Historians agree that Kristallnacht (November 9-10, 1938) was the onset of the Holocaust, shifting Nazi antisemitism from mere rhetoric to pure violence and murder, and setting in motion the death factories aimed at accomplishing “the final solution to the Jewish question.” Kristallnacht, or “The Night of Broken Glass,” was a boycott/pogrom of Jewish synagogues, schools, businesses, and homes, resulting in the death of almost 100 Jewish people and the destruction of 7,500 properties. It was extremely well-planned and anything but a reaction to the death of a German official in France. Historically, Kristallnacht was one somber night that, along with other bloody murders of Jews, led my people to come up with the post-Holocaust motto of “NEVER AGAIN.” Unfortunately, antisemitism didn’t cease to exist, but it slowly went from taboo to transformed to tolerated to trendy.
October 7, 2023, changed everything not only for Israeli-Arab relations but apparently for Jewish people around the globe. It has come to my attention that Jewish people are currently being identified across the world by different means. Why do we need to be identified? Let us not forget that identification was the first step that led to the Holocaust 80 years ago. Identification (Nuremberg Laws) was followed by separation (ghettos), which was followed by mass transit (cattle cars to the camps), eventually leading to annihilation (gas chambers.) So, when today we hear about Jewish people being identified and/or singled out, we should pay attention. Following are some of the recent events that should really raise a red flag.