Kristallnacht Commemoration at Congregation Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) in Scotch Plains will commemorate the anniversary of Kristallnacht on Friday evening, November 7, at 7:30 p.m. This night of remembrance will feature presentations by Cantor Jacob Greenberg and Jack Sherman, who are descendants of Holocaust survivors. The program will take place during CBI’s Friday night Shabbat services, and is free and open to the community. An Oneg Shabbat dessert reception will follow.

“With increased incidents in antisemitism, it is more important than ever to learn about the Holocaust and hear stories of survivors,” said Rita Geller, who co-chairs the synagogue’s Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group, sponsor of the program, along with Faye Bodenstein and Claire Bornstein.

Kristallnacht, which translates as “crystal night” in German, is also called the "Night of Broken Glass." Kristallnacht refers to the violent attacks that the Nazis waged against Jews on November 9 and 10, 1938 throughout Germany, Austria, and parts of occupied Czechoslovakia. The name Kristallnacht comes from the broken glass that littered the streets after Jewish homes, schools, synagogues, and stores were damaged and destroyed. With Jews beaten, killed and sent to concentration camps, Kristallnacht is often seen as the beginning of the Holocaust.

Jacob Greenberg is the Cantor at Congregation Beth Israel. He will describe how his grandmother, Ruth Goldschmidt, survived the Holocaust on her own by way of the Kindertransport, hiding in the orphanages and homes of allies, and outlasting the perilous conditions of Displaced Persons (DP) Camps.

Jack Sherman, of Westfield, is a senior at The Pingry School and a member of CBI. He will share his great-grandmother's story of survival during the Holocaust. Jack’s great-grandparents, Fay and Sol Sherman, were married and lived in Poland before World War II. They had a son, Moshe, who did not survive the Holocaust. Fay and Sol both survived concentration camps (Fay was primarily in Auschwitz and Sol in Dachau) and were reunited after the war.

“I felt motivated to begin sharing my great-grandmother's story because of the importance of keeping stories alive,” said Jack Sherman. “As someone who loves history, I know how crucial it is for history to never be forgotten through the power of firsthand stories. With this, I decided to become a spokesperson for my great-grandmother, ensuring her legacy lives on.”

The program is sponsored by the synagogue’s Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group. This support group, which was created at CBI, also includes participants from other area synagogues and the community. Members of the group volunteer at local schools to present their families’ Holocaust experiences to students. They also plan events, such as the Kristallnacht Remembrance, to educate the public about the Holocaust and to honor and remember those who suffered and perished.

The Kristallnacht commemoration will take place at Congregation Beth Israel, located at 18 Shalom Way, Scotch Plains, NJ (corner of Martine Avenue). For additional information, contact the synagogue office at (908) 889-1830.