Yom HaShoah

May 5, 2024 (Hebrew Calendar 27 Nisan 5784)

By Shelley Lieb

WWII ended 79 years ago. The United Nations recognized the State of Israel 76 years ago. The Israeli Knesset established 27 Nisan as Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah/Yom HaZikaron la Shoah ve-la G'rurah/Holocaust Remembrance Day) 73 years ago.

Yom HaShoah, a national day of remembrance in Israel, commemorates the 6 million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and the heroism of survivors and rescuers. For many years in our Naples Jewish community, we have held a community-wide program with traditional songs, poems, prayers, a candle lighting ceremony and speakers appropriate to the occasion.

Each year, Yad Vashem (the World Holocaust Remembrance Center) designates a focus for Yom HaShoah. Their focus this year was “A Lost World: The Destruction of the Jewish Communities.” The title for our program in Naples this year was “Unto Every Person There is a Name.”

Various organizations and individuals took part in the planning, presentations and success of this year's program, which was held at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. We would like to express appreciation to all of them as well as the many community members who attended. We are especially grateful to the local survivors who could join us this year.