Bearing Witness

Since 1951, Israel and Jewish communities worldwide have observed Yom HaShoah. It is a day to remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. It also honours the heroism of the Jewish resistance. Yom HaShoah takes place on the 27th day of the Jewish month of Nisan, which is usually in April.  

In 2005, the United Nations declared January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD). This day honours all victims of the Nazi regime, both Jewish and non-Jewish. IHRD also promotes efforts to combat antisemitism, racism and intolerance.  

Yad Vashem is the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Israel. It is an archive, museum and research centre. It has compiled the Book of Names to record the names of every Jewish victim of the Holocaust. So far, the Book of Names has over 4.8 million names, but many are still missing because of incomplete records. Yad Vashem also recognizes those who rescued Jews during the Holocaust. They are known as the Righteous Among the Nations. 

In the decades following the Holocaust, survivors began to share their stories. Many spoke in memory of those who had perished. They spoke so the Holocaust would not be forgotten. Through the survivors' efforts, thousands of eyewitness testimonies were recorded. These testimonies provide important lessons for future generations. 

In 1994, survivors in Vancouver founded the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Their vision was a world free from antisemitism, racism and genocide. It is part of a global effort to educate about the Holocaust and its important lessons.