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On November 9th, we commemorate the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, the infamous pogrom during which hundreds of synagogues were burned down. With the destruction of Jewish houses of worship, the Nazis meant to eradicate the memory of Jewish culture in Germany. Today, thanks to immigration from the former Soviet Union, Germany has once again a vibrant Jewish community. Photographer Julian Voloj visited the German capitol and the nearby concentration camp Sachsenhausen, documenting Jewish heritage, renewal and remembrance.

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Julian Voloj was born in Muenster, Germany, and grew up in a Jewish community of just 80 members. His grandparents, Holocaust survivors, had emigrated to Colombia but returned to Germany. His personal background inspired him to explore issues of identity and heritage in his work as a photographer and writer. Voloj emigrated to the United States in 2003. The same year he was awarded with the Second Prize at the Washington Post Annual Photography Contest. In 2006, the Forward commissioned Voloj to photograph prominent New Yorkers such as Ed Koch, Edgar Bronfman and Abe Foxman for its anniversary book (to be released in 2007). Voloj was also commissioned for the exhibition "Germany, Land of Ideas" at the Deutsch-Historisches Museum in Berlin, one of Germany's most prestigious museums. His photographs appeared in the New York Post, the Jewish Week and other publications. Julian Voloj lives and works in New York City. To learn more about his projects, visit the website at http://www.julianvoloj.com.