08 November 2024
Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, expresses its profound concern and solidarity with the victims of last night’s unprovoked attack on Jews following the Maccabi Tel Aviv game in Amsterdam. The distressing images from this pogrom serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by antisemitism to our communities.
As we approach the anniversary of the November Pogrom of 1938, known as “Kristallnacht”, it is profoundly alarming to witness yet another act of violence targeting Jewish people. This incident underscores the alarming resurgence of antisemitism, a cancerous plague that has infiltrated every aspect of our society.
Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan states:
“Antisemitism cannot be thwarted by words alone. We call upon world leaders to recognize and take immediate and decisive action to fight against antisemitism and hate before the disease metastasizes to catastrophic proportions. History has shown us that we cannot afford to be complacent in the face of antisemitism.”
In light of this attack, Yad Vashem urges Jewish cultural institutions and places of worship worldwide to join in marking the anniversary of the November Pogrom of 1938 by participating in the "Spread the Light" initiative, and leave the lights on of synagogues, community centers and businesses throughout the night of November 10th. “Let us send a message to antisemites around the world saying that they have no place in our society. Let us unite and stomp out the darkness of hate by shining a light on antisemitism, ensuring that it is recognized, confronted, and ultimately eradicated,” Dayan concludes.
