by tskzThe 86th anniversary of the so-called Kristallnacht is now behind us. On the night of 9-10 November 1938, the Nazi authorities in Germany and annexed Austria carried out an organised pogrom against the Jewish community. For many years, members of our local branches gather together on this occasion to commemorate the victims of those tragic events.
WROCŁAW
On 8 November, the domicile of TSKŻ Wrocław became the venue of acting performances of Grzegorz Łukawski from Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Cracow, and the Ludowy Theatre in Cracow, Marta Bizoń, who, together with accompanying classical musicians, presented the most beautiful Jewish songs to the audience.
Meanwhile, on 9 November, the Jewish Religious Community of Wrocław, in co-operation with TSKŻ, hosted the official celebrations of the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht.
- At 5:00 PM, Łukasz Zemła presented his lecture “Kristallnacht in the Diaries of History’s Witnesses” at the White Stork Synagogue
- At 6:00 PM, the March of Remembrance set off at the Synagogue. The route came to an end at the Synagogue Monument at 2A Łąkowa Str. At the Monument, the participants laid flowers and lit candles.
- At 7:00 PM, an illumination commemorating the victims of the tragic events of 86 years ago was launched at the Synagogue Monument.
CRACOW
On 12 November, TSKŻ Cracow in cooperation with the Centre for Jewish Culture hosted a Jewish music concert in memory of the victims of Kristallnacht. At the Centre’s domicile in Cracow, at 17 Meiselsa Str., the actors from the Esther Rachel and Ida Kamińska Jewish Theatre in Warsaw gave their performance.
SZCZECIN
On 8 November, in the Pomeranian Library in Szczecin, a gala ceremony was held to mark the publication of the Polish-language translation of a book by Hans-Gerd Warmann “Mr. Abrahamson, the Synagogue is on Fire!” The agenda of the event included a meeting with Bogdan Twardochleb, an editor, and Tomasz Ślepowroński, an author of a historical analysis. Following the presentation of the book, the guests listened to a concert titled “Cristal Blaze” by Olisound Music. Meanwhile, on 9 November, members of TSKŻ Szczecin gathered together at a mural depicting a synagogue which was burnt down in 1938 to lay flowers and light candles, as they do every year.
WARSAW
On 10 November, TSKŻ Warsaw in cooperation with the Warsaw Ghetto Museum, presented a deeply moving programme of poetry and music devoted to the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht. Artists from the Jewish Theatre of Warsaw appeared on stage at the Babel Club. On Sunday afternoon, Izabella Rzeszowska, accompanied by Teresa Wronska, performed the most beautiful Yiddish, Hebrew and Polish songs. Etel Szyc and Piotr Sierecki recited poems collected in “Anthology of Jewish Poetry” and a publication entitled “Władysław Szlengel. The Unknown Poet”.
WAŁBRZYCH
On the night of 9-10 November, chunks of glass from Jewish storefronts and Jewish home windows were sprinkled across Germany. In Wałbrzych, as in many other cities, houses of worship were burnt down. These events were remembered by Sabina Chrapek, Chair of TSKŻ Wałbrzych, who, on the anniversary of these tragic events, laid flowers and lit candles at the site of the former synagogue.
DZIERŻONIÓW
On 9 November, representatives of our branch in Dzierżoniów laid flowers and lit candles at the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes at the local synagogue. On the same day, Anna Grużlewska, a historian, delivered her lecture titled: “Germany’s Path to the 1938 Pogrom” at our local club.
KATOWICE
On 8 November in Bytom and on 10 November in Katowice, the local TSKŻ branch co-hosted an event intended to commemorate Kristallnacht and the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism. Members of TSKŻ and representatives of the Municipality of Bytom i.e. Town Secretary Mirosław Luks, Head of Cultural Department and Krystyna Jankowiak-Markwicka, laid flowers and paid tribute at the site of the demolished synagogue.
The members of the local branch in Katowice, along with representatives of the local government and the Church, laid wreaths of flowers and burning candles. After the tribute was paid, the participants proceeded to the TSKŻ club at Al. Korfantego, to continue the celebration. At the club, Paweł Grabiec, the Chair of the Branch greeted the guests and talked about the causes and consequences of Kristallnacht. This was followed by a concert by Danuta Morel, accompanied by Romuald Gwizdoń.
CZĘSTOCHOWA
On the occasion of the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, a lecture, talk and wreath-laying ceremony were held in Częstochowa. On 6 November, two lectures were delivered at the Club located at Katedralna Street. The first one titled “Kristallnacht in the Eyes of Częstochowa’s Jews” was delivered by Wiesław Paszkowski from the Documentation Centre for the History of Częstochowa, and the second one i.e. “Migrations of European Jews caused by the events of Kristallnacht” was presented by Izabela Sobańska-Klekowska, Chair of TSKŻ Częstochowa. Meanwhile, on 9 November, TSKŻ’s members and supporters laid flowers at Kawia Str., where the mass graves of the Kristallnacht victims are located.
The commemoration of the 86th Anniversary of Kristallnacht was carried out with the help of a grant from the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration.
