Young Israelis hold memorial ceremonies outside care homes for Shoah survivors

Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day was spent under lockdown this week, with Holocaust survivors unable to leave their homes to mark the day, but that did not stop various ceremonies taking place within the social distancing rules.

Among them were memorial ceremonies held in the city of Ashdod by the city’s young in front of nursing homes where Holocaust survivors are resident.

In various cities schoolchildren went door-to-door giving flowers and certificates to the survivors, while keeping a safe distance.

In his speech at a Zoom ceremony Mayor of Ashdod Dr Yechiel Lasry said: “On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, eight decades after it took place, we still face difficulties and hardship, but we stand unbowed, proud of our country, the State of Israel. We say with tremendous strength, to ourselves and to other countries of the world, Am Yisrael Chai (The Israel Nation is alive).”