Kristallnacht Survivor George Shefi Bears Witness at 94
A Holocaust survivor warns against rising anti-Semitism as he shares his final testimony.
1Final Mission of Witness
George Shefi, a 94-year-old survivor of the 1938 Kristallnacht pogroms, views his current public testimony as his final mission. Ahead of the 88th anniversary of the Night of Broken Glass, he emphasizes that his generation is the last capable of providing firsthand accounts of the Nazi regime's systematic anti-Semitic violence.
2Childhood Memories of Terror
Born in 1931, Shefi was six years old when riots devastated his Berlin neighborhood. He recalls his school being burned down and the sight of a vandalized hat shop covered in broken glass. These traumatic experiences left a lasting impression, marking the beginning of his family's forced separation during the Holocaust.
3The Kindertransport Rescue
In 1939, Shefi was sent to the United Kingdom via the Kindertransport, a rescue effort that saved nearly 10,000 children. He last saw his mother at a train station, where she ensured his departure before heading to another location. She was later deported to Auschwitz and murdered in January 1943.
4Educational Outreach Efforts
Over the past 25 years, Shefi has returned to Germany to share his story with more than 12,000 schoolchildren. He challenges German students to acknowledge their responsibility for the country's future, urging them to ensure the Holocaust is never forgotten while they prepare to lead the nation in coming decades.
5Surge in Anti-Semitic Offenses
The urgency of Shefi's mission is underscored by rising hostility, with anti-Semitic offenses in Germany increasing from approximately 1,400 in 2015 to 6,500 last year. This trend has intensified following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and the subsequent war in Gaza, creating a challenging environment for Holocaust survivors.
6Political Challenges to Remembrance
Germany's culture of remembrance faces political opposition, notably from the far-right Alternative for Germany party, which criticizes what it labels a cult of guilt. In Heidenau, an AfD-backed motion recently banned the installation of new Stolpersteine, the small public inscriptions used to commemorate victims of Nazi persecution across Europe.
7Call for Democratic Action
Shefi argues that the current political climate must be fought with determination to preserve German democracy. He believes that citizens must wake up to the dangers of rising extremism and take immediate action against such situations, viewing active engagement as the only way to maintain a free and democratic society.
8Legacy of the Last Generation
As he approaches his 95th birthday, Shefi remains committed to his role as a witness to history. His efforts highlight the fragility of collective memory and the necessity of personal testimony in combating modern hatred. He insists that his generation must continue telling the truth as long as they can.
Original article: The Local Germany — Kristallnacht Survivor George Shefi Bears Witness at 94