November 9: A Day of Remembrance, Reflection, and Responsibility

Today, November 9, marks two moments that changed modern history. They happened 51 years apart, yet together they teach us something about the choices societies make and the responsibility we share for what comes next.

On November 9, 1938, Nazi Germany unleashed Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass. Across Germany and Austria, mobs attacked and burned Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues. Jewish men were beaten, and thousands were sent to concentration camps. Countless families learned, in a single night, that their own country had turned against them.

Yet Kristallnacht did not happen overnight; it followed years of economic hardship, extreme nationalism, conspiracy theories, and scapegoating that made antisemitism seem normal. Long before the windows were shattered, Jewish citizens had been stripped of their rights, shut out of public life, and painted as enemies of their own nation. Too many people stayed silent or told themselves it was not their concern.

On the same date in 1989, the Berlin Wall opened. For 28 years, it had divided families and an entire city. Its opening showed the world that division can be overcome and freedom restored.

These anniversaries are not equal in their history or their human cost. Still, sharing a date invites reflection. One shows us what happens when hatred becomes acceptable; the other shows us that walls, even ones that seem permanent, can come down when people find the courage to challenge them.

Kristallnacht teaches us that we must not wait for hatred to turn violent before recognizing its significance. Bigotry is never excusable, even when directed at someone whose views we oppose. Every person's dignity and safety must be protected, regardless of their politics, faith, or place of origin.

At The J, we believe community is built through connection. We are here to create a place where people belong, where our children learn respect, and where people of different backgrounds come together around shared values. That work has never mattered more.

We cannot control every force shaping our society, but we can shape the community we build together. We can stand against antisemitism and every form of hatred. We can show respect even when we disagree, and we can bring people together rather than let them retreat behind the divisions that define so much of our world.

Remembrance carries responsibility. We must never accept hatred as normal, and we must never stop working toward a world where the walls between us come down.

That is the work of the J, and it is a responsibility we all share.

Todd