Tomorrow is Holocaust Remembrance Day, marked around the world. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum explains the commemoration:
The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. When the actual date of Yom Hashoah falls on a Friday, the state of Israel observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday. When it falls on a Sunday, Yom Hashoah is observed on the following Monday.
…and includes resources on commemorating the day here.
The Chicago Tribune published a story today on local synagogues’ (Congregation B’nai Tikvah, Moriah Congregation and Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim) remembrances, telling the stories of survivors still living in their congregations. Remembrances today included ceremony, service projects and speakers.
When members of B’nai Tikvah light six candles, one for each million people killed, two will be illuminated by three members who survived the Holocaust — David and Evelyn Oberlander of Northbrook — who will kindle one together, as well as Eva Thalheimer of Lincolnshire.
Though the Oberlanders met in Munich after World War II and married after immigrating separately to the United States in 1950, they have different stories to tell. She was in a Ukrainian work camp while he hid in his brother’s apartment as a teenager never venturing outside. His brother, Paul Oberlander, was 10 years older. They lived in Turka, Poland.
After the candle lighting, the congregation will devote time to service projects:
Once Thalheimer, the Oberlanders and the other candle lighters finish, it will be time to shift gears at B’nai Tikvah. They will make blankets for a shelter, meals for the homeless, write letters to members of the Israeli Defense Forces and more, according to Lev.
In Israel, sirens go off in the middle of the morning, and everything stops. Vox has a story on this annual observance, including video of the event in 2014, embedded from YouTube here:
How is your community recognizing Holocaust Remembrance?
Posted by Cara Ellen Modisett