By Cailin Acosta in La Mesa, California
On November 9–10, 1938, Nazi Germany unleashed widespread violence against Jewish communities throughout Germany and recently annexed territories. Known as Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass), the pogrom marked a turning point in Nazi persecution, escalating years of discrimination into state-sponsored violence.
Following years of anti-Jewish legislation, including the 1935 Nuremberg Laws, Jews had been increasingly excluded from German economic and public life, and Jewish businesses were targeted.
The immediate pretext for the attacks was the shooting of German diplomat Ernst vom Rath in Paris by Herschel Grynszpan, a 17-year-old Polish Jewish refugee. After vom Rath died on November 9, Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels used the incident to incite violence with Adolf Hitler’s approval.
Nazi Party members, the SA, SS and police attacked Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues. At least 267 synagogues were destroyed, approximately 7,500 Jewish businesses were looted or damaged, and thousands of Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps. At least 91 people were reported killed during the pogrom, with additional deaths resulting from subsequent persecution.
Kristallnacht accelerated Jewish emigration from Germany and demonstrated that Nazi persecution had moved beyond discriminatory laws to organized violence. It foreshadowed the systematic deportation and murder of six million European Jews during the Holocaust.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Congregation Beth El announces its “First Friday Family Shabbat” at 5:45 p.m., Friday, November 6. This family-friendly event will include Shabbat services with songs and blessings, Shabbat dinner, games, and activities. Click here to register.
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Tifereth Israel Synagogue presents its “Miller Introduction to Judaism” at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 8. This 18-week course, led by Rabbi Hanan Leberman, will explore topics including Jewish literacy, history, tradition, denominational Judaism, the modern State of Israel, Jewish mysticism (Kabbalah), customs, ethics, culture, and Jewish wisdom, all in a setting where questions are more important than answers. Click here for more information and to register.
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Friendship Circle of San Diego presents its “Friendship Walk 2026” at 1 p.m., Sunday, November 8 at the Lawrence Family JCC. This afternoon event will feature a 750 feet route around the JCC field, fair activities such as video games, arts and crafts, inflatables, bungee jumping, bubbles, bunnies, face painting, and treats from Brigette’s Bakery. Every registered walker receives a T-shirt, water bottle, and snacks. Click here to register.
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Lawrence Family JCC presents its “Survey of Zionist Thought” at 10:30 a.m., Tuesdays, November 10, 17; December 1, 8, and 15. This class will be led by Rabbi Phil Graubart, who will explore the history and evolution of Zionist thought, from its early roots to today. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth El presents its “Jewish Meditation Cohort” at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. Craig Parks will lead these sessions, which will provide going into a deeper and more spiritual practice alongside a caring community. Click here for more information.
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RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust Speaker Series announces its “Second Tuesday of the Month: Sandra Scheller” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, November 10 at the San Diego Central Library. Scheller, a child of survivors Ruth and Kurt Sax, curator and creator, talks about her parents being Holocaust survivors. Her mother was in camps, and her father escaped.
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Beth Jacob Congregation announces its “Adventures in Bereshis with Brandon Fisher” at 7 p.m., Tuesdays, November 10, 17, 24. These sessions will discuss life-changing insights for personal growth and everyday life from the first book of the Torah. Click here to join the WhatsApp for updates.
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Israeli American Council presents “The Stories Behind Fauda: A Conversation on Israeli Storytelling and the Making of Fauda Season 5” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 24.
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CHABAD CENTERS’ HAPPENINGS
East County presents “Tanya Soul Series with Rabbi Rafi Andrusier” at noon, Tuesday, November 10. Andrusier will lead this session on discovering the journey of our souls and is a weekly Torah class on the whats and whys of Judaism based on Kabbalah and Jewish philosophy. Click here to rsvp.
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Downtown announces its “Jewish Insights” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. This session will include inspiration, learning, connection, and growth. Torah study class that is open to men and women. Click here to rsvp.
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University City presents its “Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You with Rabbi Effy Kahn” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 10. Kahn will lead these six lessons on reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, names, and what these mysteries reveal about the hidden design of your life. Click here to sign up.
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La Costa presents “Kabbalah and the Hidden Architecture of You with Rebbetzin Nechama Eilfort” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 10. Eilfort will lead these six lessons on reincarnation, soulmates, dreams, names, and what these mysteries reveal about the hidden design of your life. Click here to register.
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East County presents “Tal Ramon: Son of Israeli Astronaut Lost on the Columbia Shuttle” at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 10. This event will be led by Tal, who is the son of Israel’s first astronaut, Ilan Ramon. He will share his family’s legacy through personal storytelling and live music with an inspiring perspective on resilience and the enduring spirit of Israel. Click here to rsvp.
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Coastal Chabad Women’s Circle announces its “Menorahs and Martinis” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, November 11 at Chabad at La Costa. This women’s event will include crafting your own granite menorah, discovering the women’s connection to Chanukah and sip, socializing and celebrating. Click here to rsvp.
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East County announces its “Challah Babies Fall Edition for Babies 0-3” at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, November 12. This event includes baking fresh challah with your little one, building connections and joyful moments, creative sensory activities, and music and movement. Click here to rsvp.
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ONLINE OFFERINGS
Yiddishland presents “Forging Survival: Operation Bernhard and the Holocaust with Jeremy Stern” at 11 a.m., Sunday, November 8 on Zoom. This session will be led by Stern and will discuss what happened during Operation Bernhard and the difficult choices prisoners faced by making fake British banknotes for the Nazis. Click here to register.
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Congregation Beth Israel’s Men’s Club announces its “Men’s Discussion Group” at 10 a.m., Monday, November 9, on Zoom. This forum is for men who are members to meet together, enjoy camaraderie, and discuss relevant issues. Meetings are held every second and fourth Monday of each month. Click here to receive the Zoom link.
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My Jewish Learning announces its “Ethiopian Jewish History: From Ancient Origins to Today” at 4 p.m. on Monday, November 9 on Zoom. This six-week course led by Steven Kaplan, professor emeritus at Hebrew University, will explore travel across time and space from ancient Africa to modern-day Israel, learning about Ethiopian Jewish customs, traditions, and heroism along the way. Click here to register.
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My Jewish Learning announces “The World of Sholem Aleichem” at 4 p.m., Tuesday, November 10, on Zoom. Aleichem is one of history’s more beloved Yiddish writers, and Tevye the dairyman stories were the basis for Fiddler on the Roof. These sessions, led by Debra Caplan, associate professor of theatre at Baruch College, CUNY, will read and discuss a new short story each week, including stories involving Tevye’s comic mishaps, unpack Aleichem’s singular blend of humor and heartbreak, and explore why his characters still feel so relevant today. Click here to register.
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OBITUARY NOTICES
Edna Mae Lightsey has died. Mother of Jim Lewis, Robert Lewis, Laura Lewis, Cynthia Lewis Funderburg, Louis (Connie) Lewis, Michael Lewis (z”l), William Lewis, Jennifer (Clifford), grandmother of five and great-grandmother of two. The memorial service will be at 4 p.m., Tuesday, November 10 at Ohr Shalom Synagogue, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Harold Leon Reich has died. Grandfather of Nevo Magnezi (Leah Scheperow), grandfather of 11 and great grandfather of 7. The funeral will take place in Israel, Ohr Shalom Synagogue reports.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.