MIAMI BEACH — Only seven decades since the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps, the world is witnessing an alarming rise in global anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activities. Standing strong together against these issues, thousands of Jews and Gentiles will gather for “Never Again: A Community Rally in Response to the Rise in Worldwide Anti-Semitism and the Campaign Against Israel’s Right to Exist” on Sunday, November 15 at 4 p.m. at the Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, 1933-1945 Meridian Avenue.
The Community Rally is sponsored by the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, its Jewish Community Relations Council, the Holocaust Memorial, the Consulate General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico, and the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami, in partnership with more than 75 other synagogues and organizations from throughout South Florida. Speakers will include U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and several U.S. Congressional Representatives.
“Since the Holocaust, we have vowed, ‘Never again’ to anti-Semitism and hatred,” said Jacob Solomon, Greater Miami Jewish Federation President and CEO. “Yet, we are seeing daily terrorist attacks against innocent civilians in Israel; the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement aimed at delegitimizing and isolating Israel; the United Nation’s cynical and disproportionate condemnation of the Jewish homeland; attacks on Jews in Europe and North America; and Iran’s Holocaust denial and venomous declarations to wipe Israel off the map. This is not 1938. But ‘Never again’ are not just words. We are all obligated to act.”
The rally also is being presented in commemoration of the 77th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass.
“As we recall Kristallnacht, the event that symbolized the beginning of the Holocaust, we call on all people of goodwill to join Holocaust survivors and a united community to stand strong against anti-Semitism,” said Andrew C. Hall, Chair of the Holocaust Memorial and also a child survivor of the Holocaust.
“We will stand together to recall the lessons of the Holocaust and to declare to the world that we will not be silent in the face of new dangers facing the Jewish people.”
Kristallnacht was marked by a series of coordinated attacks in Germany and parts of Austria on November 9-10, 1938, which caused the deaths of 91 Jews and the incarceration of 30,000 in concentration camps. The streets were covered with broken glass from the shattered windows of Jewish-owned homes, stores and synagogues that were vandalized and looted during the attacks.
“Memory must live and serve as a lesson of what can happen when evil is allowed to prevail,” said Robert Berrin, Board Chair of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. “Anti-Semitism remains a very real and potent threat to Jews around the world today. We will gather on November 15 to speak out as a concerned community and to let the world know we will not stand idly by whenever and wherever hatred rears its ugly head.”
For full details about the rally, including a full list of participating organizations, parking information and more, visit JewishMiami.org/rally. No backpacks or large handbags will be permitted. The event will take place rain or shine.
