The Night of Broken Glass: Germany and the Genocides

« La Noche de los Cristales Rotos: Alemania y los genocidios

The Night of Broken Glass: Germany and the Genocides

Octubre 7, 2025 per jude

9 November 2025 at 9:30 – 13:30

La Llealtat Santsenca Carrer d’Olzinelles, 31, Barcelona

At this event, we will be looking at what actually happened on the night of 9 to 10 November 1938. These events are generally known here as Kristallnacht in German, but writer and translator Erica Fischer will explain why it would be more appropriate to refer to them as Reichspogromnacht.

Leading from there, Iris Hefets, an Israeli psychoanalyst and activist living in Berlin, will examine the relationship between Germany’s Nazi past and its unambiguous support for the Zionist and genocidal state of Israel. She will also explain the reasons for the fierce repression it exercises against the Palestine solidarity movement, including against anti-Zionist Jews.

Following the two presentations, two simultaneous workshops will give eveyrone the chance to discuss the issues more thoroughly.

We will also hear from Palestinian analyst Mohammed Ha Marsha about the current situation in Palestine, and how yesterday’s persecution of Jews is now being replicated with genocidal attacks on Gaza and the destruction of towns and villages perpetrated by settlers in the West Bank.

Finally, we will outline the main principles and activities of the Catalan Association of Jews and Palestinians before concluding the event with some songs of resistance that we hope will inspire us to continue the long and bitter struggle against fascism and genocide.

Erica Fischer. Born in England, she grew up in Austria and currently lives in Barcelona after having lived in Berlin for thirty years. She is a writer and translator. Her documentary narrative Aimée & Jaguar (1994) has been translated into some 20 languages, including Spanish.

Iris Hefets. Born in Israel, she left the country in 2002 for political reasons. She is a member of Jüdische Stimme (Jewish Voices for a Just Peace in the Middle East) and works as a psychoanalyst in Berlin.

Mohammed Hamarsha. Resident in Barcelona, he is a member of the Palestinian Community of Catalonia and the Palestinian think tank Al-Shabaka. As a journalist, he has worked for various international media outlets and organisations and specialises in geopolitical issues in both the Middle East and Latin America.

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Presentation

Talks

What did really happen on the night of 9 to 10 November 1938? Erica Fischer

Germany: A failed or incomplete Nazi project? Iris Hefets

(English and Catalan simultaneous translation will be provided during the whole event)

Discussion and debate workshops

Two simultaneous workshops, one with Erica and the other one with Iris, to explore the topics covered in the lectures in greater depth.

Coffee break

Plenary session: What now?

Brief report from each workshop

Palestine today Mohammed Hamarsha