George Shefi: Witness to History and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism
At 94 years old, George Shefi, a survivor of the infamous “Kristallnacht,” carries a compelling narrative that he feels is crucial to share amid a resurgence of anti-Semitism. For him, recounting the experiences of the pogroms directed at Jews has become an urgent responsibility.
“Our generation is the last that can tell the real story,” Shefi stated to AFP ahead of the 88th anniversary of the “Night of Broken Glass,” which marks the violent outburst against Jewish communities in Germany on November 9-10, 1938.
The Devastating Impact of Kristallnacht
This tragic event witnessed the loss of at least 90 Jewish lives and the destruction of around 1,400 synagogues across Germany. Shefi, born George Spiegelglas in 1931, was a mere six years old when the anti-Semitic riots disrupted his life in Berlin.
During the upheaval, Shefi’s mother kept him indoors for three days. When he finally ventured outside, he was met with a radically changed cityscape.
“My school had been burned down,” he recalled during a recent ceremony at the New Synagogue in Berlin, organized by the International March for the Living, a group dedicated to Holocaust remembrance. “I distinctly remember a hat shop that had been ransacked, with glass and women’s hats scattered across the street. That image has stayed with me.”
Another striking memory for Shefi was witnessing a stationery shopowner being taunted by a crowd while removing anti-Semitic graffiti that read, “This store belongs to a Jewish pig who is married to a Christian sow.”
A Child’s Journey to Safety
Just months later, as World War II loomed, Shefi was placed on a train bound for safety in the United Kingdom as part of the Kindertransport, an initiative that saved nearly 10,000 children from Nazi Germany.
His mother took him to the train station, only to part ways at a different location where other children were waiting. Tragically, he never saw her again after that moment.
Shefi then stayed with distant relatives in London before being relocated to the tranquil surroundings of Lincolnshire. Although he received one letter from his mother through the Red Cross, it would be their last communication. Shefi later learned that she had been deported to Auschwitz, arriving at the death camp on January 30, 1943, likely murdered on the same day.
A Mission to Educate Future Generations
The Holocaust claimed the lives of six million Jews. After a brief period in the United States, Shefi returned to Israel post-war. Over the past 25 years, he has made numerous trips back to Germany, sharing his harrowing story with over 12,000 schoolchildren.
His message is poignant and direct: “You must remember the Holocaust.” Shefi emphasizes that while the current generation isn’t responsible for historical atrocities, they bear the long-term responsibility for the future of their country.
Rising Anti-Semitism and Threats to Remembrance
However, the climate has shifted significantly since he began his outreach. According to police statistics, reported anti-Semitic incidents in Germany escalated from around 1,400 in 2015 to 6,500 last year. This surge has been exacerbated by recent geopolitical tensions, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas against Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
Additionally, Germany’s culture of Holocaust remembrance faces challenges, particularly from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which criticizes what it refers to as a “cult of guilt.” Just last month, an AfD-supported measure was passed in the eastern town of Heidenau that prohibits the installation of new “Stolpersteine,” small plaques commemorating the victims of Nazi persecution.
Shefi remains acutely aware of these developments, stating, “This has to be resisted fiercely. People must awaken to the reality that if we want to preserve democracy in this country, we need to confront these issues immediately.”
Continuing the Fight Against Hate
As Shefi approaches his 95th birthday, he remains deeply engaged in his self-described mission to combat anti-Semitism. “We are the ones who must continue to tell the truth for as long as we are able,” he asserts.
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