April 23rd, 2018 -April 12th was the Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel (Yom haShoah). Even though it’s just one day on the calendar, usually the whole week is filled with people attending memorial ceremonies in many places all over the Land organized by various organizations, the IDF, municipalities, etc.
To make our own input into this solemn and important time for the survivors, Helping Hand Coalition for Israel (עמותת יד לעזרה ישראל) and March of Life International Movement, put together a special event for Holocaust Survivors in Caesarea Villa on Yom haShoah.
30 people, including 13 Holocaust Survivors from Nahariya and volunteers from different nations, gathered together to remember the 6 million Jewish people that perished in the Shoah and to honor those who survived. The survivors lit 6 candles with pictures of their loved ones in their hands. Each one of them had the opportunity to share their personal story.
During the ceremony, a volunteer and representative of the March of Life in Israel, shared her family story and their involvement as perpetrators in the Holocaust. She ended with a plea for forgiveness and gave a white rose to the survivors as a sign of love and taking a stand for Israel. Everyone in the room had tears in their eyes!
Then everybody was ready for a delicious meal and a small program we prepared for them. The week following Yom haShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) we had the next Memorial Day – “Yom Hazikaron” (Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism) and the big celebration of “Yom Ha’atzmaut” – 70 years of Independence – the rebirth of Israel as a nation. We are all happy were were able to spend this time with the precious survivors! Am Yisrael Hai – The people of Israel Live!
