Kristallnacht Installation/November 9, 2015
Artist in Residence Project in collaboration with the Jewish Studies department of deToledo High School, Los Angeles
IMG_3807 from Benny Ferdman on Vimeo.
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Kristallnacht Thoughts
(The Night of Broken Glass)
GENEROSITY:
The Yiddish word for generous is bratehartsic, which translates, literally, as broad–hearted - a heart that reaches out - a heart that wants to “include.”
NEIGHBORS:
In 1930s Germany, like here and everywhere, some neighbors remain strangers while others are “generous” - broad – hearted, with each other and with THE OTHER - the Jews.
Including all as a part of the whole is what makes life “normal “ and possible.
BUT fear, hatred, greed, anger, lust for power and mass insanity are
also present in 1930s Germany.
AND generosity vanishes, and neighbors who were once familiar -customers, colleagues and friends – became arsonists, murderers and silent bystanders.
On November 9th 1938 the Jewish illusion of living a normal life was shattered, together with the broken glass that filled the streets of Germany.
The long standing, albeit shaky, foundation that had supported Jewish life in Germany, and the rest of Europe, was about to collapse.
(The Night of Broken Glass)
GENEROSITY:
The Yiddish word for generous is bratehartsic, which translates, literally, as broad–hearted - a heart that reaches out - a heart that wants to “include.”
NEIGHBORS:
In 1930s Germany, like here and everywhere, some neighbors remain strangers while others are “generous” - broad – hearted, with each other and with THE OTHER - the Jews.
Including all as a part of the whole is what makes life “normal “ and possible.
BUT fear, hatred, greed, anger, lust for power and mass insanity are
also present in 1930s Germany.
AND generosity vanishes, and neighbors who were once familiar -customers, colleagues and friends – became arsonists, murderers and silent bystanders.
On November 9th 1938 the Jewish illusion of living a normal life was shattered, together with the broken glass that filled the streets of Germany.
The long standing, albeit shaky, foundation that had supported Jewish life in Germany, and the rest of Europe, was about to collapse.