86 Years Later

Kristallnacht owes its name to the shards of shattered glass from broken windows that lined German streets on November 9-10 in 1938. Throughout the night, thousands of Jewish owned businesses, homes, and synagogues were ransacked and destroyed in a coordinated series of attacks throughout Germany. This was the first widespread use of massive force against Jews by the Nazi regime and figures as an essential turning point in Nazi Germany.

Despite the highly prominent and flagrant display of violence, Kristallnacht was widely ignored by the non-Jewish community. Eighty-six years after learning about the brutal acts of Kristallnacht, one should see the connections between the past and the present, where above the surface acts of antisemitism, hate speech and assaults against Jews have increased alarmingly since October 7, 2023.

Today, we see a sharp rise in antisemitism across the globe and limited public outcry. Last night, 18 Jewish local organizations joined the Federation’s Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio and the Jewish Community Relations Council in a community commemoration.

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As noted by the stories shared throughout the evening, today many Jews are concerned about displaying their Jewish identity in the US and across Europe, where antisemitism never left the continent. This year, the San Antonio Jewish community was not alone.  State Sen. Jose Menendez, Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody and Mayor Ron Nirenberg spoke with the community making historical references to Kristallnacht and denouncing the wave of antisemitism and hate today.

“Never again” remains a powerful and unwavering commitment. We can be confident that there will not be another Holocaust, as we work together to build a future grounded in understanding, empathy, and respect for all people.

Kristallnacht offers an important lesson for both Jews and non-Jews. Its significance goes beyond preventing another Holocaust—it calls us to stand against a different tragedy: the traumatization of Jews, forced to choose between abandoning their identity or living in fear. By remembering and understanding this dark chapter, we can foster a future rooted in solidarity, respect, and the preservation of identity for all.

Randall Czarlinsky

Interim CEO, Jewish Federation of San Antonio