A Year on Antisemitism: What It Is and Why We Care
Join the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies; Hillel; AEPi and Diversity and Inclusion for a series of events on Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass (9 November 1938).
Kristallnacht was a turning point in the beginning of the Nazi Holocaust. In two days and nights, a program was carried out against the Jews in Germany, Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia by the growing Nazi paramilitary. Over 48 hours, violent mobs spurred on by Nazi officials destroyed Jewish homes, synagogues and businesses while police and fireman watched. Approximately 7,500 businesses, homes, schools and synagogues were destroyed and 91 Jews were murdered. The Nazi government blamed the damage on the Jews and required they pay one billion reichsmarks, while forcing Jews to sell their businesses for pennies on the dollar. The Germans named it Kristallnacht referring to all of the broken windows. This event marked an important and negative shift in anti-Jewish attitudes leading to the Holocaust.
- November 5-10, 2022: See books that would have been burned during, and books about Kristallnacht at the Center for Judaic, Holocaust, and Peace Studies (102 Edwin Duncan Hall) Monday-Thursday between 1-4 p.m.
- November 7-10, 2022: See images from Kristallnacht at the Belk Library Video Wall along with some of the books burned during, and books about Kristallnacht.
The remembrance of Kristallnacht will culminate on November 9, 2022 from 7-9 p.m. in Belk Library Room 114 with a roundtable conversation on antisemitism led by Communications Professor Chris Patti with discussants including Hillel and AEPi. The evening will start with a brief historical introduction of Kristallnacht and antisemitism followed by a discussion among members about antisemitism today.
This series of programs and events starting November 7 and continuing through May 2023, launches a “Year on Antisemitism: What It Is and Why We Care.” Antisemitism is on the rise exponentially in the United States, as “the oldest hate of a group.” Our country is teetering on the precipice of violence and the precipitous rise of antisemitism is one important marker of that danger. We must understand the nature of antisemitism to understand other forms of hate. How do we define it? How do fight against it? How do we protect our Jewish friends? Why do we care? Join us for a year of events discussing these issues and more.
February 15, 2023
“Antisemitism and its Manifestations” with Rachel Lang
March 8, 2023
Roundtable Conversation on Antisemitism
March 23, 2023
Survivor Tanya Gersh Discusses Her Experiences Standing Up to White Supremacists
April 16, 2023
A Day Against Hate
April 17 and 18, 2023
Yom HaShoah
April 24, 2023
CJHPS Annual Student Social Justice Awards Ceremony
May 4, 2023
It’s A Cookout: On May 4, hang out with the Appalachian State police and their dogs, play games, and eat lunch—vegan, kosher, meat eaters, vegetarians are all welcome!
These events are free and open to the public. For a disability accomodation, visit odr.appstate.edu.