16 April 2012
Yad Vashem continues “Gathering the Fragments” Campaign to collect and preserve personal items from the Holocaust period
The central theme for this year’s Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day is My Brother’s Keeper: Jewish Solidarity During the Holocaust.
The official Opening Ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 20:00, in Warsaw Ghetto Square, Yad Vashem, Mount of Remembrance, Jerusalem.
Israel’s President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will speak. Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council will kindle the Memorial Torch. Joseph Melamed will speak on behalf of the survivors.
During the ceremony, Holocaust survivors will light six torches. First torch: Bat-Sheva Dagan second torch: Anatoly Rubin; third torch: Eliezer Lev-Zion, fourth torch: Chasia Vardi, fifth torch: Yehuda Widawski; sixth torch: Artemis Miron. During the ceremony, short videos of the torchlighters’ testimonies will be shown (produced and directed by Shlomo Hazan).
The traditional memorial service will take place during the ceremony. The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yonah Metzger will recite Psalms. The Rishon Lezion Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo Amar will recite Kaddish. El Ma’aleh Rahamim, a Jewish prayer for the souls of the martyrs, will be recited by IDF Chief Cantor Lt. Col. Shai Abramson.
Participants in the ceremony include singer Keren Peles, and singer Corporal Guy Peltz, accompanied by a chamber trio, as well as the IDF Paratroopers’ Honor Guard. Narrative piece: actor Moni Moshonov. The evening’s MC will be Kobi Meidan.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on television on Channels 1, 2, 10 and 33, and channel 9 in Russian, and by radio on Kol Israel and Galei Zahal. It will last about one hour and a quarter.
At 22:00 a special radio program entitled “With a Sensitive Touch” featuring Yad Vashem staff reflecting on their work preserving Holocaust memory, will air on Galei Zahal. The program is edited and presented by Ehud Graff.
Yad Vashem will be closed to the public as of 12 noon on April 18. It will re-open on Thursday, April 19, at 8:00 a.m.
Yad Vashem is continuing the “Gathering the Fragments” campaign in an effort to rescue Holocaust related documents, artifacts, photographs and art. A special collection stand for people who would like to donate Holocaust-related material will be set up near Warsaw Ghetto Square at Yad Vashem and will operate from 11:00 on April 19. To donate material to Yad Vashem, call [in Israel] 1-800-25-7777.
Information about Holocaust Remembrance Day, as well as online exhibits, educational materials, video testimony, a form for people to submit names for reading in the Hall of Remembrance on Holocaust Remembrance Day.
MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS
Entrance for Journalists to the Opening Ceremony on Wednesday April 18, 2012 COVERAGE OF THE OPENING CEREMONY IS OPEN, WITH PRIOR REGISTRATION, AND VALID 2012 GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE CARD ONLY.
Journalists should arrive at Mt. Herzl by 18:00.
Shuttles will run from Mt Herzl from 17:30.
Private vehicles will not be admitted to Yad Vashem.
No firearms permitted. It is recommended to dress warmly.
Entrance for Journalists to the Wreath-Laying Ceremony in the Presence of the President and Prime Minister, Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.
Journalists will be permitted to enter the site by buses available to the public at the Mt. Herzl parking lot beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Private vehicles will not be admitted to Yad Vashem.
ENTRANCE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED WITH A VALID 2012 GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE CARD. THERE WILL BE NO ENTRY TO THE CEREMONY AFTER 8:45. No Firearms Permitted.
From 11:00-20:30 entry will be permitted to all events at Yad Vashem, by way of shuttle service from Mt. Herzl.
Follwoing are details of the Remembrance Day events at Yad Vashem:
Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2012
Program of Events at Yad Vashem Thursday 19 April
10:00 Siren10:02 Wreath-laying ceremony with the participation of Israel’s President, Prime Minister, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, President of the Supreme Court, Chairman of the World Zionist Organization, Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Chief of the General Staff, Chief of Police, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Mayor of Jerusalem, representatives of survivor and fighter organizations and delegations from throughout the country—Warsaw Ghetto Square
10:30 – 12:30 “Unto Every Person There is a Name” Recitation of Holocaust victims’ names by members of the public—Hall of Remembrance
11:00 “Unto Every Person There is a Name” Recitation of Holocaust victims’ names under the auspices of the Speaker of the Knesset—Knesset
From 11:00 “Gathering the Fragments” Collection of personal Holocaust-related items from the public—VIP Pavilion, Warsaw Ghetto Square
Educational activities for groups from Israel and abroad, including meetings with survivors, plays, creative workshops and theater and musical performances—International School for Holocaust Studies and across the Yad Vashem campus
13:00 Main memorial ceremony—Hall of Remembrance
13:30 Memorial ceremony for the Association of Hungarian Jews in Israel—Synagogue 17:30 Ceremony for youth movements in the presence of Israel's Minister of Education, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education’s Youth Movement Council and Youth and Social Administration—Valley of the Communities
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18:30 Special evening of the “Generation to Generation-Bearers of the Holocaust and Heroism Legacy” organization with the participation of Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev. The program includes a lecture by Dr. Mala Meyer and a performance of "The Twin Sisters" based on the work by acclaimed Yiddish poet Abraham Sutzkever —Wohlin Community Hall, Givatayim
For registration and details: dorot.hahemshech@gmail.com or tel: 02-6443822
19:00 Premiere of the Oscar nominee In Darkness directed by Agnieszka Holland, in cooperation with the Visual Center and Lev Cinemas—Lev-Dizengoff, Tel Aviv For tickets: *5155 or lev
