Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, is observed every year. It is a day of commemoration of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as a result of actions carried out by Nazi Germany. On April 24, HKHTC was honored to host the annual Yom Hashoah ceremony, which was held at the Jewish Community Centre, in remembrance of the millions of Jewish lives that perished in the Holocaust.
This year’s theme was “Never Again”. Members from all of Hong Kong’s Jewish congregations were represented.In addition, representatives from many consulates joined the evening’s gathering and other multi-faith leaders.In attendance was Sagi Karni, Consul General of Israel to Hong Kong, who gave an address. Opening remarks were read by Glen Steinman, HKHTC Director. The evening programme included a moving and graphic video documentary entitled Sgt. Howard Cwick, Jewish Liberator: Eyewitness to History.
We were proud to host the annual Yom HaShoah (Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day) ceremony at the Jewish Community Centre on Wednesday 4th May, from 7pm – 8pm.
Students from Elsa High School led the commemoration ceremony, speaking of why keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive is important to them, the future generation. Members of the Hong Kong Jewish community, including two Holocaust survivors, lit candles to remember the six million.
Yom HaShoah is observed as Israel’s day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust as a result of the actions carried out by Nazi Germany and its accessories, and for the Jewish resistance in that period. In Israel, it is a national memorial day and public holiday. It was inaugurated on 1953, anchored by a law signed by the Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion and the President of Israel Yitzhak Ben-Zvi.
On the evening of April 15th, 2015 HKHTC marked Hashoah, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, with a special ceremony at the Jewish Community Centre. The programme featured an abridged performance of Charlotte Delbo’s renowned play, “Who Will Carry the Word?”, based on the experience of 20 women imprisoned in Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Survivors, religious and lay leaders, students, and members of the community paused both to reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust and recommit to engaging with its history and mandate.