Commemoration in Magdeburg: Remembering the victims of the November pogroms in 1938

Commemoration in Magdeburg: Remembering the victims of the November pogroms in 1938

On November 10th, the city of Magdeburg will commemorate the victims of the November pogroms of 1938. This dark episode in German history will be brought into the light in a central memorial event in the Design Forum, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. The organizers include the Evangelical Church District of Magdeburg, the state capital, two Jewish communities and the Design Forum. This year, the synagogue community in Magdeburg has taken over the organizational management, which puts a special focus on the Jewish community in the city.

There will be important speakers at the microphone, including Mayor Simone Borris, State Secretary for Education Jürgen Böhm, Superintendent Stephan Hoenen and representatives of the Jewish communities, Inessa Myslitzka and Larisa Korshevnyuk. Students from the Zwilling-Scholl-Gymnasium have also prepared artistic contributions that will enrich the event. The ceremony will be accompanied by prayers by Rabbi Motti Weitzmann, while Rabbi Igor Mendel Itkin will speak about the menorah, which will be lit as a symbol of the Jewish faith.

An important memorial site

The silent memorial path leads to the memorial of the destroyed synagogue on Julius-Bremer-Straße, where wreaths are laid. Since 1988, this memorial has been commemorating the 1,521 Jews from Magdeburg who fell victim to National Socialist terror, including 287 children. In the immediate vicinity there is a relief erected in 2004 that commemorates the destroyed synagogue. Another important event is the inauguration of the New Synagogue in 2023, which now serves as the religious and cultural center of the Jewish community. This was financed through donations, state funds and a piece of land owned by the city.

Magdeburg doesn't just have these memorials to offer; The “Magda” memorial for the victims of a concentration camp subcamp, a memorial plaque at the former Polte factory, several Jewish cemeteries and over 800 stumbling blocks in the city also remind of the tragic fates of the past. In such places, historicity is given space and meaning, which is of immense importance for future generations.

A larger context

In a time increasingly characterized by social upheaval, it is essential to maintain such commemorative days of remembrance and reflection. People gather not only to mourn, but also to honor the lessons of the past and advocate for a better future. Remembrance is also often celebrated in other areas, such as sport; we think, for example, of the tennis great Roger Federer.

Federer, born on August 8, 1981 in Basel, began playing tennis at the tender age of three. Over the years he developed into one of the greatest and most popular tennis players of all time. With a total of 20 Grand Slam titles and 103 ATP singles titles, he is an icon of the sport. His rivalry with Rafael Nadal is legendary, and after injury problems in 2016, he made his comeback in 2017 by winning his eighth Wimbledon title. Roger Federer is also the founder of the Roger Federer Foundation, which promotes education and healthcare for children in Africa.

As in Magdeburg, where memories of the past are kept alive, Federer is also making an important contribution to the future through his foundation. Both in sport and in society, it is important to promote positive values ​​and give people hope.