Public reading of the names of Holocaust victims - Yom HaShoah
The „Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day“, in Hebrew „Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-LaG‘vurah“ (יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה ) is one of the days of commemoration for the victims of the Holocaust. Initially, it was suggested to hold it on the anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw ghetto uprising (14th Nisan/19th of April, 1943), but since this date is very close to Pesach, it was decided to hold it on the 27th Nisan instead. In Israel, this day is a state holiday.
In the Czech Republic Yom HaShoah only gained importance after 1989. At first, commemorative ceremonies were set up for the members of the Jewish community. Those commemorations are held to this very day in Terezín and at Pinkas synagogue in Prague.
In 2006, the Union of Czech Jewish Youth (Česká unie židovské mládeže) started a public ceremony in Prague. Everyone can participate and read out the names of those, who fell victim to racist persecution during WWII. Year by year, more cities from the Czech Republic participate in this form of public commemoration.
Note: Hyperlinks will lead to parts of our website, which may not yet have been translated to English. The pictures and videos you will find there, though, might give you an impression of the commemoration.
Yom HaShoah 2019
In 2019, Yom HaShoah will take place in 21 cities in Czech Republic on May, 2nd. For the first time, there will be a public reading held in Karlovy Vary, Mikulov, Nýrsko Prostějov and Teplice.
Yom HaShoah 2018
Held on April 12th, 2018 in 16 Czech cities: Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Liberec, Sušice, Kolín, Kutná Hora, Plzeň, Havlíčkův Brod, Ústí nad Labem, Klatovy, for the first time in Horažďovice, Lipník nad Bečvou, Mělník, Sedlčany (together with Kosova Hora, participating since 2017) and Ústí nad Orlicí.
Yom HaShoah 2017
Held on April 24th, 2017 in 13 Czech cities: Prague, Brno, Olomouc, Liberec, Sučice, Kolín, Kutná Hora, Plzeň, Havlíčkův Brod, Blatná and, for the first time, in Ústí nad Labem, Kosova Hora and Klatovy.
Yom HaShoah 2016
Public readings of the names of victims of the Holocaust took place on May 5th, 2016, in 11 Czech cities: Prague, Blatná, Brno, Havlíčkův Brod, Kolín, Kutná Hora, Liberec, Liteň u Berouna, Olomouc, Plzeň and Sušice.
Yom HaShoah 2015
On April 16th, 2016, Yom HaShoah took place for the tenth time in Prague, for the second time in Brno, Kolín, Kutná Hora, Liberec, Olomouc and Sušice.
Yom HaShoah 2014
On April 28th, 2014, Yom HaShoah took place for the ninth time in Prague. For the first time, public readings were held also in Brno, Kutná Hora, Liberec, Olomouc and Sušice.
Yom HaShoah 2013
On April 8th, 2013, the 8th public commemoration of victims of the Holocaust took place on náměstí Míru in Prague.
Yom HaShoah 2012
On April 18th, 2012, on náměstí Míru in Prague the names of victims of the Holocaust were read out in public for the 7th time.
Yom HaShoah 2011
The sixth time of public commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust on náměstí Míru in Prague took place on May 2nd, 2011.
Yom HaShoah 2010
April 11th, 2010 on náměstí Míru in Prague.
Yom HaShoah 2009
April 21st, 2009 on náměstí Míru in Prague.
Yom HaShoah 2008
April 30th, 2008 on náměstí Míru in Prague.
Yom HaShoah 2007
April 15th, 2007 on náměstí Míru in Prague.
Yom HaShoah 2006
April 25th, 2006 on náměstí Míru in Prague.
You can also visit
You are cordially invited to the public reading of the names of Holocaust victims on Yom HaShoah 2024, which will take place this year on May 6. Come together to remember those whose lives were tragically cut short during the Holocaust. The event will be held in various cities, so check the attached poster for times and locations. Take a moment to reflect and remember the victims. We would be delighted if you could join us.
It includes an invitation to Yom HaShoah in Prague and other cities in the Czech Republic, an article on the 30th anniversary of ITI and information about our many activities:
- Commemoration at Auschwitz-Birkenau
- The MemoMap exhibition: History of the Holocaust in Prague
- International cooperation
- Anne Frank Youth Network
- MemoGIS Workshop
- Austrian Traces in Terezín
This year's 19th annual public reading of the names of Holocaust victims, "Yom HaShoah", will take place on 6 May 2024. The names of victims of Nazi persecution will be read in 31 cities across the Czech Republic, commemorating the fate of those who were murdered during the Second World War.
About a month ago, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Terezín Initiative Institute at the invitation of Austrian Ambassador Bettina Kirnbauer. Till Janzer from Radio Prague International also reported on the event. You can read or listen to the article under the following link (only in German).
We would like to invite you to an educational workshop called "Art Against Death", which we are organizing. This workshop will take place on April 13, 2024 from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm in Prague.
The latest Anne Frank Youth Network action project is complete!
