Commemoration of the pogrom night: Call against anti-Semitism in Berlin!

Commemoration of the pogrom night: Call against anti-Semitism in Berlin!

On November 9, 2025, Germany remembers the pogrom night of 1938, which consisted of the most brutal attacks on Jewish people and their institutions in the German Reich. This night not only marks a turning point in the systematic persecution and extermination of the Jewish population by the Nazi regime, but also symbolizes the ongoing confrontation with anti-Semitism in today's society. Berlin against Nazis notes this and lists commemorative events in various Berlin districts.

In an event that was triggered by Joseph Goebbels' inflammatory speech and Herschel Grünspan's assassination attempt on the diplomat Ernst vom Rath, the November pogroms contributed to the establishment of a climate of hatred. Holocaust survivors like Eva Runde are now actively warning about growing anti-Semitism and the acceptance of hate ideologies. Christoph Heubner, executive vice president of the International Auschwitz Committee, calls November 9 a day of remembrance and democracy, with a focus on combating anti-Semitism, which remains a pressing problem. The daily news highlights the warnings of Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer, who emphasizes that anti-Semitism is not just a shadow of the past.

Commemorative events in Berlin

As in previous years, numerous commemorative events will take place in Berlin on November 9, 2025. In Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, a memorial rally by the Jewish community is planned at 7 p.m. in the Fasanenstrasse community center, where the names of the 55,696 murdered Berlin Jews will be read out. The terrible events are also remembered in other districts. An overview of some prominent events:

• Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg: Öffentliche Führung im Jüdischen Museum um 11 Uhr, mit einem bezirklichen Gedenken um 14 Uhr.
• Mitte: Gedenkgottesdienst um 11 Uhr in der Französischen Friedrichstadtkirche, gefolgt von einem Stolperstein-Rundgang.
• Pankow: Gedenkveranstaltung um 10 Uhr auf dem Jüdischen Friedhof in Weißensee.
• Neukölln: Gedenkveranstaltung an Dr. Leo Hauser um 16 Uhr.

The memorial march, which will be carried out on November 7th by students from various schools to platform 17, has a special status. The Mobile Consultations Against Right-Wing Extremism Berlin have already pointed out possible disruptions during the events and advise people to be vigilant.

Anti-Semitism today

Anti-Semitism remains a global phenomenon that can be observed not only in Germany, but also in many other countries and cultures. Today's form of anti-Semitism is not only expressed in open hatred, but can also be expressed through subtle discrimination and prejudice against Jewish people and Judaism. Wikipedia explains that the term “anti-Semitism” was first used in 1879 and has evolved since then, and points out the different forms of anti-Semitism, including religious and political aspects.

In view of the current social challenges and increasing anti-Semitism, commemorating the night of the pogrom is essential. Only by remembering the past can society be strengthened in its fight against hatred and prejudice.