Yom HaShoah

Each year on the 27th of Nisan, April/May, Yom HaShoah is held. It is a Holocaust Remembrance Day and honors the millions of Jews who died during the Holocaust. It is Israel’s National Memorial Day and has been held on this day since 1951. The only time that it is not held on the 27th is if it falls on the Jewish Sabbath and then it is put off by a day.

The First Remembrance Day

The very first day of mourning this tragic event took place on December 28, 1949. It was a traditional day of mourning and fasting within the Hebrew calendar and was a day marked by the ashes and bones of thousands of Jews to the Jerusalem cemetery where they were buried. Since then, the dates have shifted some, to find an appropriate date and for many years now it has been held on the 27th.

Remembering the Fallen

Most areas have their own unique things that they do on the 27th to remember those who did not survive the Nazis. Some areas may fly their flags at half mast at sundown on Yom HaShoah. In areas such as Jerusalem and the surrounding area, a siren will go off at 10 am. During the siren blare, people often get out of their vehicles and stand in silence. In Tel Aviv, everyone takes a break from their normal routines to stand in silence and grieve for the lives lost so many years ago. As Jews are spread out worldwide, there are often other ways that they may remember the fallen. There may be memorial services, communal vigils, and more.

The March of the Living

If remembering isn’t enough, there are many who take part in, “The March of the Living” which runs from Auschwitz to Birkenau, as well as other areas. It is held yearly and brings kids from all around the world to Poland. While in Poland, students have the chance to explore the remnants of the holocaust, including a Nazi concentration camp which was built in World War II.