The Cohen Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, in partnership with various community and faith-based organizations, held an evening of memorial and remembrance for victims of Kristallnacht (commonly known as “the night of broken glass”).
The remembrance event happened on Monday, Nov. 4 at the Keene High School auditorium, and is an annual memorial hosted by the Cohen Institute. This year’s event featured guest speakers, a community prayer, a candle lighting ceremony, music, a community pledge and readings of historical accounts of Kristallnacht.
Kristallnacht was a violent pogrom against Jewish people living under the Nazi regime that took place from Nov. 9-10 in 1938. Members of the SS, SA and Hitler Youth destroyed synagogues, Jewish cemeteries and Jewish-owned businesses, while local police and fire departments were ordered to not intervene unless fires threatened non-Jewish-owned property.
At least 91 Jewish people lost their lives during the riots, which became a pivotal historical moment in the history of The Holocaust.
Kati Preston, a survivor of Nazi persecution spoke to the audience. Preston was hidden from Nazis during the occupation of Hungary during The Holocaust and suffered the loss of 28 members of her family.
Preston, who speaks yearly at the Kristallnacht Remembrance in Keene, said sharing stories such as hers helps to preserve historical memory.
“I speak at schools, synagogues, churches and anywhere people are willing to hear me speak because it’s an important part of keeping the memory of The Holocaust alive,” said Preston.
Preston expressed gratitude toward the Keene community and asserted that she views herself as a survivor, as opposed to a victim.
“Despite everything that’s happened, I’m not going to be the sad old woman who complains. I’m a survivor, not a victim, and that’s the difference. I’m here, and I’m alive,” said Preston.
“I’m grateful for the welcoming and caring community here in Keene. Had something like The Holocaust happened in New Hampshire, Keene would be the first place I’d run to,” added Preston.
Dr. Sonja Kreibich, who serves as Consul-General of Germany to the New England States, spoke on the importance of embracing difficult history.
“When faced with painful history, it can be tempting to turn away from the harsh truth, or to generalize and hide the anguish behind numbers and statistics. This is a temptation that must be resisted, and one that I emphatically reject,” said Kreibich.
“It is because of events like Kristallnacht that we as Germans have a moral obligation to remember our history,” added Kreibich.
Kreibich explained the importance of pursuing efforts to heal.
“After the catastrophe of The Shoah [The Holocaust] and the complete breakdown of civility and civilization, Germany has embarked on a policy of remembrance. We have developed traditions and institutions to remember, [and] preserve historical buildings and artifacts,” said Kreibich.
“We have understood the importance of remembering and not running from the dark parts of a nation’s past, because that’s how you become clear-eyed about your nation’s future,” added Kreibich.
Senior Program Support Assistant for The Cohen Institute Michele Kuiawa highlighted the importance of inviting survivors to share their experiences.
“It’s critical to our mission and our work, because survivors tell their story, and we’re then able to hold that story and make sure it survives for generations,” said Kuiawa.
“When survivors share their stories with us, we’re able to carry those stories with us and preserve them so that the memory is never lost,” added Kuiawa.
Former KSC Professor of Environmental Studies Renate Gebauer attended the remembrance event. Gebauer is German and reflected on the importance of memory.
“Kristallnacht is also meaningful for descendants of perpetrators, and it’s important to make a commitment to remember what happened, so we can respect and protect each other. It’s very meaningful to see the community coming together to remember and honor the memory of what happened,” said Gebauer.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
