Reverend Andrew G. Butler III of St. Margaret Episcopal Church

Commemorated by The MENSCH Foundation 

Kristallnacht, also known as The Night of Broken Glass, was a series of coordinated attacks against Jews throughout Nazi Germany on November 9th and 10th, 1938.

Many historians date this rampage as the beginning of the Holocaust.

From left: JFS Executive Director Kraig Johnson, Federation CEO Alan Potash, MENSCH Foundation Director Steven Geiger, and Rabbi J. B. Sacks.

The name Kristallnacht ("Crystal Night") comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after the windows of Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues were smashed. 

Two hundred sixty-seven synagogues throughout Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland were demolished.  Over 7,000 Jewish businesses were damaged, and 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and incarcerated in concentration camps.

On Thursday, November 10th, 2023, the MENSCH International Foundation held an 85th-anniversary commemoration event at the Desert Holocaust Memorial in the Palm Desert Civic Park. 

Some speakers included Steven Geiger, Founder and Director of the MENSCH Foundation, Alan Potash, CEO of the Jewish Federation of the Desert, Reverend Andrew G. Butler III of St. Margaret Episcopal Church, and Palm Desert Mayor Kathleen Kelly.

Children Holocaust survivors Rickie Taras and Henry Friedman shared their childhood stories.  They were both saved by Righteous Gentiles who risked their lives to save Jewish individuals during the Holocaust.

Estelle Lieb spoke about her father, who was arrested during Kristallnacht.  He survived Buchenwald Concentration Camp.

Jeff Brandt and his son also took the stand.  Jeff is the son of Holocaust survivor Joe Brandt, who, together with Holocaust survivor Earl Greif, dedicated the Desert Holocaust Memorial in 1995.  The Memorial was created to commemorate the 6 million Jews and 7 million non-Jews men, women, and children who were murdered during the Holocaust.

The memorial stands as an educational reminder of atrocities conducted during the Holocaust.  It also serves as a monument of hope to overcome hate and live in acceptance and peace.