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.
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The last two days of this June were dedicated to the project of rescuing and revitalizing the original textile factory of the Löw-Beer family in Brno, known from the story of Oskar Schindler and his wife Emilie, who saved more than 1300 Jews during the Holocaust. A museum and an educational programme centre will be built in the former factory.
On Thursday, 27 June 2024, we gathered at the Academia Literary Café for the launch of Tomáš Kraus' book, which bears witness to our recent past. The book is about life in socialist Czechoslovakia in the second half of the 20th century from the perspective of someone whose parents both survived the Holocaust. What was the cultural and social scene like then?
Many guests attended the launch, including Jiří Drahoš, First Deputy President of the Senate of the Czech Republic, and Tomáš Töpfer, actor, director, scriptwriter, former theatre director and senator.
The book is available in bookstores and online.
June 28th marks 56 years since the Stonewall Riots. Since 1970, June has been celebrated as Pride Month, and serves to support and celebrate queer folks. It commemorates the riot, which took place in the US, and was a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ rights movement. It’s a time for remembrance and celebration, and a reminder of the ongoing fight against discrimination and the need for continued progress toward full equality.
At Terezin Initiative Institute, our mission is to remember Holocaust victims, research contemporary documents to return victims their faces and stories, and to leverage the knowledge and understanding acquired to promote tolerance, equality, and help maintain a pluralistic society through education.
Tomáš Kraus, director of the Terezín Initiative Institute, will launch his book, Next, Please. The literary event will take place on Thursday, 27 June 2024 at 5 pm at the Academia Literary Café, 24 Václavské náměstí, Prague 1.
Tomáš Kraus' book is a testimony to our recent past. What was life like in socialist Czechoslovakia in the second half of the 20th century from the perspective of someone whose parents both survived the Holocaust? What was the cultural and social scene like then?
You are all cordially invited.
On 16 June, a lecture by T. Kraus on the history of the Holocaust was held at the TII. The students of the Wilhelm Ostwald Gymnasium in Leipzig learned, among other things, about the project of the Arks Foundation, which is reconstructing a former textile factory in Brno into the Oskar Schindler Museum, a museum of the original owners, the Löw-Beer family and a meeting place. An insightful presentation was given by Daniel Löw-Beer, Chairman of the Board of the Arks Foundation, who coincidentally was in Prague at the time for a meeting.
Yesterday, 24 June, JUDr. Tomáš Kraus, Director of the Terezín Initiative Institute, gave a lecture introducing Jewish personalities.
And I'll take my mom's hand, smile at her and say:
"We'll get through this, won't we, my dear mom!"