2025 Kristallnacht Commemoration

Kristallnacht - The Night of Broken Glass - marked the onset of the Holocaust. On November 9-10, 1938, Nazi forces set fire to or destroyed over 200 synagogues, vandalised 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, arrested 30,000 Jews, and murdered 91 Jews across Germany, Austria and the Sudetenland.

In light of the terror attacks of October 7, 2023 and the global rise in antisemitism -  including the burning of synagogues in Australia - it is more important than ever for us to come together in remembrance. We invite you to join us for this year's communal Kristallnacht commemoration, which will take place on Sunday 9 November at 5.30pm, at a location in Sydney's eastern suburbs. 

This year's theme will be "From Kristallnacht to Kindertransport". 

Our keynote speaker is  Emile Sherman, winner of the Best Picture Oscar for "The King's Speech" and nominee for "Lion". Emile is Producer of the film "One Life",  a biographical drama based on the true story of British humanitarian Sir Nicholas Winton, and his rescue of 669 children on the Kindertransport. Emile, a valued member of our community will be in conversation with moderator Michaela Kalowski.

The program will feature remarkable stories of community members rescued on the Kindertransport, with several Australian-based Kinder, or their descendants, lighting memorial candles. Among them, Helen Geedrick will share her father's experience and her own emotional meeting with the person who saved his life. 

Musical performances will be led by Ben Adler and Paul Khodor, accompanied by Ezry Israel and a combined primary school children's choir - a moving experience not to be missed!

Additionally, we will pay tribute to Yvonne Engelman OAM z"l, recognising her decades of dedication to preserving the memory and experiences of Holocaust Survivors in our community.