Friday, April 9, 2010

Yom HaShoah ~ Holocaust Memorial Day

Yom HaShoah is observed on the 27th day of Nissan in the Hebrew calendar. In the year 2010, this date corresponds to Sunday, April 11, 2010.

The date for the memorial day was officially designated by the Israeli Knesset in 1951.

In Israel, sirens are sounded for 2 minutes at sundown and again at 11:00 a.m., on Yom HaShoah. Everyone stops what they are doing and stand at attention. There is no public entertainment on Yom HaShoah ~ all theaters, movie theaters, pubs and public clubs are closed throughout the country.

In the United States, many communities observe this day. In my community, the local newspaper sponsors an essay contest for the local schools to participate in. The essay requires the students to answer questions pertaining to Holocaust and/or human rights issues. Students ranging from elementary to high school age are encouraged to participate. There is an ecumenical community service, held at one of the local synagogues, and the winners of the essay contests are awarded their prizes.

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