There is a tradition in Israel of sounding sirens at 11:00am on Yom HaShoah. Everyone stops what they are doing and observes two minutes of silence. Traffic stops and people get out of their cars and stand in solemn tribute to the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust. It is an expression of collective memory that is truly astonishing, an emotional connection between the Israelis who are the legacy of the Shoah, and each of the individual lives lost for the crime of being Jewish.

 

It is important to have a day to remember, like we did this past Wednesday evening and Thursday. But, one day is not enough. And, we must do more than remember. We must continue to act. For living in our Jewish communities today are many who have first-hand recollections of the terror of the Nazis. These are the survivors, as many as 130,000 in North America, many of whom depend on the rest of us to ensure that they live out their lives to the fullest. We estimate that as many as 25% of survivors live in poverty and struggle to afford housing, food, health care, transportation, and meaningful human interaction. Our agencies work to assist these individuals every day, with the generous support of our partners at the Claims Conference, the federations, and countless individuals in all of our communities. 

But, the needs of the survivors continue to increase as they age. So, we must continue our work and grow our support. The best way for us to remember the Six Million and honor their memories is to cherish those Nazi victims who are still with us. Every day.

Shabbat Shalom.