As the sun dipped below the horizon on Wednesday, April 23, a solemn hush swept across Israel. Cars came to a halt, pedestrians froze mid-step, and the wail of a nationwide siren cut through the evening air—signaling the beginning of Yom Hashoah, the country’s Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Observed through April 24, Yom Hashoah holds a deeply personal place in Israeli society and among Jewish communities around the globe. Though the Israeli Knesset formally established the date back in 1951—later cementing it in law in 1953—the day’s resonance now stretches far beyond the nation’s borders.
Every year, since the early 1960s, Israel’s daily rhythm grinds to a stop twice: first at sundown when the day begins, and again at 11 a.m. the following morning. For two minutes each time, life pauses. The siren sounds, and the country bows its head in silent tribute to the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust.
Radio and television broadcasters dedicate their programming exclusively to stories from the Shoah—airing survivor testimonies, historical documentaries, and reflections on the legacy of Jewish perseverance.
Speaking at a commemorative event, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tied the memory of the past to the tensions of the present. “Israel is once again facing enemies who seek its destruction,” he warned, invoking both remembrance and vigilance.
With its blend of grief, resilience, and national unity, Yom Hashoah remains a powerful reminder—not only of what was lost, but of what endures.
