The Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will present the Annual Gathering of Remembrance on Sunday, April 11, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) to remember those who were murdered during the Holocaust. The live-streamed event will be held on the Sunday closest to Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day (which begins Thursday, April 8 through sundown on Friday, April 9).
Traditionally the largest Holocaust commemoration in the country, this year’s commemoration will take place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance will pay tribute to those survivors who lost their lives over the last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic and also honor their children, grandchildren and families.
“Each year, at the Annual Gathering of Remembrance, we bring thousands of New Yorkers together to say with one collective voice: ‘we will never forget,’” said Jack Kliger, president and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. “Delivered by a city with one of the world’s largest communities of Holocaust survivors, this tribute has power that echoes across generations. Sadly, during this past year, many of those survivors lost their lives amid the pandemic, and so we will honor them during this program.”
“Even though this year we are not able to gather in person, it is still our obligation to remember those that we lost,” said Museum Trustee Rita Lerner, the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and the event co-chair. “We honor their memory and the memory of all survivors who have passed away, leaving us to carry on their great legacy.”
“As a third generation of survivors, we are honored to again participate in this annual tribute, which serves as a reminder that we must never forget,” said Alissa Rozen, event co-chair and Young Friends of the Museum board member. “This is a moment to pause, to reflect and to recommit to keeping the stories of the Holocaust alive.”
In addition to Rita Lerner and Alissa Rozen, this year’s event co-chairs are Alyssa Greengrass, Ann Oster, and Seth Weisleder. The Annual Gathering of Remembrance program will feature music, remarks from Holocaust survivors, young people, public figures and a candle-lighting ceremony.
