Interfaith Dialogue

NVHC Sanctuary, sponsored by NVHC and St. Thomas a Becket Catholic Church

Speakers: Nicole Rubloff, NVHC

                  Rev John Langa, S.J. Rector, Jesuit Community; Cardinal Bernardin Chair of Catholic Social Thought

Remembering Kristallnacht

November 9th is the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass (November 9, 1938). It was a watershed event in the Nazi action against the Jews entailing the destruction of synagogues, books, stores, and homes. The lack of outrage from the German people and the fialure of any nation to do much more than express condemnation made it clear that the Nazis would encounter little opposition to their program against Jews.

Kristallnacht was the exercise of political power for violent persecution against cicizens. The events of November 9-10, 1938 provided the Nazi government with an opportunity to remove Jews from German public life. Moreover, police throughout Germany were told to stand by and do nothing to interfere. Kristallnacht demonstrated the apathy that could pervade when the lives of a minority people were threatened and their livelihood destroyed.

In remembering Kristallnacht, we ask what the response to evil and violent persecution should be. What should be the response of individuals, or of civic and religious authorities and establishments. What happens when intolerance and persecution are allowed to go unchecked. Have we learned these lessons by taking effective action when such violence is perpetrated elsewhere in the world.