Light Up The Church

October 2024: Kristallnacht News Update

Thank you again for signing the Kristallnacht declaration. Every month we send a few stories about Kristallnacht and the Holocaust that made the news in the previous month. Towards November 2024 we will share information about Light Up The Church 2024.

Below is the update from the stories of October 2024.

  • Holocaust survivor shares his story with students

    Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann dedicates his life to sharing his story, educating younger generations about the atrocities of the Holocaust, and inspiring unity to combat hate. His recent talk at Lehigh University emphasized the importance of remembering history, fostering community, and addressing divisive issues, as students and leaders alike highlighted the necessity of learning from firsthand accounts to build empathy and understanding.

  • Holocaust Survivors in Latin America Share High Holiday Memories

    HIAS, founded over a century ago in New York, has supported Jewish refugees fleeing tragedies like the Holocaust and the expulsion of Jewish communities from various regions, helping many start anew in the U.S. or Latin America. Freddy Schreiber, a Holocaust survivor aided by HIAS, recalls the profound joy of receiving a Rosh Hashanah telegram in 1945 from his siblings, reuniting their family in spirit after six years apart.

  • Everyday Hero: Holocaust survivor inspires others after health scare

    Bob Auerbach, a Holocaust survivor who fled Nazi Germany at age 10, has dedicated his life to resilience, music, and uplifting marginalized communities. Celebrated for his contributions to the UW Odyssey Project and his volunteer work, Auerbach combines his philanthropic spirit with his musical talents, inspiring others to find joy and strength despite life's challenges.

  • Holocaust victims memorial stones stolen in German town

    In Zeitz, Germany, 10 Stolpersteine memorial blocks commemorating Holocaust victims were stolen in what officials have condemned as a politically motivated act attacking democracy and historical memory. The town plans a memorial march and has launched a donation campaign to replace the stolen stones, highlighting the ongoing tension surrounding Holocaust remembrance amid rising far-right influence in the region.

  • Victor Perahia, Holocaust survivor, head of French Union of Auschwitz Deportees, dies at 91

    Victor Perahia, Holocaust survivor and president of the French Union of Auschwitz Deportees, has passed away at 91. Remembered for his dedication to preserving the memory of the Shoah, Perahia's life was marked by a relentless fight against intolerance and a commitment to educating future generations about the horrors of racism and antisemitism.

  • Margot Capell, Staten Island Holocaust survivor who opened eyes to horrors of antisemitism, dies at 103

    Margot Capell, a Kristallnacht survivor and lifelong advocate against antisemitism, passed away at 103, days before her 104th birthday. Known for sharing her story to educate others, Capell was a key figure at the Wagner College Holocaust Center, featured in an Emmy-winning documentary, and honored for her resilience and commitment to preserving Holocaust history.

  • How a Sacramento Holocaust survivor's family photos were preserved during World War II

    Andra and Tatiana Bucci, sisters who survived Auschwitz as children, are among the few Holocaust survivors who still possess personal photos from before the war. Thanks to their mother's quick thinking—writing a note with their names and tossing it from a Nazi transport train—their family safeguarded their belongings during the war, preserving precious memories that now help them educate others about the Holocaust.

  • 'The soul never forgets': A Holocaust survivor's story of grief

    Irene Weiss, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor, was only 13 when she was taken to Auschwitz, where most of her family perished. She recently shared her post-Holocaust journey and reflections with Anderson Cooper on his podcast, "All There Is."

  • 'Always Remember Your Name': A KCRA 3 documentary about Holocaust survivors Andra and Tatiana Bucci

    Andra Bucci, an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, became a U.S. citizen in 2023, marking a new chapter in her life. Having survived Auschwitz with her sister Tatiana, she has dedicated her life to educating others about the Holocaust, including returning to Auschwitz nearly 40 times with students to preserve its memory and lessons.

  • French railway company’s involvement in Holocaust revealed in Northeastern grad’s podcast

    Leo Bretholz, one of only four survivors from a French train bound for Auschwitz in 1942, saved his life by jumping from the moving train alongside his friend, Manfred Silberwasser. His harrowing escape and later fight to hold the French railway company SNCF accountable are chronicled in the podcast Covering Their Tracks, a project by storyteller and advocate Matthew Slutsky that highlights resilience and the enduring quest for justice.

  • Lily Ebert, who kept Holocaust memory alive on TikTok, dies at 100

    Lily Ebert, a Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who inspired millions with her commitment to Holocaust remembrance, passed away on October 9 at the age of 100 in London. Ebert, a survivor of Auschwitz, became a global figure of resilience, using platforms like TikTok, alongside her great-grandson Dov Forman, to educate younger generations about the Holocaust. Together, they reached millions and co-authored her best-selling memoir, Lily’s Promise, published in 2021. Her legacy lives on through her unwavering dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust.

  • A full-scale replica of Anne Frank’s hidden annex is heading to New York for an exhibition

    A full-scale replica of the secret annex where Anne Frank and seven others hid during World War II is being brought to New York for the exhibit "Anne Frank The Exhibition" at the Center for Jewish History. This marks the first time the Anne Frank House will present such an immersive experience outside of Amsterdam, allowing visitors to explore the rooms where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary.

  • Extra funding committed to support Holocaust Memorial Day

    The Government has announced additional funding for Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 to support the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, with many survivors expected to attend. The funding aims to ensure the national commemorations reach millions, emphasizing reflection, remembrance, and education while marking both the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation and the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide.