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Yom HaShoah in United States

Quick Facts

Many people in the United States observe Yom Hashoah by remembering Holocaust victims who died during World War II.

Local names

NameLanguage
Yom HaShoahEnglish
Yom HaShoahSpanish

Yom HaShoah 2012

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Yom HaShoah 2013

Monday, April 8, 2013
Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
List of dates for other years

Many people in the United States observe Yom Hashoah, which is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day. It commemorates the lives and heroism of Jewish people who died in the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945.

Railroad car used during the Holocaust

A carriage that was used to transport Holocaust victims during World War II. These victims are remembered on Yom Hashoah. ©iStockphoto.com/Brittany Carter Courville

What do people do?

Many people in the United States, including those with Jewish ancestry or connections, observe Yom Hashoah on the 27th day of the month of Nisan. Many Jewish communities hold commemorative ceremonies or events to remember Holocaust victims who died during World War II. Activities may include lighting memorial candles and reciting the Kaddish, which is a prayer for the departed.

The Masorti (Conservative Judaism) movement in Israel created Megillat HaShoah, a scroll and liturgical reading for Yom HaShoah. This is a joint effort between Jewish leaders in Israel, the United States and Canada. Rituals associated with Yom Hashoah are still being made and suggested. These rituals vary among synagogues in North America.

Educational programs about the historical events associated with Yom Hashoah are shown around this time of the year, particularly to students learning about Jewish history. These programs may include a documentary featuring Holocaust survivors’ stories, as well as a Holocaust-themed film.

Public life

Yom Hashoah is not a federal public holiday in the United States. The state of Israel moves the observance of Yom Hashoah when the actual date falls on a Friday or Sunday. It is then observed on the preceding Thursday or following Monday, respectively. Some communities in the US also follow this tradition, and there might therefore be some discrepancy about the actual date Yom Hashoah is observed in the US.

Background

Israel’s Knesset (parliament) established Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, as a memorial to about six million Jewish people who were slaughtered by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. It is observed on the 27th day of the month of Nisan. The full name of the day is Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah, which means the "Day of (remembrance of) the Holocaust and the Heroism".

About Yom HaShoah in other countries

Read more about Yom HaShoah.

Yom HaShoah Observances

Note: Jewish holidays begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday.
WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
SunApr 131980Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 301981Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 201982Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 101983Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 291984Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 181985Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueMay 61986Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 261987Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 141988Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueMay 21989Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 221990Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 111991Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 301992Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 181993Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 71994Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 271995Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 161996Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunMay 41997Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 231998Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 131999Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueMay 22000Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuApr 192001Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 92002Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 292003Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 182004Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuMay 52005Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 252006Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 152007Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
ThuMay 12008Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
TueApr 212009Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunApr 112010Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
SunMay 12011Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
WedApr 182012Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
MonApr 82013Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
MonApr 282014Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 
WedApr 152015Yom HaShoahJewish holiday 

Other holidays in April 2012 in United States

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