Assemblyman Tom Alfano and the West Hempstead Hebrew Academy remembered the night of shattered glass -- Kristallnacht -- by assembling and discussing the importance of remembering the tragic event. The students of the fifth and sixth grades came together with Alfano to mark how these atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II. In turn, the student body and Alfano pledged to always remember and never forget.

The group assembled to kick-off "Witness for Tolerance Day." The day was set aside and recognized by Governor George Pataki after members of the Legislature led by, in part, Assemblyman Alfano passed a resolution calling for the day so that New York state always remembers the horrors of the holocaust.

The resolution that marks Nov. 9 "Witness for Tolerance Day" reads in part: "Witness for Tolerance Day" is a time for communities to come together and demonstrate their belief in civic virtues of justice, fairness, tolerance and decency and that such a demonstration would commemorate the events that occurred on Nov. 9-10, 1938 -- Kristallnacht -- and remind Americans that racial prejudice and oppression cannot be ignored."

Students at the West Hempstead Hebrew Academy read passages of people's remembrances of Kristallnacht and watched a newsreel video that gave a chilling recall of the events surrounding the night of shattered glass.

"The students through their readings and the stirring words of the Rabbi demonstrate clearly that we can never forget. We can never turn our backs on those who oppress and we must educate ourselves so that no one can be held down and denied the basic religious freedoms we cherish," said Assemblyman Alfano.