December 14, 1938 Dear Principal Haines and Hillston High school Board, I hope your day has gone well. I am writing today because a friend that is near to my heart is in trouble, and I have to try to help her. When I was in 4th grade, my entire class were assigned pen pals from around the world. I was lucky enough to get assigned, Judy Stein, a Jewish German girl. At first, our letters consisted of childish ramblings about school life and our friends, but ever since the Hilter and the Nazis rose to power, her letters have greatly shifted in tone and topic. Judy is Jewish and ever since 1933, when we were in 6th grade, it became increasingly clear that she was scared of the Nazi reign. In 1935, Judy wrote to me about the Nuremberg Laws: the …show more content…
Although the Nuremberg Laws separated Jewish people from the rest of Germany, Jews could still run businesses and gather together in Synagogues. The Economic Life Law has banned Jewish people from taking part in the economy and getting together in groups. The law explicitly states, “From January 1, 1938, all retail shops, mail-order houses, and independent exercise of handicrafts were forbidden to Jews. Jewish people can’t offer goods or services in the market or anywhere you can buy them. Lawbreakers will be closed by police.” By removing Jewish businesses from Germany, the German government is forcing Jewish people to have a complete dependency on the government. Initially, Judy’s father was hoping to sell his bakery to create some savings, but just three days before the Economic Life Law passed, on November 9th, Kristallnacht, or “the Night of Broken Glass” happened. The Daily Express UK‘s November 11, 1938 issue explained the effects of Kristallnacht, “All over Germany the Jews are cowering in terror. Their shops are wrecked and looted, their mercu of gangs drunk with destruction.” Kristallnacht showcases how dangerous it is to live in Germany as a Jewish person. Jews' lives have been altered in every way since the Nazi regime, and I believe Americans need to step up. These laws are a complete contradiction of what America stands for, so we must fight for what is