Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, has issued the following statement to mark the 82nd anniversary of Kristallnacht:
“This week, we come together with people in many countries to mark the 82nd anniversary of the government ordered pogroms of Kristallnacht – “the Night of Broken Glass.
We sombrely remember this dark chapter in history which marked the beginning of the Holocaust and which stands as an enduring example of how antisemitism can quickly spread and infect ordinary individuals, and turn into genocide.
We grieve for lost lives and vow to do everything in our power to prevent such monstrous episodes from ever being unleashed against any group.
We also shed a tear not only for the horrific decimation of Jewish businesses, homes and synagogues, and the slaying of innocents, but also for the destruction of a vibrant and culturally rich community, and the burning of books and holy objects.
Following Kristallnacht, the mass deportation to concentration camps of Jews, Roma, LGBTI individuals, people with disabilities, and political prisoners began.
This Nazi pogrom, and the devastation that occurred over two days, reminds us of the importance of combatting all manifestations of intolerance and discrimination, and that this is a good time to recommit to the elimination of the disease of Jewish-bigotry, and to all forms of prejudice and persecution wherever they persist.
One of the key lesson to be drawn from this barbaric event is to never be silent, always be vigilant and to always speak up against antisemitism, Holocaust denial, extremism and xenophobia
As the late Elie Wiesel said, “Killers have always more power than the victims. But we too have power, the power of our conscience.” Today, we pledge to do the right thing by confronting injustice, mass atrocities and ethnic cleansing directed at vulnerable and powerless minorities with the firm resolve of ‘Never Again’.”