What is so special about names? We sometimes have a difficult time remembering someone's name. We feel bad when someone forgets our name. Some of us like our names, some of us don't like our names, sometimes people even change their names. But it's our name and it is important.
During the Holocaust, the Nazis attempted to dehumanize Jews by stealing their names and replacing them with numbers.
Today, we will remember the names through poetry, songs, stories, and prayer.
Each Person Has a Name
A poem by Zelda
Each of us has a name, given to us by God, and given to us by our father and mother.Each of us has a name, given to us by our stature and our way of smiling, and given to us by our clothes. Each of us has a name, given to us by the mountains, and given to us by our walls. Each of us has a name, given to us by the planets, and given to us by our neighbors. Each of us has a name, given to us by our sins, and given to us by our longing. Each of us has a name, given to us by our enemies, and given to us by our love. Each of us has a name, given to us by our fast days, and given to us by our craft. Each of us has a name, given to us by the seasons of the year, and given to us by our blindness. Each of us has a name, given to us by the sea, and given to us by our death.
Names can be used to remember other people.
- Were you named after someone?
- Why did your parents choose to name you after that person?
Names can be chosen for their meaning.
- What does your name mean?
- Why did your parents think that your name was perfect for you?
What do you like about your name? What don't you like about your name?
Israel's Holocaust museum is called Yad Vashem. The name comes from a verse in the book of Isaiah. Read the verse below.
(ה) וְנָתַתִּ֨י לָהֶ֜ם בְּבֵיתִ֤י וּבְחֽוֹמֹתַי֙ יָ֣ד וָשֵׁ֔ם ט֖וֹב מִבָּנִ֣ים וּמִבָּנ֑וֹת שֵׁ֤ם עוֹלָם֙ אֶתֶּן־ל֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֖ר לֹ֥א יִכָּרֵֽת׃ (ס)
(5) I will give them, in My House And within My walls, A monument and a name Better than sons or daughters. I will give them an everlasting name Which shall not perish.
- Do you think this is a good name for a Holocaust museum? Why?
One way to remember the victims of the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah is to read the names of Holocaust victims. Yad Vashem, has compiled a list of names, along with the page of testimony that someone submitted so that they wouldn't be forgotten.
Pick a name from the list and read about the person. In a few minutes you will present to the class the person you chose. Include as much of the following information as is available.
- Name
- Where the person lived
- Where the person died
- Age
- Relationship of the person who completed the testimony
Now that everyone has learned about one person, we will take turns reading the names and sharing the information.
In Israel, a siren is sounded on the morning of Yom HaShoah. Traffic stops, people stop, and everyone stands for a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.
Please rise as we listen to the siren.
Our commemoration ends with the reading of the memorial prayer for the victims of the Holocaust.
Let's stay standing and read it together.
(יג) תפילות לקרבנות השואה:
(יד) אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחוֹת לְכָל-בָּשָׂר. תֵּן מְנוּחָה נְכוֹנָה עַל-כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה בְּמַעֲלוֹת קְדוֹשִים וּטְהוֹרִים כְּזֹהַר הָרָקִיעַ מַזְהִירִים אֶת-נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל שֵׁשׁ מֵאוֹת רִבְבוֹת אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנָשִׁים וְנָשִׁים יְלָדִים וִילָדוֹת שֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ וְשֶׁנִּטְבְּחוּ וְשֶׁנֶּחְנְקוּ וְשֶׁנִּקְבְּרוּ חַיִּים בִּידֵי מִפְלְצוֹת הַצּוֹרְרִים בְּגָלוּת אֵירוֹפָּה. כֻּלָּם קְדוֹשִׁים וּטְהוֹרִים. בָּהֶם גְּאוֹנִים וְצַדִּיקִים אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן וְאַדִּירֵי הַתּוֹרָה. בְּגַן עֵדֶן תְּהֵא מְנוּחָתָם. לָכֵן בַּעַל הָרַחֲמִים יִצְרֹר בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים אֶת-נִשְׁמוֹתָם יהוה הוּא נַחֲלָתָם. וּזְכֹר לָנוּ עֲקֵדָתָם וְתַעֲמֹד לָנוּ וּלְכָל יִשְׂרָאֵל זְכוּתָם. אֶרֶץ אַל-תְּכַסִּי דָמָם וְאַל-יְהִי מָקוֹם לְזַעֲקָתָם. בִּזְכוּתָם נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יָשׁוּבוּ לַאֲחֻזָּתָם וְהַקְּדוֹשִׁים לְזִכָּרוֹן תָּמִיד נֶגֶד עֵינֶיךָ צִדְקָתָם. יָבוֹאוּ שָׁלוֹם יָנוּחוּ עַל-מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:
(13) Prayer for the Victims of the Holocaust:
(14) Our Father, our King, Power, God of the spirits of all flesh, give proper rest upon the wings of the Divine Presence, on the levels of the holy and pure ones [who] shine like the splendor of the firmament, [for] the souls of the six million Jews, men and women, boys and girls, that were exterminated and slaughtered and asphyxiated and buried alive by the hands of enemy monsters in the exile of Europe. All of them are holy and pure; among them were luminaries and righteous people, 'cedars of Lebanon' and giants of Torah. Let their rest be in the Garden of Eden. Hence, Master of mercy, bind their souls with the Binding of life (God). God is their inheritance. And remember for us their sacrifice and let their merit stand for us and for all of Israel. Let the earth not cover their blood and let there not be a place [sufficient] for their cries. In their merit, let the dispersed of Israel return to their possession; and let the holy ones be an everlasting memory - their righteousness in front of Your eyes. May they come to peace, [and] rest upon their places of repose. And let us say Amen.