Light Up The Church 2025: A New Year of Illumination & Impact

Light Up The Church 2025: A New Year of Illumination & Impact - July 2025 Updates

Published: Thu, 08/07/25

Updated: Fri, 08/08/25

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July 2025: Kristallnacht News Update

Shalom!

Thank you again for signing the Kristallnacht declaration. Every month we send a few stories about Kristallnacht and the Holocaust that made the news in the previous month. Towards November 2025 we will share information about Light Up The Church 2025.

Have you ever wondered how a single act of unity can ripple across nations and hearts? As we look back on the remarkable journey of Light Up The Church, I'm filled with gratitude—and anticipation for what 2025 holds. If you’re new or want to revisit our story, see the 2024 summary and join the movement as we prepare for another year of shining light and hope together.

Reflecting on the Power of Light Up The Church

Last year, despite financial challenges, our community’s commitment never dimmed. Hundreds of churches, ministries, businesses, and individuals stood in visible solidarity with the Jewish people—lighting up buildings, homes, and hearts. Each light was a statement: we remember, we stand together, and we refuse to let darkness win.

Thanks to your participation, Light Up The Church 2024 saw:

Over 500 new signatures on the “I Stand With The Jewish People” declaration
139 individuals and home groups illuminating their spaces
Support from long-standing partners like the Nathaniel Foundation and the Carson-Myre Foundation

Even with limited advertising, your dedication made the event a beacon across communities and continents. I am continually inspired by every story and every photo you share. They remind me—and I hope remind you—of the tangible difference we can make, together.

Looking Ahead: How Will You Light Up 2025?

This year, our goal is to expand even further: more churches, more homes, more conversations, and more visible acts of remembrance and unity. We’re aiming for deeper partnerships, a stronger social media presence, and new ways to celebrate the courage of standing up against hate. Your participation is the spark that keeps this movement growing.

If you’re ready to be part of Light Up The Church 2025, register here and encourage your congregation or community to join. Every light—no matter how small—pushes back the darkness.

Why It Matters

With each passing year, the urgency grows. As the world faces new waves of antisemitism and as the voices of Holocaust survivors become fewer, our responsibility increases. Lighting up your church or home is not just a gesture—it’s a message to your neighbors and to the world: we remember, we stand with the Jewish people, and we believe in hope over hate.

Below is the update from the stories of July 2025.

A Holocaust survivor's unlikely friendship

A 93-year-old Holocaust survivor and a man nearly 40 years younger became best friends.

Eight decades later, a Holocaust survivor reunites with his liberator

Nearly 80 years after American soldier Jack Moran helped liberate Andrew Roth from Buchenwald concentration camp, the two men reunited in Los Angeles, sharing memories of survival, liberation, and an unbreakable bond forged during the Holocaust. Their emotional meeting, arranged by the USC Shoah Foundation, highlighted the urgent need to preserve firsthand accounts before they are lost to time.

Silver Spring Resident Prepares to Tell Her Family’s Holocaust Story

After completing the Maggid program, which trains second-generation Holocaust survivors to share their parents’ stories, Ellen Kandell traveled to Germany to honor her great-aunt murdered in the Holocaust and to reconnect with family through the return of a Nazi-looted silver cup. Inspired by the experience, Kandell now speaks to students and communities, committed to keeping her family's history — and Holocaust memory — alive for future generations.

Holocaust AI Fakes Spark Alarm

AI-generated fake Holocaust victim images are spreading on Facebook, often created for profit by content farms in developing countries, leading to widespread misinformation and emotional exploitation. Experts and institutions like the Auschwitz Museum warn that this trend distorts history and disrespects real victims, while platforms like Meta have so far failed to take sufficient action.

80 years later, a Holocaust survivor meets an American soldier who helped free him

Nearly 80 years after American soldier Jack Moran helped liberate Buchenwald, he reunited in Los Angeles with Andrew Roth — a survivor of that very camp — to share their stories with the USC Shoah Foundation. Their emotional meeting underscores the urgency of preserving Holocaust testimony, as the world risks forgetting the horrors both men endured as teenagers during one of history’s darkest chapters.

Thank you for being the light. Let’s make 2025 our brightest year yet.

God Bless,
Gidon Ariel

Blessings and Shalom,
Bob and Gidon

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