The Shoah is the Hebrew term for the Holocaust, and the full name of Yom Hashoah VeHagevurah literally means the “day of remembrance of the Catastrophe and the Heroism.”

How much do you know about Yom HaShoah, and what happens on this day? What’s the difference between Yom HaShaoah and the United Nations’ International Holocaust Remembrance Day?

Alice Henry draws on her family’s experience of the Holocaust, and her own experience as an Ashkenazi Jewish woman, to share about Yom HaShoah, historic and current antisemitism, Jewish holidays, and much more in this episode of Changing Lenses.

Bonus: stay with us to the end for a special Yom HaShoah memorial service.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How Jewish identity is more than just religion
• Why Whoopi Goldberg was mistaken (and she’s not the only one)
• The implicit antisemitism in Harry Potter and Friends
• Of various Jewish holy days, which one is arguably the MOST holy (hint: it’s NOT Hannukah!)
• How Yom HaShoah is observed in Israel

Link to episode transcript here.

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Guest Bio and References/Links

About Alice Henry:

Alice is an Ashkenazi Jewish woman whose grandfather escaped from Nazi Germany and eventually immigrated to the U.S. She’s personally experienced antisemitism throughout her life, and felt compelled to share her story and speak out about Yom HoShoah and Jewish inclusion more publicly.

In her day job, Alice is a researcher, facilitator, and program coordinator with expertise in zero waste and the circular economy, as well as collaborative decision-making. She is excited to support innovators, public institutions, and our communities as we rethink how our systems can work and how our economies can better support all peoples and our planet.

Find Alice on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-henry-43206012b/

References and resources in this episode:

Yom HaShoah in Israel – everything stops including highway traffic: https://youtu.be/4uK5uz7d-Oo

Info about Yom HaShoah:
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/yom-hashoah-holocaust-memorial-day/

https://www.shiva.com/learning-center/commemorate/jewish-holidays/yom-hashoah/

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/yom-ha-shoah-holocaust-memorial-day

The Mourner’s Kaddish: https://sharonmemorial.com/customs-and-traditions/the-mourners-kaddish/

Info about the UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day: https://www.un.org/en/holocaustremembrance

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