Picking up the Glass

IFCJ Canada  |  November 12, 2025

The murder of over six million Jewish people during the Holocaust did not happen overnight – it was the culmination of decades of anti-Semitism. And yet, there were those moments that seemed to clearly point to the terrible direction things were headed.

One of these moments was Kristallnacht, which we remember every November 9. That night in 1938, in Germany hundreds of synagogues and thousands of Jewish businesses were destroyed, 30,000 people were forced into concentration camps, and nearly 100 Jews were murdered. Some ordinary citizens joined the assault, while others simply did nothing. While there was some outcry at this barbarity from foreign governments and in the press, it was too little, too late. In fact, this was the same year when Adolf Hitler was Time magazine’s Man of the Year.

Kristallnacht, or the “Night of the Broken Glass,” refers to the millions of glass fragments that littered the streets – the broken windows of synagogues, Jewish homes, businesses, and schools. Kristallnacht is remembered not just for the thousands of Jews who were victimized and killed, but for the failure of so many to speak up against the evil and injustice. The Nazis were able to terrorize an entire community with little to no resistance.

We commemorate Kristallnacht not just to remember its victims, but because anti-Semitism persists to this day, and we have a responsibility to speak out against it. This is a responsibility that IFCJ Canada takes seriously, and one that is held today by both Christians and Jews alike.

Times are still uncertain for the Jewish people in Israel. They wake up each morning wondering if fragile peace will hold. But one thing is certain: they are not alone. Israel’s Christian friends support Israel and raise their voices for God’s people. We are truly thankful for them all.

It’s voices like these that the Jews of Europe lacked all those years ago – voices used to spread hope, share God’s love, and be a pillar of support to those who need it. This is how we truly pick up the glass together. Even though the fight against rampant anti-Israel bias and anti-Semitism may cause us to cut our hands — our unity, understanding, and remembrance serve as the bandages.