For Eszter Kutas, director at the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, this November’s commemoration of Kristallnacht — or “the night of broken glass” during the Holocaust — will serve a greater purpose than it does most years, which is saying something.
The night is remembered as a major turning point in the Holocaust, when the tide shifted from threats and rhetoric to violence and persecution. However, in 2024, its relevance is heightened.
“When you look at Holocaust history, you see some parallels with what’s happening now and what happened in the 1930s in terms of shifting attitudes, the radicalization of young men and other things,” Kutas said. “It’s critical that we learn from the past, and it seems that some of those universal lessons of the Holocaust could not be more apropos than at this very moment.”
On Sunday, Nov. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m, the foundation will commemorate the 86th anniversary of what many consider to be the start of the Holocaust at Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza by Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th and 17th streets in Philadelphia. The event will be co-hosted by Mural Arts Philadelphia and the city, and it will include Klezmer music, the creation of mosaic art led by Laura Lynn Stern and general unity against not just antisemitism, but all forms of bigotry in society, according to Kutas.
“We’re mindful of the fact that this will be held just a few days after our election, at a hyperpolarized time in what is going to be a fragile moment in our history,” she said. “This is an opportunity for everyone — not just Jewish people — to come together to learn about a dark piece of history, but also to use our voices together to speak up against antisemitism, racism and bigotry in this post-election moment.”
The event will include traditionally Jewish Klezmer music as well as mural and mosaic arts in an attempt to put a new context around the night of broken glass.
“The event is about destruction and shattered glass and vandalism, and we wanted to see how we could turn it upside down into something positive,” she said. Mosaic arts allow for something beautiful to be crafted out of broken pieces, Kutas said. Under the instruction of a well-known Philadelphia artist, attendees will get the chance to reformat the meaning of “broken” as it relates to this year’s commemoration of Kristallnacht.
“I’m honored to be part of this profound remembrance, where art serves as a bridge between history and healing, helping us confront past traumas and inspire resilience,” said Jane Golden, the executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. “Through creativity, we find a powerful way to unite against bigotry and nurture a shared path forward.”
Kutas said that those who work in the space that she does have seen the growth of antisemitism in America over the last decade, and that events like these are crucial to combating an increasingly worrying landscape.
“Antisemitism has been rising rapidly in the United States for the last nine years, and for those of us in this profession, this trend has been really clear for several years,” she said. “What put it over the top was October 7, and the war in the Middle East, and it’s upsetting how much more antisemitism we have seen since just last October.”
Kutas declined to offer an estimate of how many people might show, but did say that she thinks it will be well attended considering it is free and open to the public. She assured potential attendees that if they do choose to come, they will be safe.
“Our organization works very closely with law enforcement for the city and the federal government, and we have already arranged for security personnel to be there. We have had antisemitic vandalism in the past, but never as a part of a public event, so I am confident that this event will be safe for the Jewish community,” she said. “We cannot stay at home — we have to show up and show our strength.”
The Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation owns and operates the oldest public Holocaust monument in the United States, erected in 1964. Kutas said the organization takes pride in spearheading change for the local Jewish community, and hopefully setting an example for the rest of American Jewry, too.
“Over the past few years, we have seen over 10,000 people each year visit our space in a meaningful way,” Kutas said. “We have to use all of our voices in unity.”
