A Historical Cantorial Concert took place at the Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall

Seventy eight years after the Kirstallnacht, Berlin brought back the sounds of Jewish liturgy that were silenced during the Holocaust, to Europe’s most important and prestigious concert hall, the Berliner Philharmonic.

Berlin commemorated 78 years since the Kiristallnacht in a historical cantorial con-cert, the first ever to take place at the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic concert hall. The musical program showcased highlighted prayers and liturgical works that have endured despite the attempt to extinguish Jewish culture and spirituality.

The concert featured Cantors Netanel Hershtik (The Hampton Synagogue, New York) and Avremi Kirshenboim (Jerusalem) and was accompanied by the Jakobsplatz Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Daniel Grossman.

The Kristallnacht was a pogrom against Jews throughout Nazi Germany on November 9-10th in1938, carried out by SA paramilitary forces and German civilians. German authorities looked on without intervening. The name Kristallnacht comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues had their windows smashed. An estimated number of 1,400 synagogues were burned down during Kristallnacht, grave sites were desecrated and Jewish shops were looted and destroyed. More than 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps. 400 people were murdered during the Kristallnacht “This is the first time in the history of the Berlin Philharmonic Hall in which cantors per-formed Jewish liturgy and this is a great message,” explains Cantor Netanel Hershtik, Cantor of the prestigious Hampton Synagogue in Westhampton Beach, New York. “The German people are expressing their remorse for the actions of their ancestors and it’s most appropriate to bring the music that was silenced and celebrate it in Europe’s most important musical venue.”

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