[Press Release] Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Memorial Day falls on the 27th of Nisan, midway between the anniversary of the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and Yom Ha'atzmaut. This year, the 27th of Nisan falls on Sunday, April 11th. There will be memorial services on that day. However, whenever the 27th falls on a Sunday, in Israel, Yom Hashoah is officially moved to the Monday. We will therefore follow Israel’s example and the Public Commemoration Service, including the Proclamation of Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Memorial Day by the Premier, will occur on Monday, April 12th. The Holocaust Awareness Committee of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, chaired by Joe Riesen, organizes a week of programs surrounding Yom Hashoah. We memorialize the Holocaust for the sake of those that were murdered, those that survived and for our own sake, in order to pave the way for a better future. As George Santayana wrote: "Those who cannot remember history are doomed to repeat it."
The Annual Holocaust Memorial Service and street-naming ceremony will begin Holocaust Awareness Week at Congregation Etz Chayim, 123 Matheson Ave. E., on Sunday, April 11th at 11:00 am.

Monday, April 12th, 12:00 noon, PUBLIC COMMEMORATION SERVICE
Holocaust Monument, Grounds of Legislature
Premier Greg Selinger will read the Proclamation of Yom Hashoah of the Province of Manitoba during the Annual Public Commemorative Service at the Holocaust Monument on the grounds of the legislature at noon on April 16th. His Worship Sam Katz will also participate. Children from various schools as well as clergy and leaders of the Jewish community will take also part in this very important and moving ceremony.

Thursday, April 15th, 7:00 pm “Voices of Winnipeg Holocaust Survivors”
Berney Theatre, Asper Jewish Community Campus, 123 Doncaster Street
The newly published Voices of Winnipeg Holocaust Survivors (edited by Belle Millo and designed by Gustavo Rymberg) documents the lives of over 70 local Holocaust survivors and their families. The book launch will take place with a musical tribute by Eli Herscovitch and his “Yiddish Memories” group.

Other programs during the week include: Sunday, April 11th at 7:00 pm: Shaarey Zedek’s “Megillat Hashoah” service – a moving tribute; Monday April 12th: B’nai Brith’s “Unto Every Person There is a Name” program at 9:30 am in room 254 of the Legislature at 9:30 am; UJPO/Sholem Aleichem Community’s “Survivors’ Flame Burning Forever?” program featuring a talk by survivor Walter Saltzberg about his own survival at 7:30 pm, Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue, 700 Jefferson Ave.; the Rady Jewish Community Centre’s special Melton Mini School Course “Contrasting Jewish Experiences of the Holocaust” at 6:45 pm in the Kaufman/Silverberg Resource Centre of the Asper Jewish Community Campus; Tuesday April 13th: Rady JCC;s Stay Young Program featuring a talk by former March of the Living participant Stevi Golden- Plotnik at 11:45 am in the Adult Lounge; Thursday, April 15th: Jewish child and family Service’s drop-in program for Holocaust survivors at 12:30 pm at the Gwen Secter Creative Learning Centre, 1588 Main Street.

For further information:
Shelley Faintuch, Community Relations Director, 477-7423 or [email protected]