On April 19th, 1943 members of the Ghetto refused to surrender to the Nazi police commander, who then ordered the burning of the Ghetto, block by block, ending on May 16th. A total of 13,000 Jews died, about half of them burnt alive or suffocated. It was the largest single revolt by Jews during World War II.

Formally established in 1951, Yom HaShoah literally translates to "Day of Holocaust and Heroism." In Israel, the day is somber and reflective, marked by a two minute call to silence both in the morning and at sundown. The entire country comes to a standstill whether at work, in the market, or on the freeway. This observance creates both a powerful connection to victims of the past and an immediate solidarity with those living all around you.

In America, the commemoration takes on many other forms, from candle lighting, to the reading of victims' names, to special services at schools, synagogues, and cemeteries, often with survivors or liberators serving as honored guests. Across the globe, the day of Yom HaShoah has become an opportunity for education, remembrance, and promoting awareness about the Holocaust and its victims.

Please join us on this historic anniversary by lighting your virtual memorial candle on Yom HaShoah to honor the memory of your assigned victim. This year, Yom HaShoah runs from sundown on May 3rd, 2027 to sundown on May 4th, 2027.