Every year on the 27th of the Hebrew month of Nisan, places of entertainment are closed in Israel, and memorial ceremonies are held throughout the country in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah).
One of the most notable features of Yom HaShoa in Israel is the sounding of a remembrance siren across the country. At 10:00 AM on Monday, a continuous siren was heard throughout Israel for two minutes. During this time, Israelis stopped whatever they were doing, including driving on highways, and stood in silent devotion, remembering the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.
This year’s Yom HaShoa siren was activated by Holocaust survivor Malka Herman and her grandson, Major Maor Herman at the IDF’s Home Front Command Headquarters.
Next Tuesday, a two-minute siren will be heard once again in honor of Yom Hazikaron, the country’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. This year’s Yom HaShoa and Yom Hazikaron carry even heavier importance, coming just seven months after Hamas killed 1,200 innocent civilians and took over 250 people hostage in the deadliest day for Jewry since the Holocaust.
