Erkelenz commemorates Kristallnacht: Keeping memories alive!

Erkelenz commemorates Kristallnacht: Keeping memories alive!

In Erkelenz, the victims were commemorated with moving actions on November 9th, the anniversary of Kristallnacht. Mayor Stephan Muckel and secondary school students organized an impressive memorial service that took place despite Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. The wreath-laying ceremonies were held before Shabbat on Friday to reflect religious customs.

The celebrations began at the Jewish cemetery in Lentholt, where students from the Cornelius-Burgh-Gymnasium put the moving story of Jewish life in Schwanenberg into words. Pastor Robin Banerjee said a prayer while Mayor Muckel gave a short speech. About 20 people gathered to take part in this small but meaningful ceremony. In the afternoon, the big memorial service followed on Franziskanerplatz, which opened with musical performances by the “Gospel-Voices Holzweiler” choir.

A moving remembrance

The participants made their way to the Metzger family's stumbling blocks and to the Jewish cemetery on Neusser Strasse. At each station, powerful program contributions from the schools were presented, keeping the memory alive. Around 200 people were present and listened attentively while Mayor Muckel gave another speech. After Shabbat, which ended that day at 5:49 p.m., Muckel returned to the Jewish cemetery to lay a wreath at the memorial stone there.