30 November 2001
The central theme for this year’s Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day is: Their Last Voice: Letters and Testaments from Jews in the Holocaust
The Official Opening Ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day will take place on Monday, 8th April 2002, at 20:00, at the Warsaw Ghetto Square, Yad Vashem, Har Hazikaron, Jerusalem.
The President of the State of Israel, Moshe Katsav, and the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon will participate in the ceremony. Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate, will kindle the Memorial Torch, and Ruth Bondi will speak on behalf of the survivors.
The six torchlighters are Holocaust survivors who established their lives anew in the State of Israel: Mordechai (Motke) Eldar, Esther Zamri, Professor Kalman Perk, Michael Urich, Ovadia Baruch, and Loti (Nomi) Lang.
During the ceremony the official memorial service will take place. The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, will recite Psalms. The Rishon Lezion Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, will recite Kaddish. El Maleh Rahamim will be recited by Cantor Asher Hainowitz.
Also taking part in the ceremony will be the IDF Educational and Youth Corps’ Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Menachem Nebenhaus, The Moran Choir Beit Yitzhak conducted by Naomi Faran, and the singer Etti Ankri. Master of Ceremonies will be Gilad Adin, and Texts will be read by Moshe Ivgi and Ayelet Zorer.
The ceremony, which will last one hour, will be broadcast live on Channels 1 and 2, on cable channels 23 and 33, and simultaneously by radio on Kol Israel and Galei Tzahal.
Following the ceremony there will be a symposium in the Yad Vashem auditorium titled “Years Gone By and the Memory Still Holds Strong – The Memory of the Holocaust from Generation to Generation”. Moderated by Aharon Barnea, the panel participants will be Roman Frister, Tsippy Gon-Gross, Lizzie Doron, and Jacky Levi. The symposium is open to the public.
An international conference on the subject: “The Legacy of Holocaust Survivors” will be held at The International School for Holocaust Studies from 8-11 April in association with the Center of Organizations of Holocaust Survivors in Israel, and the Claims Conference.
MEDIA ARRANGEMENTS
Entrance to the Opening Ceremony on Monday, 8.4.02, for Journalists
This year the media arrangements differ from those of previous years: A special bus for journalists will depart Mt. Herzl at 18:00 ONLY – there will be no further departures for journalists.
Journalists arriving after 18:00 will only be able to reach the ceremony by way of buses available to the public, and will then go through security with the general public.
ENTRANCE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED WITH A VALID GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE CARD WHICH WILL BE CHECKED AT MT HERZL.
Private vehicles will not be admitted to Yad Vashem.
No firearms permitted!
Dress warmly.
Entrance to the Wreath-Laying Ceremony, Tuesday 9.4.02, for Journalists
Journalists will be permitted to enter the site by buses available to the public at the Mt. Herzl carpark from 07:30.
Private vehicles will not be admitted to Yad Vashem.
ENTRANCE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED WITH A VALID GOVERNMENT PRESS OFFICE CARD.
There will be no entry to the ceremony after 09:30.
From 10:30 entry will be permitted to all events at Yad Vashem – by way of transportation commencing at Mt. Herzl, throughout the day until 20:00.
Events on Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day, Tuesday, 9.4.02
- 10:00 Siren
- 10:02 Wreath-laying ceremony, with the participation of Israel’s President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the Knesset, President of the Supreme Court, Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Chief of General Staff, Chief of Police, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Mayor of Jerusalem, public figures, Representatives of survivor organizations, school children, and delegations From throughout the country
- 08:30-15:00 Meetings with survivors, multimedia activities, guided tours and creative workshops - International School for Holocaust Studies
- 10:30-12:30 “Unto Every Person There is a Name” – recitation of names of Holocaust victims, under the auspices of the Speaker of the Knesset. Avraham Burg - Hall of Remembrance and Knesset 13:00 Main Memorial Ceremony – Hall of Remembrance
- 15:30 Memorial Ceremony for Hungarian Jews who perished in the Holocaust -Memorial to the Jewish Soldiers and Hall of Remembrance
- 16:00 Memorial Ceremony for former members of the Jewish Resistance in France – Auditorium
- 17:30 Ceremony for youth movements – in conjunction with the Israel Information Center, the Youth and Social Administration and the Youth Movement Council of the Ministry of Education – Valley of the Communities
