Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2015

The Anguish of Liberation and the Return to Life: Seventy Years Since the End of WWII

Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day

Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah in Hebrew) is a national day of commemoration in Israel, on which the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust are memorialized. It is a solemn day, beginning at sunset on the 27th of the month of Nisan and ending the following evening, according to the traditional Jewish custom of marking a day. Places of entertainment are closed and memorial ceremonies are held throughout the country. The central ceremonies, in the evening and the following morning, are held at Yad Vashem and are broadcast on the television. Marking the start of the day-in the presence of the President of the State of Israel and the Prime Minister, dignitaries, survivors, children of survivors and their families, gather together with the general public to take part in the memorial ceremony at Yad Vashem in which six torches, representing the six million murdered Jews, are lit. The following morning, the ceremony at Yad Vashem begins with the sounding of a siren for two minutes throughout the entire country. For the duration of the sounding, work is halted, people walking in the streets stop, cars pull off to the side of the road and everybody stands at silent attention in reverence to the victims of the Holocaust. Afterward, the focus of the ceremony at Yad Vashem is the laying of wreaths at the foot of the six torches, by dignitaries and the representatives of survivor groups and institutions. Other sites of remembrance in Israel, such as the Ghetto Fighters’ Kibbutz and Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, also host memorial ceremonies, as do schools, military bases, municipalities and places of work. Throughout the day, both the television and radio broadcast programs about the Holocaust. In recent years, other countries and Jewish communities have adopted Yom Hashoah, the 27th of Nisan, to mark their own day of memorial for the victims of the Holocaust.

Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2015 will be on Thursday, 16 April. The State opening ceremony will be held at Yad Vashem on Wednesday 15 April at 20:00.

Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance

My First Yizkor Service: A Lesson for the Living

By: Dr. Joel Verstaendig

“What the eyes miss, the heart sees” – H. Kagedan

It was the eighth day of Passover 2005. I was seated next to my father in the synagogue. This would be my first time in a Yizkor service. Heretofore I had been one of the lucky ones ; I had been blessed with two living parents, and as such, I was among those who privileged to leave the sanctuary prior to this solemn prayer.

Sadly that was no longer the case, as my dear mother had died. In retrospect I now realize I had been deluding myself into believing I would never have to say Yizkor. Unfortunately, that delusion was shattered, and a new chapter of my life was about to begin.

As a product of a yeshiva education I knew that Yizkor is one of Judaism’s most emotional and heart-wrenching prayers. We recall our loved ones who have died and recite the prayer that is meant to elevate the soul of the departed.

Intellectual knowledge and emotional understanding, however, are two vastly different experiences. As I tried to say the prayer, a series of emotions, thoughts, and memories flashed through my mind. I thought of my mother’s sparkling blue eyes, her unbridled devotion to her family, her charity work, and her culinary skills. There was something surreal about reciting Yizkor for my mother who was still very much alive in my mind.

There was another disturbing incongruity I found extremely puzzling. Yizkor is recited only four times a year: on Yom Kippur and on the Shalosh Regalim – Shemini Atzeret, Passover, and Shavuot. The Shalosh Regalim are meant to be joyous celebrations, as the Torah says, “And you shall rejoice in your Festival…and you will be only happy” (Deuteronomy 16:14, 15). So why do we recite Yizkor on these days? Furthermore, why is it always said on the last day of the holiday?

As the cantor solemnly intoned the start of Yizkor I found myself thinking, “What is going on here? Today is Yom Tov….I have a couple of days off from work…I am with my family and friends…I have delicious food to enjoy…I had been feeling happy and content. Why is Hashem requiring me to think about the death of my mother now? Why not recite Yizkor on a fast day like Tisha B’Av when I am already feeling miserable?”

I recalled that when I was a child, the 21st century seemed like the distant future that existed only in science fiction stories. Now, I found myself marveling at the speed with which life had passed. My mind flashed back to an incident that occurred in my adolescence. During the warm months of the year my family often spent Sundays and vacations at Bradley Beach, a small seaside town in New Jersey. The shore attracted many teenagers who were just beginning to experience the pleasures of coming of age. As a 16 year old, my future seemed endless.

Bradley Beach was also a favorite vacation spot for senior citizens who came to enjoy the ocean air and cool breezes. One evening a group of us teens were walking on the boardwalk, savoring our nascent sense of omnipotence and conducting ourselves with typical teenage swagger. Sitting in a gazebo nearby were a group of elderly people singing the songs of their youth. This struck us as silly. We were cool; our heroes were the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. These “old” people were singing what we thought were ancient songs. We laughed and mocked them. One woman leered at us and said in a strong voice, “Just wait…someday, you’ll be old too!”

I still remember the emotions evoked by her stinging reprimand. I felt like I had been cursed – and even worse, I was so sorry to have hurt someone’s feelings.

Read more: My First Yizkor Service…

About the Author: Dr. Joel Verstaendig is a psychologist with over 30 years of clinical experience. He is an engaging public speaker whose presentations are informative, educational, and entertaining. He can be reached at drjoelv@aol.com or 516-933-6196. Visit his website: http://www.drjoelvpsychology.com