Pennsylvania civic commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day set for Thursday
Share this post:
The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition is inviting the public to take part in a Holocaust Remembrance Day observation on Thursday.
Known as Yom Hashoah in Hebrew, the event was established in Israel in 1959. The name comes from the Hebrew word “shoah,” which means “whirlwind” or “catastrophe,” and is used as a term for the Holocaust. Yom Hashoah ceremonies include the lighting of candles for Holocaust victims and listening to the stories of survivors. In Israel it’s one of the most solemn days of the year.
Because of the pandemic restrictions, the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition is holding a virtual commemoration on Thursday at 11 a.m. Click here to enter the Zoom meeting at that time.
In addition to Holocaust survivors and clergy from across the state, speakers include Gov. Tom Wolf, House Speaker Brian Cutler and House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton.
“This annual ceremony brings together influential leaders across party lines to remind us all of the importance of speaking out against ethnic and religious hatred and anti-Semitism,” said Marc Zucker, chairman of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition. “Utilizing a virtual platform not only safeguards the health of the community, it expands the audience and allows us to hear from Holocaust survivors and other speakers across the commonwealth.”
Hank Butler, executive director of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, said this year’s commemoration takes on added significance in the wake of hate crimes against Asians.
“A common teaching of the Holocaust is ‘never forget, never again,’ and I think we need to instill that and continue to push for tolerance and acceptance in our society so this doesn’t steamroll and get bigger and bigger which, unfortunately, it recently has been,” he said.
“We need to push in our society to never allow the atrocities of the Holocaust to ever happen again. That means being more tolerant in society and not hating people because they are different.”