Israel Halts for Yom HaShoah, Honoring the Six Million
April 24, 2025 — Israel came to a standstill today as the nation marked Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, with a solemn tribute to the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis during World War II.
At exactly 10 a.m. local time, sirens wailed across the country for two minutes, bringing daily life to a dramatic pause. Drivers exited their vehicles, pedestrians stopped in their tracks, and entire cities fell silent in a collective moment of remembrance.
Ceremonies were held across the country, including the central commemoration at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, where President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu laid wreaths and delivered speeches emphasizing the enduring lessons of the Holocaust. Survivors lit memorial torches, shared testimonies, and urged future generations to remember and stand against hatred and antisemitism.
This year’s observance comes amid rising concerns over global antisemitism and renewed calls for Holocaust education. Schools, media broadcasts, and cultural institutions dedicated the day to stories of survival, loss, and resilience.
Yom HaShoah is not just a day of memory but a reminder, leaders said, of the importance of vigilance, justice, and human dignity.
