International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 27th marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a solemn occasion to honor the memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, as well as millions of others who suffered under Nazi persecution. This date commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945 and serves as a reminder of the importance of education, reflection, and action against hatred and discrimination.
While the activities we share on this blog often center around joy and celebration, it is equally vital to engage with events that challenge us to remember, learn, and grow. Through thoughtful participation in meaningful activities, we can better understand the lessons of history and foster a commitment to building a kinder, more inclusive world.
With that in mind, we’ve decided to forgo our usual six activities per the domains of wellness and instead focus on on only three- emotional, spiritual and intellectual as these are the cornerstone domains for this solemn day.
Emotional - Sharing Stories
Facilitate a space to share survivor stories, either through reading excerpts from memoirs or watching recorded testimonies from Holocaust survivors. This emotional connection fosters empathy and reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit. For those unable to engage in longer sessions, offer shorter clips or summaries of survivor narratives.
We have included some stories in our ceremony below, but here are some suggestions for other people:
Spiritual- Candle Lighting Ceremony
Our Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony was written for a target audience of older Christian Americans as this is the group that Sonia spends the majority of her time with. As such, the songs and prayers included are of that nature. We recommend switching out these elements of the ceremony to better suit your audience.
A couple of suggestions for Jewish songs and prayers:
El Malei Rachamim – A prayer for the care of the souls of the departed which translates to “God full of compassion”.
Zog Nit Keyn’Mol – An anthem of resistance inspired by the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 whose title translates to “Never Say This Is the End”.
Possible alternative hymns and songs (not Jewish)
It Is Well With My Soul – A hymn which reflects upon peace and faith amidst tragedy.
Let There Be Peace on Earth – A heartfelt call for unity and harmony.
On Eagle's Wings – A reflection about finding comfort in faith.
Abide With Me – A hymn of comfort in the face of loss and darkness.
Intellectual- Museum Visit
Visit a Holocaust museum, such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. If you don’t have one nearby, or your loved one is unable to visit, check out some online exhibitions such as these:
Americans and the Holocaust – An exhibit which explores the American response to Nazism, the war and the Holocaust.
State of Deception: the Power of Nazi Propaganda – An exhibit about the power that propaganda has to control people and destroy democracy.
More resources can be found here.
