SAN DIEGO (Press Release) – In solemn remembrance of the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust and in honor of those who survived, Jewish Federation of San Diego, the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, and Jewish Community Foundation San Diego will host the annual Yom HaShoah: Community Holocaust Commemoration on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at 1 p.m, at the Lawrence Family JCC | JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS in La Jolla.
This year’s theme, “Eighty Years Later: Bearing Witness, Building Legacy,” marks a poignant milestone: eight decades since the liberation of the concentration camps. As the world approaches a time when no Holocaust Survivors will remain to share their firsthand accounts, the responsibility to preserve their stories and educate future generations has never been more critical.
The program will feature:
- Keynote speaker Melissa Mott, Executive Vice President of Education Strategy & Programs at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. With over a decade of experience in Holocaust education and antisemitism prevention, Mott will address the importance of memory in today’s climate of rising hate and historical distortion.
- A moving candle-lighting ceremony, honoring victims and Survivors, with participation from local descendants.
- Prayers, songs, and reflections led by community leaders and clergy.
- Compelling stories from the children of Survivors as they spotlight their families’ legacies and efforts to uphold the promise of “Never Again.”
Attendees will also learn about regional initiatives to expand and modernize Holocaust education across San Diego County – vital work that ensures future generations understand this history and remain vigilant against hatred in all its forms.
The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit jewishinsandiego.org/yomhashoah.
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Preceding provided by the Jewish Federation of San Diego