Although most people refer to the day set aside to remember the Holocaust as Yom HaShoah or Holocaust [Remembrance] Day, its official name is Yom Hazikaron LaShoah ve-LaGevurah, “Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day.” It was inaugurated in 1953 and takes place on the 27th of Nissan. The original proposal was to hold Yom Hashoah on the 14th of Nisan, the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising (April 19, 1943), but this was deemed unworkable as it would then fall the day before Pesach, when many people are making preparations for the upcoming holiday. The date was thus moved to the 27th of Nisan, which is only eight days before Yom Ha’atzma’ut, Israeli Independence Day, and therefore symbolically ties the two days together (see the next article on Yom Hazikaron, Israel Memorial Day, for a more extensive explanation of the juxtaposition of these dates.)
Because Yom Hashoah was placed in the month of Nisan, which traditionally is a joyous month, and because there are other days set aside in the Jewish calendar that commemorate tragic days in Jewish history, not everyone approved of the chosen date. Nonetheless, the vast majority of Jews wanting to commemorate those that perished in the Holocaust have adopted this day.
Although it may not seem that the difference between the official name of the day as Yom Hazikaron LaShoah ve-LaGevurah, “Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day,” and the simpler title Yom Hashoah is important, it actually changes somewhat the emphasis and original intention of the day. As mentioned above, the initial date chosen coincided with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in order to balance the impression that all Jews went to their deaths passively without a fight. Despite the fact that Jews were unarmed against an inconceivably cruel enemy, and that no one could have imagined ahead of time the demonic intent to murder an entire people, Jews in Europe did in fact resist on numerous occasions once the true intent of the Nazi killing machine became clear. Although resistance movements sprung up throughout occupied Europe, the Warsaw Ghetto uprising was among the most sustained and concentrated acts of resistance, which further spurred revolts in many of the concentration camps including Treblinka, Sobibor, and Auschwitz-Birkenau once word got out. Many Jews also joined partisans throughout Europe, and approximately 500,000 Jews served in the Soviet Red Army during World War II. An additional 550,000 Jews fought in the American army, 100,000 in the Polish army, and 30,000 served in the British army.
Those Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, and the various camps where there were uprisings, knew their chances of victory were next to nil, but decided that it was better to resist and die than to give in to the inhumanity of total genocide. Their sacrifice and bravery left an indelible mark on the fledgling fighters of the nascent resistance movements in Palestine fighting for an independent Jewish state and forged a philosophy of self-reliance and determination prevalent in Israel to this very day.
It is thus especially pertinent to point out that Yom Hazikaron LaShoah ve-LaGevurah takes place during the week of gevurah in the Omer count, emphasizing the aspects of strength and resistance implied in the full official name of this commemorative event. Along with numerous instances of physical resistance and revolt, there were countless acts of spiritual heroism as many Jews under the worst conditions imaginable courageously attempted to continue to observe the Torah and fulfill mitzvot the best way they could, as well as to maintain a sense of humanity and Godliness for themselves and for those around them.
In the book of Ezekiel (16:6), the prophet exclaims in God’s Name: “And I passed by you and saw you downtrodden with your blood, and I said to you, ‘With your blood, live,’ and I said to you, ‘With your blood, live.’” This verse is said at every circumcision ceremony to emphasize that our covenant with God is sealed in our very blood. Although we will never truly understand or grasp the Holocaust, it is somehow through the blood of those who perished that we merited just three years later to re-establish a Jewish homeland.
A similarly life affirming theme was proclaimed by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, who composed the song “Am Yisrael Chai,” “The people of Israel lives,” in response to a request to compose a song for the 1960-1980’s movement to free the Jews of the Soviet Union. That song, which captures the unwavering spirit of the Jewish people, has become a standard proclamation sung at Jewish events worldwide.
The original intent and the underlying meaning of Yom Hazikaron LaShoah ve-LaGevurah is to honor not only those who perished in the Holocaust, but also to remember those who resisted and fought courageously against the Nazi killing machine. Standing silently in the Land of Israel with heads bowed in reverence while the sirens blare on Yom HaShoah and Yom Hazikaron is a profound experience, one that opens the heart and instills a spiritual sense of determination to live as free and proud Jews.
