocaust survivors and their families, most people don't tell them off. When Israel fights back to protect the rest of its population, as it swore it would (yes, "Never again" also means the right to self defense), the world condemns it, vilifying the Jews again, by depicting Israel's response as nothing but blood lust and a desire for revenge. I'm thinking... this is why we have to have Israel. So we never again are dependent on the silent world to defend our right to live. So that implementing "Never again" is never a question of whether non-Jews did more than recite the words emptily.

The massacre that took place on Oct 7 was horrific. But we saw the repetitive nature, the scale, the wide geographical spread, and the industrial nature of countless massacres that happened when there was no Israel to respond, and when no one was defending the Jews.

From 1851 (when Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Zalman Zoref was murdered on his way to synagogue in Jerusalem) to this day, less Jews died in the Arab-Israeli conflict than during just two days in the Nazi shooting pit of Baby Yar, on Sep 29 and 30, 1941. In Israel, the memorial days for the Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and for the people we lost in the Israeli-Arab conflict, are observed one week apart. The way that many here put here, the latter is to remember the price of having a state, and the former is to remember the price of not having one.

You don't have to agree with this POV. But when you look at the poisonous atmosphere cultivated online, including on Tumblr, where the Hamas massacre has been justified, or denied, or simply didn't merit a reaction, when you see how the global rise in antisemitism goes without much discussion, when you see people justifying violence towards Jews, based on a false narrative that erases entire chunks of Jewish history, at least understand where people who embrace this POV come from.

(for all of my updates and ask replies regarding Israel, click here)

[beardedmrbean]

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors made their way through the streets of Philadelphia Sunday night as they demanded a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. What they did outside of a Jewish restaurant drew harsh criticism from local and federal leaders.

The White House on Monday joined Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in calling what happened in Center City "antisemitic" and "completely unjustifiable." Shapiro on Sunday night called it a "blatant act of antisemitism."

The pro-Palestinian protestors gathered in Rittenhouse Square and marched through the area and University City, including the University of Pennsylvania campus.

In a Facebook post, the Philadelphia Free Palestine Coalition had urged supporters to "flood the streets" Sunday night.

Video posted on social media showed demonstrators also made their way to Samson Street, where they gathered outside the Jewish restaurant Goldie, one of several restaurants in the city owned by Philadelphia-based Israeli chef Michael Solomonov.

The group of protestors is accused of shouting antisemitic remarks, and stickers with pro-Palestinian slogans were reportedly left on the doors, though when CBS Philadelphia checked back early Monday morning they had been removed.

Video of the crowd outside Goldie was posted on social media around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Later that night, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the clip, writing, "Tonight in Philly, we saw a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest. A restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history."

Shapiro said in another post that he reached out to Solomonov and the team at Goldie to share his support.

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement it's "completely unjustifiable to target restaurants that serve Israeli food over disagreements with Israeli policy."

Bates continued, "This behavior reveals the kind of cruel and senseless double standard that is a calling card of antisemitism. President Biden has fought against the evil of antisemitism his entire life, including by launching the first national strategy to counter this hate in American history. He will always stand up firmly against these kinds of undignified actions."

Congressmember Brendan Boyle also weighed in Sunday night, writing, "I can't believe I even have to say this, but targeting businesses simply because they're Jewish owned is despicable. Philadelphia stands against this story of harassment and hate."

Solomonov owns multiple restaurants in the city under the banner CookNSolo, including Zahav, Laser Wolf and K'Far Cafe. Following the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, Solomonov announced he would donate 100% of all sales to Friends of United Hatzalah, a nonprofit emergency medical service.

CBS Philadelphia has reached out to the group that organized Sunday night's rally but has yet to hear back.

[applesaucesupremacy]

ive been thinking a lot recently about how the last time i visited frankfurt i went to the jewish museum and was reading all about the history of jewish frankfurt. there was a whole story there about two rabbis (reform and orthodox) who fought constantly about everything imaginable to do with doctrine and synagogue building and so on and so forth..... and then both synagogues were burned down together in 1938.

it doesn't matter what divides us. something always will. we fight amongst ourselves all the time, we're famous for it! but it doesn't matter, in the end. both synagogues burn the same.

[eretzyisrael]

by Phyllis Chesler

The bands that rove our streets are hunting Jews, pogrom-style, but they are also hoping to make the evening news. The surging mobs are wearing masks and sporting Palestinian style keffiyehs. They are knowingly imitating Hamas terrorists, as they disrupt traffic on bridges, deface libraries, glue themselves to the ground during an American holiday parade; mob or “flood” our major train stations; occupy American landmark sites; rally in the outer boroughs, jump on buses, unfurl Palestinian flags; deface subway seats, buses, and storefronts with anti-Jewish graffiti; and attack Jewish-American students and teachers in schools.

Just last night, these pro-Palestinian “swarmers” tried to derail the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. Although one jihadist carried a Nazi swastika, the mob cursed the police as “f–king Nazis.”

None of these protests in America have called for the return of the Israeli hostages– or condemned the rape of Israeli girls and women on October 7.

These American jihadists appear to be civilians– just like Hamas terrorists. They wear no official military uniforms. Like Hamas, they disappear into the shadows.

These agitators are very much like the Chinese Communist Young Guards, Hitler’s brown shirts, African Islamist paramilitary gangs, the swarms of violent Black Lives Matter and American Marxist (antifa) demonstrators.

Across America, today’s masked marchers have attacked small businesses, houses of worship, disrupted mass transportation, and attacked visible or suspected Jews.They have defaced and occupied public spaces and made everyone, not only Jews, feel endangered in their own cities.

[hammill-goes-fogwalking]

History post!! Today's an important day in Germany as you can see

9. November 1918 - downfall of the German Empire beginning of the Weimar Republic

9. November 1923 - Munich Putsch/Hitlerputsch

9. November 1938 - Kristallnacht/Reichsprogromnacht

9. November 1989 - Fall of the Berlin wall

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Kristallnacht: On November 9–10, 1938, Nazi leaders unleashed a series of pogroms against the Jewish population in Germany and recently incorporated territories. This event came to be called Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass) because of the shattered glass that littered the streets after the vandalism and destruction of Jewish-owned businesses, synagogues, and homes.

[ Source: CNN ]

[andisupreme]

"Pro-Palestine" protests have become so synonymous with hatred and violence towards Jewish people of all sorts that I straight up instinctively do not trust anyone rallying for Palestine anymore. That is how bad it has gotten. This is how badly a legitimate cause has been co-opted by a bunch of violent antisemites and their messaging and radicalism. "Free Palestine" and Palestinian flags in bios have become tied to some of the worst, murderous, genocidal takes I have ever seen from people who call themselves supposed activists.

Going out on a limb here and giving SOME of these people the benefit of the doubt, let's say at least a few of these people actually care about Palestinians. (I don't believe they do, I think they're in it for the excuse to kick the shit out of some Jews, but let's entertain the hypothetical for a second.) Does ANYONE pulling this shit realize how much air they're sucking out of the room by making a rising tide of international crisis worse? Do they care that their actions are drawing eyes away from the Middle East because people everywhere are looking around horrified by how acceptable it has become to mug your local Jewish population and literally scream slurs in their faces?

Hell, a 69 year old Jewish man DIED after he was attacked at a Pro-Palestine protest.

This isn't activism. When I can't trust people who used to be mutuals anymore because in their trying to "spread awareness" (about a cause that should have been a worthy one) they're reblogging posts one or two steps removed from sources that are actively calling for the genocide of an entire people across the globe, we're in a really dark place. I don't know how to bring people back from it.

Edit: Link to the tweet above btw. So you can read the campus letter for yourself.

[girlactionfigure]

[astrabear]

Anniversary of Kristallnacht and it got me thinking -

When I was a kid, maybe 11 or 12, I was walking to the Jewish Community Center, crossing the bayou on the pedestrian bridge, and someone had painted swastikas and antisemitic insults in huge letters all down the concrete embankment across from the JCC (and similar stuff on the sidewalk at the end of the bridge.)

Two years ago, someone set fire to the synagogue I sometimes go to. It looked at first like minor external damage but turned out to need over $200k to repair everything and the sanctuary wasn't usable until very recently.

The point is not "oh poor me" or "so scary to be Jewish," but rather that I was well into adulthood before I ever thought, "huh, most people in the US probably live their whole lives without ever worrying that their communities' most precious places will be threatened or defaced." Like, Black folks get it, there's been a lot of racist violence centered on Black churches. Muslims, for sure. But your average white Christian, is it even on their radar? It's like growing up somewhere with earthquakes, you don't live in fear or anything but you know it's a question of when rather than if and you just hope that it won't ever be too destructive. And some people live their whole lives without ever experiencing or even considering earthquakes at all.

One of my friends was really active this past legislative session trying to stop the various anti-trans bills from being passed. She has since moved out of Texas. It was a very frightening experience for her, being directly confronted with the reality that there are people who'd like to see her dead. Now, I have never experienced the level of threat that trans folks are dealing with here. But I was a bit startled by her reaction, and I realized that until a few years ago she saw herself and was seen by others as a cis white man from a Protestant mid-west family so "people want me dead" wasn't something she had much experience with. And I can't remember ever not knowing that.

Again, not looking for sympathy, it's not something that causes me any distress most of the time. It's just weird sometimes to think that it's not universal, that some people don't grow up with that as part of the background noise of their lives.

[starryseas-tardisdreams]

Today, as Israel continues to commit genocide against Palestinians, is the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht.

On Nov 9th-10th 1938, Nazis (in mostly Germany and Austria), took the first large group of people to concentration camps - 30,000 Jewish men. People were killed. Jewish torahs and literature were burned. Things were already segregated by that point, separate Jewish schools, businesses, hospitals, etc. And all the Jewish buildings were burned down.

Today we would typically hold memorials and say “never again”. But we cannot in good conscience say “never again” when it has happening again in multiple places. Genocide is happening in our names right now in Palestine. If you want to honor Kristallnacht today, show up for Palestine. Today in the US, can’t speak for elsewhere, we are having a National day of action for Palestine. People will be walking out of work and school and holding protests around 3pm. The most effective protest you can have is targeting the offices and shipments of weapon manufacturers. Go out there. Honor our ancestors. Actually mean it when we say “never again”. Nothing is more critical right now than standing up for Palestine.

[ignorethisatyourperil]

[eretzyisrael]

KRISTALLNACHT: The Night of Broken Glass, November 9 - 10, 1938.

85 years ago today was the night the Nazis torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools and businesses.

We are still here. 

Humans of Judaism