In commemoration of the 77th anniversary of Kristallnacht, RKYHS students, led by Rabbi Dr. Sacha Pecaric, organized and implemented a powerful and informative program that allowed students to truly understand the implications of Kristallnacht on the Jews of Germany, and those in Europe as a whole.

After watching a video that described pre-Kristallnacht Germany, the students were taken on virtual tours of Germany’s greatest synagogues, after which they were shown photos of their destruction along with images expressing the full extent of the devastation that was carried out. Perhaps most importantly, the students understood that Kristallnacht was not just one evening of violence—it marked the onset of the increasing persecutions that followed, along with a drastic change in the way Germany viewed its Jews.

The conclusion of the program offered a background for the entire high school’s trip to see The Diary of Anne Frank at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey the following day.  The students were taken on a virtual tour of the secret annex in which the Frank family lived prior to their capture. Students read small excerpts from Anne’s diary, and reflected on her ability to remain positive despite the challenging circumstances in which she lived.

RKYHS believes strongly that exposing its students to these events and personalities is essential to ensuring that this generation of Jewish youth remains connected to the history of the Jewish people and committed to its future.

By Hal Levy