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Remembering the past to protect our future, Yom HaShoah honors the memories of those lost during the Holocaust.
As we turn the pages of history towards the future, we pause on May 4 to observe Yom HaShoah, a day of solemn reflection and remembrance. Initially inaugurated in 1953 by the state of Israel, Yom HaShoah is an important day that commemorates the lives and heroism of the six million Jewish people who perished during the Holocaust. It's a day when we pay homage to those who suffered, endured, and resiliently emerged from one of the darkest chapters in human history. We remember not just to honor the past, but also to enlighten our present and safeguard our future against such atrocities. Join us on Yom HaShoah in paying tribute to these souls and reinforcing a pledge of 'Never Again'.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1951</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Yom HaShoah Proposed</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Knesset (Israel's Parliament) proposed a day of remembrance for victims of the Holocaust.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1953</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Establishment Of Yom HaShoah</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Knesset passed a law formally establishing Yom HaShoah as a day of commemoration.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1959</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Instituting Memorial Ceremonies</div><div class='timeline-text'>Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, started annual memorial ceremonies on Yom HaShoah.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1961</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Start Of Siren Tradition</div><div class='timeline-text'>A two-minute siren is sounded across Israel to remember the victims, a tradition that started in 1961 and continues today.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1981</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Yom HaShoah Worldwide Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>Yom HaShoah observed in many countries around the world, extending its commemoration beyond Israel.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Yom HaShoah Digital memory</div><div class='timeline-text'>People around the world took to social media to share stories and remembrances, keeping the memory of the victims alive in the digital age.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Light a Yahrzeit candle</h3><p class='facts-text'>Lighting a Yahrzeit candle at home is a traditional Jewish mourning practice that’s done on the anniversary of a loved one’s death. On Yom HaShoah, this ritual is performed in remembrance of those who perished during the Holocaust, with the candle burning for 24 hours.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Attend a commemorative event or participate in a moment of silence</h3><p class='facts-text'>Many communities hold events and readings on Yom HaShoah. This could include testimonies from survivors, musical concerts, or readings of names of those who perished during the Holocaust. You can also observe a moment of silence to pay your respects.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Educate yourself and others</h3><p class='facts-text'>Learn more about the Holocaust by reading books, watching documentaries, or visiting museums. Use this knowledge to educate others so that the memories of victims and lessons learned can continue to be passed on.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sponsor a tribute</h3><p class='facts-text'>Consider sponsoring a tribute in the name of a Holocaust victim, such as planting a tree in Israel or donating to a Holocaust education organization. This not only honors the memories of those lost, but also supports efforts to educate and remember.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Share stories</h3><p class='facts-text'>Sharing the stories of Holocaust survivors and victims is an important part of keeping their memories alive. Encourage older family members who are willing to share their experiences or gather friends and family to read memoirs and accounts of survivors.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It reminds us of our responsibility to remember</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Yom HaShoah is an important day that reminds us of our responsibility to remember and honor the six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust. By observing this day, we pay tribute to the victims and ensure their stories are not forgotten, thereby protecting our future from repeating such devastating atrocities.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It promotes education and understanding</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The observance of Yom HaShoah provides an opportunity to learn about the history of the Holocaust, promoting education and understanding. It's a chance to educate ourselves and others about this dark period, thereby fostering empathy and reinforcing our shared commitment to 'Never Again'.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It fosters community and solidarity</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Commemorative events on Yom HaShoah bring communities together in remembrance, fostering a sense of solidarity. Whether through attending an event, lighting a Yahrzeit candle, or participating in a moment of silence, we're reminded that we're all part of a larger global community and that standing together in the face of hate and oppression is pivotal.</p></div></div>
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