The program will take place during CBI’s Friday night Shabbat services and is free and open to the community. An Oneg Shabbat dessert reception will follow.
“With a rise in antisemitism around the world, it is important to learn about the Holocaust and hear stories of survivors,” said Rita Geller, who co-chairs the synagogue’s Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group, which sponsors the program, with Faye Bodenstein and Claire Bornstein.
Kristallnacht, German for “crystal night” and also called the “Night of Broken Glass,” refers to the violent attacks the Nazis waged against Jews on November 9 and 10, 1938, throughout Germany, Austria and parts of occupied Czechoslovakia. The name comes from the broken glass that littered the streets after Jewish homes, schools, synagogues and stores were damaged and destroyed. With Jews beaten, killed and sent to concentration camps, Kristallnacht is often seen as the beginning of the Holocaust.
Polak is the child of Dutch Holocaust survivors Jaap (Jack) and Ina. His parents’ love story began in the Westerbork and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps and endured for decades. The love letters they secretly exchanged strengthened them during a time of untold hardship. Jack’s letters, which miraculously survived, became the basis for a book and inspired the award-winning documentary “Steal a Pencil for Me.”
Polak was among the first wave of Jewish children born to Holocaust survivors in Europe after World War II. The family immigrated to the United States in 1950 and settled in Tuckahoe, New York. His father served as president of the Anne Frank Center, USA, and spoke to many civic, religious, school and youth groups about his experiences.
“I have attempted to continue my father’s commitment to Holocaust education,” Polak said. “By presenting my parents’ unique story, I hope to convey the lessons that should be learned from the Holocaust.”
Polak, an attorney, lives in Scotch Plains with his wife, Carrie. They have two children and five grandchildren.
The Second/Third Generation Holocaust Survivors Group was started at CBI and also includes participants from other area synagogues and the community. Members volunteer at local schools to share their families’ Holocaust experiences with students, and they plan events such as the Kristallnacht remembrance to educate the public and honor those who suffered and perished.
The program will be held at Congregation Beth Israel, 18 Shalom Way, Scotch Plains, at the corner of Martine Avenue. For questions or to request accommodations, call the synagogue office at 908-889-1830 or email Executive Director Lesley Lewkowicz at lesleyl@cbisp.org. More information is available at cbinj.org.
