Scene Around Town: Holocaust Remembrance Day

Holocaust Remembrance Day (known in Hebrew as Yom ha-Shoah -- 'Yom' meaning 'day' and 'Shoah' meaning 'Holocaust') is an internationally-recognized day of memorial and reflection on one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century. The date of Yom ha-Shoah is based upon the Jewish calendar, which is lunar. As a result, the date changes every year.

April 19 was the date for 2001. In a news release the day before by Premier Ralph Klein, he stated the Holocaust as being "one of the world's greatest tragedies." In the Fall 2000 session of the Alberta Legislature, the Holocaust Memorial Day and Genocide Remembrance Act was passed unanimously. The Act recognizes and honours the memory of the millions of Jewish people who were murdered during World War II, as well as the millions of other ethnic and "undesirable" groups who also perished not only during the Holocaust, but through other acts of violence, persecution and discrimination.

Two memorial services marked the day. What follows are portraits from a small gathering at the Legislature. Organized by Peter and Betty Jones, who often teach about the Jewish roots of Christianity and educate about anti-Semitism, organized the event which was intended as a display of Christian solidarity with the Jewish community towards the eradication of anti-Semitism.

Another memorial took place in the evening at the Jewish Community Centre and was open to all members of Edmonton's citizens.

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