It is by New Zealand time Kristallnacht – 9 November the day in 1938 organised German mobs ransacked everything they could find that even hinted at Jews. The Nazi propaganda chief, Josef Goebbels, had been waiting for an excuse and it came with the assassination of a German diplomat in Paris.
This week another pogrom took place, in Amsterdam, when organised mobs chased
and beat up fans of the Israeli football team Maccabi Tel Aviv. The mobs were organised and apparently the Dutch authorities had been warned by their Israeli counterparts. As in 1938, there was “provocation” as Maccabi fans insulted Arabs tore down a Palestinian flag and acted as football hooligans do when given the opportunity.
Nonetheless the reaction was organised and given the Israeli warnings worked out in advance. The Maccabi fans who acted badly did act badly – disgracefully. But it wouldn’t have mattered.
Today is also the day I decided to become a Jew. In 2017, I was in the German state of Saxony, and on the night of the 9th, went to the site of the old synagogue in Dresden. I’d been before. The place is marked with a large menorah and is just down from a new synagogue close to a bridge over the Elbe River. As I hoped and even expected, the menorah was surrounded with flowers placed by well-wishers and the next day I bought some and put them there with the others.
Most of the floral offerings were from organisations rather than individuals and I hung around a while watching passing pedestrians glance at the scene and move on. For these Germans, it was another time acknowledged but no longer to feel a part 
of. As an individual, I have felt responsible for my actions and inactions. I knew then that I would become a Jew. After I returned to New Zealand I looked around and found Humanistic Judaism. It chimed as completely as possible with my idea of what being a Jew means, beyond ritual and within the broad liberal-left outlook I had associated with Reform since I first encountered Jews in high school, and admired and wanted to emulate their many fine qualities. I went to a Jewish university but wasn’t grown up enough to stay. Later I hung out with the right sort of Jew! They probably thought me strange. I am strange, but am used to it.
Now I’m seven years on as Jews face up to increased anti-Semitism, sometimes masked as anti-Zionism. I’m here. I’m filled with gratitude.
Thank you.
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