Yom Hashoah is an annual day of remembrance for victims of the Holocaust observed by Jewish communities around the world. It is marked on the 27th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan — a week after the seventh day of Passover, and a week before Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s memorial day for fallen soldiers.
This year, Yom Hashoah will largely be observed online. Here’s a guide to commemoration events.
Yom HaShoah 2023 begins the evening of Monday, April 17.
Written in Pencil in the Sealed Railway-Car: Using poetry and the Bible to confront our responsibility to remember – 12 p.m.: Join My Jewish Learning where we will analyze the poetry of survivor Dan Pagis as a window into his theological claims against God and to explore what it means to “remember.” Join via Zoom.
Yom Hashoah Cello Concert with Aaron Fried: On Tuesday, April 21 at 6 p.m. Eastern time, My Jewish Learning will be hosting a performance of songs of mourning, resistance and hope that have been arranged for solo cello by Aaron Fried. Watch the concert via Zoom here.
Yad Vashem: Israel’s national Holocaust museum is inviting the public to participate in an international campaign to record a reading of the names of Holocaust victims and share the video on social media using the hashtags #RememberingFromHome and #ShoahNames. Click here for more information.
Virtual March of the Living: The annual march from Auschwitz to Birkenau is being held virtually this year and is free for anyone to watch on April 21 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. The broadcast will feature an address by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and first-hand testimony from noted Holocaust survivors. The event can be watched live here.
The Holocaust Center for Humanity: The Seattle-based Holocaust education center will be hosting a live virtual program on April 21 at noon Pacific time. For details click here.
UJA-Federation of New York: The New York Jewish federation will host a virtual Yom Hashoah program on April 21 at 3 p.m. Eastern featuring Holocaust survivor Bernie Igielski and words of inspiration from Rabbi Kenneth Hain. Register here for Zoom link.
Selfhelp Community Services: The New York nonprofit serving Holocaust survivors will host a Yom Hashoah program based on the work of Witness Theater, a program that brings survivors and student actors together on stage to share stories of survival. Join the program on April 20 at 7 p.m. Eastern on Selfhelp’s website.
Sid Jacobson JCC: An intergenerational observance with Holocaust survivors, and American and Israeli teens. Join via Zoom on April 21 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.
Teach the Shoah: Light from the Darkness, a virtual ritual of remembrance, will take place on April 20 at 7 p.m. Central time. Modeled on the Passover Seder, the ritual features song and story, ritual and remembrance.
Israel Memorial Siren: Join a global audience April 20 at 12:45 p.m. Eastern for a live event during the sounding of Israel’s Holocaust memorial siren, including candle lighting in memory of the victims and the recitation of Kaddish. six million, say Kaddish, and hear a Survivor’s testimony in-English. The event will take place on Monday, April 20th 12:45 p.m. (EDT). For more information click here.
Sutton Place Synagogue: The New York synagogue will be hosting an online commemoration that on its website on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
Adas Israel Congregation: Live from Washington D.C., Adas Israel will host a commemoration on April 21 at 7 Eastern on its Facebook page.
Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation: JPEF will be hosting a program on April 22 at 11 a.m. Pacific time.
Selfhelp: A historical interview with Holocaust Survivor and esteemed artist Fred Terna: Virtual Gallery Tour and Q+A. Selfhelp is sharing the stories of our Holocaust survivor clients through art. Click here to view Holocaust survivor and world-renowned artist Fred Terna including a virtual tour of the HEARTS art exhibition featuring one of Terna’s paintings. Terna asks his viewers during these challenging times to be: “A community that is fair, just, and open, and aware of the necessity of caring for each other”
Habonim Dror North America: Join others in commemorating Yom Hashoah with Rachel Roth and her family on April 20 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Register here to join.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: The Washington museum will be hosting an online commemoration on its Facebook page at 11 a.m. Eastern on April 21.
JRoots: The organization’s Global Day of Testimony will provide an opportunity to hear from and ask questions of survivors from home. The program will run from April 20-22. For more information click here.
22nd Annual West Side Communal Observance of Yom Hashoah: Reading of the Names: This year, the all-night, all-day Reading of the Names by congregations and Jewish organizations of the Upper West Side will take place on Facebook Live beginning at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 20 and continuing until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21. Join us to bear witness and commemorate those lost in the Shoah. The Reading of the Names will be punctuated throughout the day with speakers and teachers — a complete schedule is available on the event page. Anyone is welcome to add names by posting a comment during the course of the Reading of the Names. People are also encouraged to include photos and family stories as we move to this online platform, enabling participation in a new way.
Museum of Jewish Heritage: Annual Gathering of Remembrance on April 19 at 2 p.m. Speakers include Holocaust survivors and their family members, Ambassador Dani Dayan – Consul General of Israel in New York, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Michael Burstyn, Steven Skybell, Jessica Shaw, and many others. This program will be presented on their Facebook page, YouTube channel, and website homepage.
Birmingham (AL) Holocaust Education Center: The Birmingham (AL) Holocaust Education Center has an upcoming Community Education and Bearing Witness Series, which begins next Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. The session, “Collaboration and Its Limits” will be facilitated by Rabbi Steven Jacobs, University of Alabama. Click here to register.
Congregation Beth Ahm: Join Beth Ahm of West Bloomfield, Michigan, for a reading of Megillat Hashoah online on April 20 at 7 p.m. Eastern. To register click here.
The Holocaust Museum of Houston: The museum’s virtual observance will be held on April 19 at 3 p.m. Central on its website and on their YouTube channel.
JFCS Holocaust Center: The San Francisco Holocaust education center will hold a reading of the names of Holocaust victims and a community Yizkor service on April 20. beginning at 4 p.m. Pacific time. For more information click here.
Jewish Federation of Charleston: On April 19 at 4 p.m. Eastern join Charleston’s virtual Yom Hashoah gathering via Zoom. For more information click here.
JCRC of Greater Washington: On April 19 at 1 p.m. Eastern join the JCRC online for their annual Yom Hashoah commemoration. Community-Wide Commemoration. Sign up here to receive a link to the live stream and the program booklet.
Jewish Federation of San Diego: The southern California federation will be hosting several programs beginning April 19. To learn more click here.
Sixth and I: On April 20, this Washington, D.C., congregation will host a virtual gathering at 7 p.m. Eastern. For more information click here.
JCRC of Greater Washington: On April 23 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, the JCRC of Greater Washington will host a conversation with Jennifer Rosner, debut novelist of “The Yellow Bird Sings.” For more information click here.
Together We Remember: Looking to create your own local program? Check out a slew of online virtual resources compiled by Together We Remember.
Help us keep Jewish knowledge accessible to millions of people around the world.
Your donation to My Jewish Learning fuels endless journeys of Jewish discovery. With your help, My Jewish Learning can continue to provide nonstop opportunities for learning, connection and growth.
