Yom HaShoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, occurs on the 27th of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Shoah, which means “catastrophe” or “utter destruction” in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities that were committed against the Jewish people during World War II. This is a memorial day for those who died in the Shoah.
The Holocaust was the largest manifestation of antisemitism in recent history. Yom HaShoah reminds us of the horrors that Jews and other persecuted groups faced: forced labor, starvation, humiliation, and torture, which often resulted in death. It was a systematic effort to wipe out an entire population from the face of the earth.
One way to commemorate Yom HaShoah is by lighting yartzeit candles to keep alive the memories of the victims. Many synagogues and Jewish communities gather together to mark the day through worship, music, and stories from survivors.
To learn more about Yom HaShoah visit The Union for Reform Judaism or My Jewish Learning
Learn more at ReformJudaism.org Learn more at MyJewishLearning
7 Ideas for Observing Yom HaShoah from Home
Holocaust Related Books for Adults
Resources from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Books for Families About the Holocaust from PJ Library