HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR DAY 2023
United States of America's Celebrations
Over 18 communities celebrated Holocaust Survivor Day in 2023 in the USA. Many of the events incorporated proclamations from city and state governments, officialy declaring June 4th as Holocaust Survivor Day. A few of the celebrations are highlighted below.
New York City's Celebration
Mayor Eric Adams joined UJA - Federation of New York along with 7 partner organizations who support Holocaust survivors at Gracie Mansion to thank them for the work they do, and to survivors for continuing to share their stories. Over 40 survivors enjoyed the luncheon at Gracie Mansion.
Photos below courtesy of Gracie Mansion's photographer.
Philadelphia's Luncheon for Survivors
Survivors and their families gathered for a luncheon at the Museum of Jewish American History in Philadelphia on Sunday, June 4th. The luncheon was coordinated through the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and 5+ other partners.
Proclamations were issued by both Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.
Holocaust Survivor Day Links Two Communities -- Atlanta, Georgia and Krakow, Poland
More than 120 people gathered at Congregation B’nai Torah for Atlanta, Georgia’s first Holocaust Survivor Day, to celebrate the resilience and strength of Holocaust survivors. Held in conjunction with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Krakow, Poland, where over 20 survivors gathered, the event engaged two Jewish communities more than 5,000 miles apart through the use of Zoom and a belief in Am Yisrael Chai, an assertion that the Jewish nation lives on and is united, despite challenges or adversity.
The event was hosted by the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Holocaust Survivor Services of Jewish Family & Career Services, and the Jewish Community of Krakow. Eric Robbins, CEO of the Atlanta Federation; Terri Bonoff, CEO of JF&CS; Rabbi Joshua Heller, senior rabbi of Congregation B’nai Torah; and Jonathan Ornstein, CEO of JCC Krakow, spoke about the importance of the event and continuing to meet survivors’ needs.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a proclamation, making June 4th officially Holocaust Survivor Day in the state.
Israel's Celebration
Israel celebrated the day with an event in the Knesset, where over 40 Holocaust survivors and government officials gathered together to honor the day.
