Together, we will remember Kristallnacht as both the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end of the Holocaust, when on November 9 and 10, 1938, Jewish homes, places of business and synagogues were ransacked in Germany, Austria, Prussia and Czechoslovakia.
We will honor the survivors who bore witness to these tragic events, their descendants who continue to share their stories and uphold their legacy, and the Torah scrolls rescued from Czechoslovakia that also bore witness to the atrocities. This occasion is a profound reminder of the importance of remembrance and the enduring impact of history.
Among the group of 1,564 scrolls which were collected by the Jewish Community in Prague during the Nazi occupation and are part of the UK Memorial Scrolls Trust, now celebrating its 60th Anniversary, 98 scrolls are being safeguarded in Florida in various Jewish Museums, Centers and Synagogues, many of which will be participating and on view during this once-in-a lifetime event.
These Torah scrolls represent the vibrant cultural and religious life of Czech Jewry that once existed. These sacred objects survived when 85% of Czech Jews were murdered in the Shoah. After being collected, stored, moved and eventually sent to London, these scrolls are eyewitnesses to the atrocities of the Holocaust and the tangible links from past generations to today. We honor the Jews killed in the Holocaust and celebrate the continuity of Jewish life today.