As time passes, remembrance becomes ever more essential to ensure that the atrocities of the Holocaust are never forgotten. Observed on Jan. 27, International Holocaust Memorial Day offers a global opportunity to deepen understanding of this senseless genocide and to honor the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia believes that Holocaust Survivors should be able to live out their lives with dignity. Guided by t.kha kamokha – and a commitment to caring for those in need locally, the Jewish Federation supports agencies that provide comprehensive socioeconomic services to Survivors. Through its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), the Jewish Federation also advocates on behalf of Holocaust Survivors and works to ensure their experiences are honored and never forgotten.

See below for ways to preserve the memory of the past and commit to a better future.

ATTEND A PROGRAM

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Pennsylvania is joining states across the country to "Light It Up Yellow." On Jan. 27, join the Jewish Federation, Gratz College and 3GPhilly from 5:30-6:15 p.m. at the Horwitz-Wasserman Plaza and watch as buildings around Philly light up yellow to honor the lives lost and reaffirm our commitment to Holocaust education.

TAKE ACTION

Urge Congress to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act

With the Holocaust still in living memory and antisemitism on the rise, advocating for Jewish lives and safety is paramount. One of the first steps to this is agreeing to what constitutes antisemitism. The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the Department of Education to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, the gold standard that has already been adopted by 1,200 entities including 45 countries and hundreds of municipal governments and universities. This bipartisan bill ensures that educational institutions are better prepared to respond when antisemitic incidents cross the line into unlawful behavior. Take action now by clicking here to urge Congress to pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act to protect Jewish students while preserving First Amendment rights.

LEARN ABOUT ORGANIZATIONS THAT FOCUS ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION & SURVIVORS 

Below are just some of the local nonprofit organizations the Jewish Federation is proud to partner with that focus on Holocaust Survivors, remembrance, and education.

3G Philly

3G Philly educates diverse communities about the perils of intolerance and provides a supportive forum for the descendants of Holocaust survivors, focusing on the perspective of the third generation of survivors in the greater Philadelphia area and across the Delaware Valley.

Anti-Defamation League Philadelphia

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) fights all forms of hatred and bigotry and works to expose extremism, deliver anti-bias education and combat hate online. ADL Philadelphia often partners with the JCRC to host Holocaust education programming.

Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Association

The Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Association (CJHSA) is dedicated to preserving the memory of the martyrs and victims of the Holocaust. As direct descendants of survivors, the members of the CJHSA share a deep commitment to honor their parents and relatives, preserve their unique heritage and culture, educate the community on Holocaust issues, fight bigotry and hatred, and encourage tolerance and equality.

Gratz College

Founded in 1895, Gratz College is the oldest independent and pluralistic college for Jewish studies in North America. Gratz runs a number of Holocaust education programs for students across the greater Philadelphia area.

• Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition
  Named in memory of the heroic young leader who organized Jewish resistance and gave his life fighting in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, the Mordechai Anielewicz Creative Arts Competition invites students in grades 7-12 to learn about the Holocaust and respond by means of creative expression.
• Youth Symposium on the Holocaust
  This program is intended for high school students to learn about the universal lessons of the Holocaust from dynamic presentations and small-group discussions.

Holocaust Awareness Museum Education Center

The Holocaust Awareness Museum Education Center (HAMEC) aims to educate students and adults in the Philadelphia area and throughout the world, using the resources of the museum to personalize the Holocaust so that people learn the consequences of racism, ethnic cleansing and intolerance.

Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia

The Holocaust Survivor Support program through the Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS) helps Survivors age safely and independently in their homes through holistic, comprehensive services. Through a trauma-informed lens, the JFCS works with Survivors, their families, and their caretakers to ensure Survivors in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties maintain a high quality of life, connection to resources, individualized support, and a strong sense of community.

KAVOD SHEF

KAVOD SHEF was established in March of 2019, when the Seed the Dream Foundation launched a national philanthropic matching initiative to support thousands of Holocaust Survivors living in poverty across the United States. On the local level, Seed the Dream partners with the Jewish Federation and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia (JFCS)  – two organizations that work together to meet the match and run operations to care for the Holocaust Survivor community in Greater Philadelphia.

Seed the Dream Foundation

Committed to providing critical support in response to crises across the United States and Israel, grants from the Seed the Dream Foundation protect the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable, fostering strength, resilience, and hope in times of great uncertainty. Seed the Dream Foundation supports thousands of Holocaust Survivors living at or near poverty in Israel and the U.S., ensuring individuals have access to the care necessary to lead healthy lives. 

Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation / Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza

The Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza, an initiative of the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, is an innovative space in which people of all ages and backgrounds can gather to commemorate one of the worst genocides in human history, and discover how our constitutional protections shield us from from experiencing a tragedy of similar proportions on American soil. The space honors those who passed, and those who carry on their legacy.

MAKE A DONATION

Right now, the world’s remaining Holocaust Survivors face disproportionate rates of poverty and food insecurity, many being forced to choose between heating their homes and buying food, or between medication and home repairs. The Jewish Federation provides funding for organizations to address the holistic needs of Holocaust Survivors and leads initiatives to educate, commemorate and advocate on and about the Holocaust. You can support this work to ensure Holocaust Survivors live out their lives in dignity and their stories are never forgotten by making a donation here.

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To see more photos from the ceremony, click here. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is dedicated to commemorating the Holocaust, honoring the memory of those who perished, and promoting an understanding of its consequences through educational programming, advocacy, and direct support services for aging Survivors. To learn more, click here.