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| Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Israel Series at HebrewPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Israeli holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 13, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day |
| The Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism - יום הזכרון לשואה ולגבורה (yom hazikaron la’shoa ve’lagvuara), or Holocaust Remembrance Day for short, is designated as a time to reflect on the memory of the Holocaust that the Nazis brought upon the Jewish people, and to reflect on the acts of heroism performed during those times. In Israel, this day occurs on the 27th of the Hebrew month of Nissan - ניסן. In the Gregorian calendar, this corresponds to sometime in April or May. |
| Holocaust Remembrance Day is a national day of mourning in the country of Israel. |
| Now, before we get into more detail, I've got a question for you- |
| Which other countries have a Holocaust Memorial Day, besides Israel? |
| If you don't already know, keep listening! The answer will be revealed at the end of this lesson! |
| The Holocaust was a series of acts of persecution and genocide - רצח עם (rezach am) that Nazi Germany perpetrated during World War II, with the aim of annihilating the Jewish people. The number of Jewish fatalities in the Holocaust is estimated at about 5.9 million. The Nazis concentrated the Jews in ghettos - גטאות (ge’taot), work camps, and death camps - מחנות השמדה (mahanot ha’shmada), where the Jews were killed in gas chambers, and in other ways. |
| The Holocaust occurred in every place the Nazi occupation extended to. The impact of the Holocaust on Jewish communities in Europe and North Africa was irreversible. |
| Holocaust Memorial Day is also dedicated to acts of heroism conducted by victims who resisted the Nazis. Jewish resistance took various forms, and culminated in the armed revolt that the Jews conducted in the ghettos. Aside from armed resistance, non-violent forms of resistance, like smuggling food, hiding out in concealed areas and forests, and insubordination to Nazi commands existed as well. In many ghettos and camps, in spite of everything, Jews tried to maintain cultural and communal life, in order to preserve their human dignity. |
| The Day of Remembrance of the Holocaust and Heroism is marked by a series of events that begin the night before, with a state ceremony in Jerusalem, which is attended by the the president of the country of Israel, the prime minister - ראש הממשלה (Rosh ha’memshala), Holocaust survivors, and members of subsequent generations. At the ceremony, six torches are lit in memory of the six million victims who were murdered. In the morning, a two-minute siren - צפירה (tzfira) is sounded throughout the country, during which all vehicle traffic stops, and everyone stands silently. Television and radio programming is dedicated to Holocaust topics, and schools and state agencies conduct memorial services. |
| Holocaust Remembrance Day is held between the date that marks the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - מרד גטו ורשה (mered Getto Varsha) and the date of Israel’s Independence Day, highlighting the Jewish people’s transition from Holocaust to revival. |
| Now it's time to answer our quiz question- |
| Other than Israel, which countries observe a Holocaust remembrance day? |
| Other countries that officially commemorate the Holocaust are Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and nineteen other European countries. In 2005, the United Nations designated an international Holocaust Remembrance Day. |
| How was this lesson? Did you learn something interesting? Is the Holocaust commemorated in your country? |
| Leave a comment letting us know at HebrewPod101.com, and we'll see you in the next lesson! |
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