Knesset to host Holocaust Remembrance events on April 24

On Thursday, April 24 (26th of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar), the Israeli Knesset will hold official events in observance of Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, under the theme: "From the Depths – The Pain of Liberation and Growth, Marking 80 Years Since the Defeat of Nazi Germany."

The day will begin at 8:00 AM with a "Yizkor Candle-Lighting Ceremony" at the entrance to the Knesset, known as the "MK Entrance." Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana will formally open the ceremony, which honors the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. This moment of solemn reflection will feature the symbolic lighting of memorial candles, each flame representing both a personal and collective memory of loss.

At 11:00 AM, the official state ceremony titled “Each Person Has a Name” will take place at the Chagall Hall. Now in its 36th year, the event is a central pillar of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. It includes the public reading of names of Holocaust victims by Knesset members and Holocaust survivors. In a deeply moving tribute, survivors will also light memorial candles, reinforcing the enduring human connection to those lost and ensuring their stories are never forgotten.

The event will be live-streamed via the Knesset Channel on YouTube, allowing the public in Israel and around the world to take part in the commemorations.

Media personnel planning to attend must arrive by 10:15 AM at Chagall Hall, where a special briefing for photographers will be conducted. The Knesset’s spokesperson’s office will provide updates throughout the day, including photos and video clips from the ceremonies.

These events stand as a powerful reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and serve to honor both the memory of those who perished and the resilience of those who survived.