Yom HaShoah

Holocaust Remembrance Day

We come together as a community to remember the six million Jews that were murdered in the Holocaust.

The Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association puts on the only community-wide Yom HaShoah Commemoration in Greater Phoenix.

Over 450 individuals attended the 2017 Yom HaShoah Commemoration & Community Gathering on April 23, 2017 at Temple Chai in Phoenix, Arizona.

The 2017 Yom HaShoah Commemoration was, as in past years, meaningful and moving for those who attended. The director of the Martin-Springer Institute at Northern Arizona University, Björn Krondorfer, PhD, spoke during the event as well as Oskar Knoblauch, a survivor, who shared his moving message with the entire community.

Kol Chai (Temple Chai Youth Choir), the Greater Phoenix Jewish Community Choir and several Cantors shared their voices and passion with the community through classic Hebrew songs and prayers.

Hannah Miller, who was awarded The Bronia and Sam Bronkesh Jewish Spirit Prize, presented her award-winning essay, “Sharing Their Stories”.

Amy L. Drake, M.Ed., a teacher in the Chandler Unified School District, was the 2017 recipient of the Shofar Zachor Award. She was presented this award for her ongoing efforts that have developed the community’s knowledge, remembrance, and respect for the Shoah.

During the Candle Lighting Ceremony, six survivors with their lit candles in memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Shoah. After which the community joined together to sing the National Anthem of Israel, “Hatikvah” (The Hope).