Kristallnacht Commemoration at Congregation Beth Israel With Talk by Son of Holocaust Survivors

Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) in Scotch Plains will commemorate the anniversary of Kristallnacht on Friday evening, November 6, at 7:30 p.m.This night of remembrance will feature a presentation by Fred Polak, whose parents met and fell in love in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. The program will take place during CBI’s Friday night Shabbat services and is free and open to the community.An Oneg Shabbat dessert reception will follow.

“With a rise in antisemitism around the world, it is important to learn about the Holocaust and hear stories of survivors,” said Rita Geller, who co-chairs the synagogue’s Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group, sponsor of the program, along with Faye Bodenstein and Claire Bornstein.

Kristallnacht, which translates as “crystal night” in German, is also called the "Night of Broken Glass." Kristallnacht refers to the violent attacks that the Nazis waged against Jews on November 9 and 10, 1938 throughout Germany, Austria, and parts of occupied Czechoslovakia. The name Kristallnacht comes from the broken glass that littered the streets after Jewish homes, schools, synagogues, and stores were damaged and destroyed.With Jews beaten, killed and sent to concentration camps, Kristallnacht is often seen as the beginning of the Holocaust.

Fred Polak, guest speaker, is the child of Dutch Holocaust survivors, Jaap (Jack) and Ina. His parents’ love story began in concentration camps (Westerborg and Bergen-Belsen) and endured for decades. The love letters they secretly exchanged strengthened them during a time of untold hardship. Jack’s letters, which miraculously survived, became the basis for a book and inspired the award-winning documentary, Steal a Pencil for Me.

Fred was among the first wave of Jewish children born to Holocaust survivors in Europe after World War II. The Polak family immigrated to the United States in 1950, settling in Tuckahoe, New York, where Fred and his brother and sister were raised.

Fred’s father, Jack, served as President of the Anne Frank Center, USA, and spoke to numerous civic, religious, school and youth groups about his experiences in the Holocaust.

“I have attempted to continue my father’s commitment to Holocaust education,” said Fred. “By presenting my parents’ unique story, I hope to convey the lessons that should be learned from the Holocaust.”

Fred Polak, an attorney, lives in Scotch Plains with his wife Carrie. They have two children and five grandchildren.

The Kristallnacht program is sponsored by the synagogue’s Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group.Initiated at CBI, this group also includes participants from other area synagogues and the community. Members volunteer at local schools to present their families’ Holocaust experiences to students. They also plan events, such as the Kristallnacht Remembrance, to educate the public about the Holocaust and to honor and remember those who suffered and perished.

The Kristallnacht commemoration will take place at Congregation Beth Israel, located at 18 Shalom Way, Scotch Plains, NJ (corner of Martine Avenue).

For questions or to request accommodations, call the synagogue office at (908) 889-1830 or email Lesley Lewkowicz, Executive Director, at lesleyl@cbisp.org . Additional information can be found on CBI's website at www.cbinj.org .