Today is March 29, 2024 /

Yom Hashoah

Yom HaShoah Reading of the Names
starting Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 pm

The Jacksonville Jewish Center is creating a community virtual name-reading initiative to mark Yom HaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day starting Wednesday, April 7 at 7:00 pm through Thursday evening, April 8.

Congregants can sign up to read names from the Yad Vashem memorial list by visiting hereOnce you sign up, Hazzan Holzer will contact you with a list of names and the Zoom link where you will be able to read the names from your home.  Those who wish to Zoom the recitation of names can access the event any time by clicking on this link.

Community Yom HaShoah Event hosted by the Jacksonville Jewish Center
Sunday, April 11 at 4:00 pm
Click here to join

Because of COVID concerns, the program will take place online, and consist of a pre-recorded segment as well as a live, interactive component on Zoom.  The former will feature the ritual elements we normally include: readings from the book of Psalms by synagogue clergy; the chanting of the E’Maleh Rahamim memorial prayer for those who perished during the Shoah, a virtual candle lighting with the names of those from our community who are survivors.

The interactive component will include the viewing of a 14-minute documentary, Only 982, followed by a discussion with the director, Juliet Giglio, and the two individuals, Riki Giglio and David Levy, who appear in the film.Following the film, members of our 12th grade Confirmation class will lead an interactive discussion with the subjects and director of Only 982.

Click here for more information on the Fort Ontario initiative. You may also wish to read Ruth Gruber’s moving first-person account entitled Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 World War II Refugees and How They Came to America.