by tskzThis year marked the 85th anniversary of the tragic events that occurred during the so-called Kristallnacht. During such time of terror, more than 200 synagogues were burnt down, Jewish cemeteries were vandalised, store fronts and house windows were smashed. Just overnight, ca. ninety Jews were killed, and several thousand of them were deported to concentration camps. For many years, members of TSKZ branches have been gathering regularly to commemorate the victims of these tragic events. This year was no different.
WARSAW: On 12 November, Kaja Mianowska and Gang Tango (i.e. Grzegorz Lalek – violin, Miroslaw Feldgebel – grand piano, Piotr Kopietz – accordion) performed a Jewish song concert. During the show, one could hear such songs as “Majn sztetele Belz”, “Kinder Jorn” and “Farewell Cracow”. A lecture on the origins and events of Kristallnacht was delivered by TSKZ Board Member, Jacek Młynarski.
WAŁBRZYCH: On November 9, a ceremony was held in Walbrzych to commemorate the victims of the massacre that took place during Kristallnacht. On that day, Sabina Chrapek, Head of the local TSKŻ Branch, laid a wreath of flowers at the site where the synagogue that was burned down in 1938 once stood.
KATOWICE: On the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Piotr Grabiec, Head of TSKŻ Katowice, lit candles and laid flowers by the monument commemorating the devastated synagogue in Bytom. On 12 November, an Israeli artist, Danuta Morel, performed within the premises of TSKŻ Katowice. The account of tragic events of the night of November 9-10, 1938 was covered by Franciszek Galiński.
WROCŁAW: On 9 November, a concert in memory of the victims of the tragic events that occurred 85 years ago was presented at the domicile of TSKZ Wrocław. The stage was filled with outstanding artists, such as Agnieszka Wilczewska (vocals – soprano) and Natalia Cichoń (piano).After the performance, which fostered a mood of general pensiveness, the attendees took part in the March of Remembrance held by the Jewish Community in Wroclaw.
SZCZECIN: On 9 November, representatives of TSKŻ Szczecin laid flowers and lit symbolic candles in the site where a synagogue, which was vandalised 85 years ago, used to be located. On 18 November, in the Pomeranian Library in Szczecin, an event was held, upon TSKŻ’s initiative, in order to commemorate the 85th anniversary of the occurrences which went down in history under the name of Kristallnacht. On that day, all participants of the event had an opportunity to listen to a lecture titled “Mr. Abrahamson, the synagogue is on fire” by Bogdan Twardochleb, who presented a detailed account of the events of the massacre from the point of view of Szczecin Jews. The celebratory event culminated with a concert by Danuta Stankiewicz.
The commemoration of the 85th Anniversary of Kristallnacht was carried out with the help of a grant from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration
