Fourth candle for survivors
The President of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) Gideon Taylor has announced International Holocaust Survivors Night, to be held globally on Sunday, December 13.
A Chanukah menorah on the last night of the eight-day Jewish holiday, at the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem, on Dec. 19, 2017. Photo by Mendy Hechtman/Flash90.
Every year during Chanukah, the Claims Conference honours Holocaust survivors. This year’s event will be virtual and include a live stream of the menorah lighting from the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. The free link allows anyone from anywhere in the world to join and participate webcasts.com/IHSN2020.
The event will take place at 1:30am AEST on Monday, December 14th.
“In spite of the limitations from the global pandemic, we are committed to honouring Holocaust survivors this Chanukah during the Festival of Lights. Our focus this year is on really hearing survivor voices – they are a living example of how light can conquer darkness, an example we sorely need as we wrap up this year,” said Gideon Taylor.
This year’s virtual event will include live performances from Steven Skybell, Tevye from National Yiddish Theater and Folksbiene’s hit Broadway show, the Yiddish-language production of Fiddler on the Roof; and Daniel Kahn, singer/songwriter from the Yiddish band, The Painted Bird. There will be remote greetings from Ministers in Germany and Israel, with contributions of impactful Chanukah memories from Holocaust survivors from across the globe. The event will also include a livestream of the menorah lighting at the Kotel in Jerusalem which is dedicated to Holocaust survivors.
Thousands of survivors, caregivers, family and friends from around the world are expected to attend. See below for program details and information about speakers, planned entertainment and featured Holocaust survivors.
International Holocaust Survivors Night (IHSN) was started by the Claims Conference in 2017 as the only date on the calendar to honour those who survived the Holocaust and serve as a living testimony of strength for their sacrifice and continued contributions to the world. Initial ceremonies were held in Israel, the United States, and Germany, expanding in subsequent years to include Russia and France.
Claims Conference Executive Vice President, Greg Schneider said of the event, “This year, more than ever, survivors have shown us what it is means to be strong. Faced with isolation and quarantines, they still managed to inspire the rest of us with their resilience. We ask everyone to join us for an hour to as we honour survivors around the world during this virtual event. Help us honour their sacrifices and perpetuate the light that each one brings to the world.”
For those unable to watch the webcast, a recorded version will be available to view on the Claims Conference website afterwards at: claimscon.org/IHSN2020
