Faiths to mark Kristallnacht anniversary by illuminating places of worship

A global interfaith initiative to commemorate Kristallnacht next month is being organised by March of the Living, which arranges for people to walk the length of the railroad tracks from Auschwitz to Birkenau.

Those behind the idea have invited adherents of all religions to illuminate their homes, offices, institutions and places of worship as the world remembers the terrible events in Germany and Austria on 9 November 1938.

The two-day Nazi pogrom led to more than 1,400 synagogues and Jewish properties burned or smashed up, leading to the name ‘Kristallnacht’ – night of broken glass.

Organised under the #LetThereBeLight hashtag, this year’s virtual campaign to include faiths from around the world invites people to keep their lights on during the night of 9 November, as a symbol of solidarity in the battle against antisemitism.

“We must use our voices to tell the world that attacks on Jews and non-Jews alike, whether on the basis of religion, race, colour or creed, are inexcusable,” said March of the Living.

“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.”

Organisers said prayers and personal messages of hope submitted through the virtual campaign will be projected on the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.

John Farmer of the Eagleton Institute of Politics said Kristallnacht “marked a fundamental turning point in the historical movement from culturally-based antisemitism to state-sanctioned genocide”.

He said: “On 9 November 1938, the antisemitic propaganda to which the Jewish population had been subjected for years was transformed to open violence. Commemorating that dark day in human history is particularly significant today, as the hatred that has been rising over social media has begun erupting into violence.”