Erkelenz commemorates the Reichspogromnacht: keep memories alive!

Erkelenz commemorates the Reichspogromnacht: keep memories alive!

Erkelenz, Deutschland - in Erkelenz was commemorated on November 9, the anniversary of the Reichspogromnacht, with moving actions by the victims. Mayor Stephan Muckel and pupils of the secondary schools organized an impressive commemoration that took place despite the Shabbats, the Jewish day of rest. The wreaths were carried out before the Shabbat on Friday to take into account the religious customs.

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

a moving commemoration

The participants made their way to the Metzger family and the Jewish cemetery on Neusser Strasse. At each station, urgent program posts were presented by the schools that kept the memory alive. Around 200 people were present and listened carefully, while Mayor Muckel gave a speech again. After the Shabbat, which ended on this day at 5:49 p.m., Muckel returned to the Jewish cemetery to put down a wreath on the memorial stone.