Kristallnacht Commemoration at Congregation Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht on Friday evening, November 16, at 7:30 p.m. This night of remembrance will feature a presentation by Miriam Gershwin, who will share her personal experiences as a Holocaust survivor and answer questions from attendees. The program, which will take place during Congregation Beth Israel’s Friday night Shabbat services, is open to the community and is suitable for children. An Oneg Shabbat dessert reception will follow.

For guest speaker Miriam Gershwin, Kristallnacht changed her life forever; she had to leave school and additional restrictions were imposed on her and her family. Miriam was born in Memel. She was only a teenager when her family was forced to move to the Kovno Ghetto. From there, she was taken to the Stutthof Concentration Camp, a Nazi concentration camp in Poland. Miriam was fortunate to survive and eventually emigrate to the United States. She ultimately raised her family in Springfield, NJ.

The memorial program is sponsored by the synagogue’s Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group. This support group, which was created at Congregation Beth Israel, also includes participants from area synagogues.