Tonight as we usher in Yom HaShoah—Holocaust Remembrance Day—we pause in reverence to remember the six million murdered in the Shoah, alongside millions of other innocent souls, whose lives were extinguished by acts hatred, indifference, and unspeakable evil.
We remember the children whose laughter was silenced. The parents who died clinging to their families. The scholars and sages, the artists and laborers, the ordinary people made holy through their suffering. Their names etched in eternity.
But we also remember those who resisted—not only with weapons, but with spirit. We honor the righteous among those who risked everything to shelter, protect, and save. Their courage is a reminder that even in the darkest night, there are sparks of light.
And now it is our turn.
As we look around the world today, we are painfully aware that antisemitism has not vanished. That hatred continues to morph, to rise, to threaten. We see the anguish of our people in Israel and we mourn for those who have died in the violence of war and terrorism. We cry out for the hostages still held in captivity. And yet—we must not, we do not despair.
Because memory demands action; our grief must give birth to hope.
We are all shepherds now. Each of us entrusted with guarding the legacy of those lost, and with building a future of peace, and resilience. Let us speak out against hate. Let us teach our children not only what was, but what must never be again.
Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe,
We remember today the holy souls taken in the Shoah.
May their memories forever be a blessing.
May their names never be forgotten.
May their legacy strengthen our resolve.
Bless the survivors who still walk among us, living torches of truth.
Comfort the mourners whose grief still echoes through the generations.
Protect our brothers and sisters in Israel, and bring a swift release to those still held hostage.
Heal the wounds of war, and bring a day when swords are turned into plowshares.
Help us to be righteous in our time.
To choose courage over comfort,
Compassion over complacency,
And hope over despair.
Never again is not just a slogan, but our sacred mission.
Zachor—We remember!
Lo Tishkach—We will never forget!
And we will never stop building a future worthy of their memory.