The Jewish Federation Announces Pasadena Vigil to Honor the Millions of Holocaust Victims

The Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys announced it would hold its “Every Person Has a Name” annual vigil, a poignant commemoration of the UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day. 

This event is a solemn tribute to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazism and will emphasize the profound significance of each individual life lost.

The vigil, in collaboration with the City of Pasadena, will span 25 hours from Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. to Sunday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m., on the steps of Pasadena City Hall. 

Jason Moss, the Executive Director of the Jewish Federation, emphasizes the event’s significance amid the recent surge in antisemitic and hate incidents. 

“An event like this is crucial to serving both as a reminder of what can happen when hate goes unchecked and also to remember the people who were murdered because of the same hatred… the hatred for the other,” Moss said in a statement. “By bringing the community together, we remember that each person killed was someone who lived and whose life was cut short. They are not just part of the six million lives lost but had their own story and their own individual experience.” 

The commemoration will commence with a ceremony featuring local elected officials and dignitaries. Following that, a 24-hour vigil of name reading will take place, accompanied by an exhibition titled “The Righteous Among the Nations” from Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Holocaust Museum. This exhibition highlights the stories of over 30 individuals who bravely sacrificed their freedom – and sometimes their lives – to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Moss said he’s concerned about the diminishing memories as survivors pass away, making events like these crucial in preserving the importance of the Holocaust for future generations.

“While our readers and those who listen may not know the people they are reading the names for, they are remembered by saying their names aloud,” he said. 

Participation in the event is open to the public, and the organizers are actively seeking volunteers to read names during 30-minute blocks, either in-person or virtually. Interested individuals can sign up on the Jewish Federation’s website, https://www.jewishsgpv.org/,  or by calling (626) 445-0810.

For those who prefer not to read names, attending the commemoration ceremony, listening to the readings, and spreading the word about the event are ways to contribute, the Jewish Federation’s statement said. The goal is to unite the community, safeguard the memory of the Holocaust, promote tolerance, and protect society.

For more information, contact the Jewish Federation by email at federation@jewishsgpv.org.