Yom Hashoah - יום לשואה

YOM HASHOAH (DAY OF REMEMBRANCE):

The full name of the day commemorating the victims of the Holocaust is "Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah" - literally the "Day of (remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism." It is marked on 27 Nisan - a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers). Although the date was established by the Israeli government, it has become a day commemorated by Jewish communities and individuals worldwide.

The sound of a siren on Yom Hashoah stops traffic and pedestrians throughout Israel for two minutes of silent devotion. The siren blows at sundown and once again at 11:00 a.m. on this date. All radio and television programs during this day are connected in one way or another with the Jewish destiny in World War II, including personal interviews with survivors. Even the musical programs are adapted to the atmosphere of Yom Hashoah. There is no public entertainment on Yom Hashoah, as theatres, cinemas, pubs, and other public venues are closed throughout Israel.

There is no change in the daily religious services in Orthodox synagogues on Yom Hashoah. Many Yom Hashoah programmes feature a talk by a Holocaust survivor, recitation of appropriate songs and readings, or viewing of a Holocaust-themed film. Some communities choose to emphasize the depth of loss that Jews experienced in the Holocaust by reading the names of Holocaust victims one after another, dramatizing the unfathomable notion of six million deaths. Many Jewish schools also hold Holocaust-related educational programs on or near Yom Hashoah.

Rituals associated with Yom Hashoah are still being created and vary widely among synagogues. Attempts have also been made to observe this memorial day at home. One suggestion is that every Jewish home should light a yahrzeit (memorial) candle on this day.

While Yom Hashoah rituals are still in flux there is no question that this day holds great meaning for Jews worldwide. The overwhelming theme that runs through all observances is the importance of remembering- recalling the victims of this catastrophe, and insuring that such a tragedy never happen again.

References:

Falcon PhD, Rabbi T. and Blatner, D. (2001) Judaism for Dummies, Hungry Minds, New York.