2026 Kristallnacht Commemoration

Kristallnacht, the "Night of Broken Glass", marked a devastating turning point in history and the beginning of the Holocaust. On the nights of 9-10 November 1938, Nazi forces destroyed or set fire to more than 200 synagogues, vandalised over 7,000 Jewish-owned businesses, arrested approximately 30,000 Jewish men, and murdered at least 91 Jews across Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland.

We invite you to join our community and friends for the 2026 Kristallnacht Commemoration, to be held on Monday 9 November at 6.30pm at a venue in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

This year’s theme, Keeping Memory Alive, will explore the many ways memory can be sustained and transmitted across generations, including through testimony, technology, theatre and music.

We are honoured to welcome Scientia Professor Henry Brodaty AO, 2026 Senior Australian of the Year, as our keynote speaker. A world-renowned researcher in ageing, memory and dementia, Professor Brodaty has devoted significant attention to the experiences of Holocaust Survivors and their families. As the son of Holocaust Survivors, he brings both professional expertise and personal insight to this important conversation about memory, remembrance, and legacy.

We are incredibly honoured to hear live testimony from Edel Fischer, 98-year-old survivor of the Kristallnacht pogrom, who will share her and her husband’s experiences in Germany and Austria.

The evening will also feature Anton Berezin, who recently portrayed Eddie Jaku in the acclaimed one-man theatrical production The Happiest Man on Earth. Anton will reflect on the experience of bringing Eddie's remarkable story to life on stage, particularly when performing for audiences that included those who knew and loved him.

Musical performances will be led by Ben Adler, fresh from his acclaimed appearances in Fiddler on the Roof, together with Paul Khodor, accompanied by a primary school children's choir singing a beautiful piece of music composed by Sam Weiss, an award winning composer of film, television and grandson of Holocaust Survivors. Their contribution promises to be a moving and uplifting tribute to the enduring power of memory and hope.

We hope you will join us for this meaningful evening of remembrance, reflection, and community as we reaffirm our commitment to keeping memory alive for future generations.

For queries email events@nswjbd.org.au