Israel comes to standstill as nation marks Holocaust Memorial Day
Israel came to a standstill as the entire country ground to a halt in memory of the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The official state ceremony, held under the banner “Out of the Depths: The Pain of Liberation and Growth,” took place on Wednesday night, with a shadow still cast over the nation by the Oct. 7 massacre, the ongoing war against Hamas, and the 59 people, including Americans, still being held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew a connection between the Holocaust and the current threats facing Israel, emphasizing the strength of the State of Israel and the IDF in defending the Jewish people. He made it clear that Israel would do whatever is necessary to return the hostages held by Hamas and defeat their enemies. Netanyahu condemned the actions of Hamas, comparing them to the atrocities committed by the Nazis during the Holocaust.
President Donald Trump also issued a proclamation to mark the solemn occasion, acknowledging the rise of antisemitism in America and the tragic attack on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023. He expressed solidarity with the Jewish people and emphasized the need to combat antisemitism in all its forms.
During the main remembrance event, Israeli President Isaac Herzog vowed to never allow another genocide to be perpetrated against the Jewish people. He declared that Israel would not forget, forgive, or remain silent in the face of those who wish harm upon the Jewish people.
Holocaust survivor Gad Fartouk, 93, lit one of six memorial torches during the event and offered a prayer for the safe return of all hostages. President Herzog traveled to Poland to lead the March of the Living at the former Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, where survivors and relatives of survivors and victims gathered to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust.
The March of the Living paid special tribute to the Allied forces who liberated the Nazi camps 80 years ago, with participants including family members of those murdered or still held captive, as well as relatives who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict. The event also honored the memory of those impacted by the Oct. 7 attacks and the survivors who have since passed away.
Approximately 120,000 Holocaust survivors who immigrated to Israel remain alive, with around 13,000 having died in the past year. A recent report projects that the population of Holocaust survivors is rapidly declining, with just half expected to be living in six years. Despite this, ceremonies, programs, and survivor testimonies continue to take place across Jewish communities worldwide to ensure that the memory of the Holocaust lives on.
Yom Hashoah, observed annually in Israel on the 27th day of the Hebrew calendar month of Nissan, serves as a solemn reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the importance of never forgetting the past. The ceremonies and events held in Israel and around the world honor the memory of the 6 million Jews who perished and serve as a testament to the resilience and strength of the Jewish people.
