|
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) is set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for reminding all people of what can happen when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign.
In 2009, Holocaust Remembrance Day will be officially observed on Tuesday, April 21.
The day is marked according to the Hebrew calendar – the 27th day of Nisan. In the United States it is common to hold remembrances and observances during a Week of Remembrance that runs from the Sunday before through the Sunday after the date.
Observance of Yom HaShoah varies widely and ranges from synagogue services to communal vigils and educational programs. While these programs almost always include a recitation of the “Mourners’ Kaddish” – the traditional Hebrew prayer for those in mourning – the day is not a religious observance as such. In Israel, the sound of a siren stops traffic and pedestrians throughout the country for two minutes of silent devotion. In the United States, survivors and their families typically gather with others in the Jewish and general community for candle-lighting services, recitations of poetry and writings from victims and survivors, and often, to hear personal accounts from actual Holocaust survivors.
As an organization devoted to keeping the memory and the lessons of the Holocaust alive through education and outreach, the Anti-Defamation League annually organizes and participates in many events commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day across the country and in Israel.
Featured Educational Resources: Teaching About the Holocaust
A leader in Holocaust education, ADL offers the following materials, programs and resources designed to help young people to learn more about the Holocaust, and to understand why the message of “Never Again” continues to hold resonance and meaning in today’s world.
|
|
|
|
|
