Early next week, people around the world will gather for Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Day of Remembrance, a day set aside to commemorate the 6,000,000 Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust.
Shoah means "catastrophe" or "utter destruction" in Hebrew, a reference to the atrocities of the Holocaust. The 27th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan was chosen as Yom HaShoah in 1951 by the Israeli Parliament; two years later, the day became a legal holiday in Israel. Since then, the day has been recognized around the world as one of remembrance. This year, the day begins the evening of April 17 and continues until the evening of April 18.
DePaul's Jewish Life community will gather Monday, April 17, for Yom HaShoah at the Lincoln Park Student Center, in Room 314AB, and the entire DePaul community is invited and encouraged to join in a time of remembering from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday.
The commemoration service will include traditional Hebrew prayers, calling for peace and a plea that the atrocities of the Holocaust will never happen again. Those gathered will enter a quiet space to mourn the loss of all who perished and to hear the stories and reflections of Holocaust survivors (some of whom may be present), which have been coordinated with the Illinois Holocaust Museum. President Rob Manuel will provide remarks as well. And there will be a moment to consider the pain that many Jewish students, faculty and staff continue to experience through growing antisemitism around the world and on campus.
Beyond the Jewish community, others who were targeted and persecuted during the Holocaust included members of the LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, Slavic people, political opponents and Jehovah's Witnesses. As Holocaust survivor, political activist and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel stated, "Someone who hates one group will end up hating everyone." Yom HaShoah will allow DePaul to acknowledge the importance of supporting all groups who suffer from persecution and oppression.
We will cherish the stories of survivors, we will reflect and remember, and, most of all, we hope we will learn from a tragedy that continues to haunt us and define us. Please join the Division of Mission and Ministry and the Jewish Life Center to actively commemorate Yom HaShoah.
As a community we vow to never forget. As we come together, we will make a statement against hatred and we will be united in action: "Action is the only remedy to indifference: the most insidious danger of all" (Elie Wiesel).
Holocaust Day of Remembrance
Monday, April 17
5 p.m.
Lincoln Park Student Center, Room 314AB
Diane Dardón is director of pastoral care and religious diversity. Jen Goldberg is coordinator for Jewish life and interfaith ministry.