🕯️

יוֹם הַשּׁוֹאָה
Yom Hashoah 2026

Hebrew year 5786

Holocaust Remembrance Day

April 14, 2026

Find kosher food in your city

Los Angeles New York City Miami Lakewood Queens Chicago Boca Raton Teaneck

More cities

Pick a city to see its kosher restaurants, caterers, and bakeries around Yom Hashoah 2026.

Yom Hashoah, formally known as Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-laGvurah (Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day), is the annual day of remembrance for the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. Established by the Israeli Knesset in 1953, it falls on the 27th of Nisan, chosen for its proximity to the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In Israel, a two-minute siren sounds across the entire country, bringing all activity to a standstill as citizens stand in silence. Around the world, Jewish communities hold memorial ceremonies, light memorial candles, read the names of victims, and listen to survivor testimony. The day is a solemn call to remember, to bear witness, and to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.

Yom Hashoah Traditions

How Jews observe Yom Hashoah around the world.

Lighting six memorial candles representing the six million Jews who perished

Reciting Yizkor and other memorial prayers for the departed

Observing a moment of silence; in Israel, a two-minute nationwide siren brings the country to a complete halt

Visiting Holocaust memorials, museums, and monuments

Reading the names of victims aloud at public ceremonies

Studying and listening to survivor testimony and firsthand accounts

Participating in the March of the Living, a walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau

Displaying the yellow star or wearing a pin in remembrance

Yom Hashoah Food Guide

Traditional foods and where to find them.

Memorial Meal

Yom Hashoah is not a food-centered holiday. Some communities gather for a simple, humble meal after memorial ceremonies, reflecting the solemnity of the day.

Find nearby

Simple, Humble Foods

When food is served at Yom Hashoah gatherings, it tends to be simple fare: bread, eggs, and other modest foods that reflect a spirit of mourning and remembrance rather than celebration.

Find nearby

Traditional Eastern European Foods

Some communities serve foods that recall the pre-war Jewish communities of Eastern Europe, such as challah, simple soups, and potato dishes, as a way to honor and remember the world that was lost.

Find nearby

✡

Kashrut Notes for Yom Hashoah

Yom Hashoah has no special kosher requirements or dietary restrictions beyond standard kashrut
It is not a halachic fast day; standard eating is permitted throughout the day
Some individuals choose to fast or eat simply as a personal form of mourning, but this is not required
Food served at communal memorial gatherings should be kosher-certified to accommodate all attendees

Browse All Listings

Yom Hashoah FAQs

Common questions about Yom Hashoah 5786.

When is Yom Hashoah 2026?

Yom Hashoah 2026 begins at sundown on Monday, April 13, and is observed on Tuesday, April 14. In Israel, the two-minute siren sounds on the morning of April 14.

What is Yom Hashoah?

Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, is the annual day of memorial for the six million Jews who were murdered during the Holocaust (1939-1945). Its full name, Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-laGvurah, means 'Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust and the Heroism,' honoring both the victims and those who resisted. It was established by the Israeli Knesset in 1953 and is observed worldwide.

How is Yom Hashoah observed?

In Israel, a two-minute siren sounds at 10:00 AM, and the entire country stops in silence. Flags are lowered to half-staff, and a state ceremony is held at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Around the world, Jewish communities hold memorial ceremonies that include lighting six candles for the six million, reading victim names, hearing survivor testimonies, and reciting prayers. Many schools, synagogues, and JCCs host educational programs and screenings of Holocaust documentaries.

Is Yom Hashoah a day off?

In Israel, places of entertainment are closed by law on Yom Hashoah, and the day carries a solemn atmosphere across the country. However, it is not a full public holiday and most workplaces remain open, pausing for the memorial siren. Outside Israel, Yom Hashoah is not a day off from work or school, though many Jewish institutions hold special programming.

What is the difference between Yom Hashoah and Yom HaZikaron?

Yom Hashoah (27th of Nisan) commemorates the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, while Yom HaZikaron (4th of Iyar) honors Israeli soldiers who fell in battle and victims of terrorism. They are separate memorial days about one week apart. Yom HaZikaron leads directly into Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day), while Yom Hashoah stands alone as a day of Holocaust remembrance.

Why is Yom Hashoah on the 27th of Nisan?

The 27th of Nisan was chosen because it falls close to the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising (April 19, 1943), which was one of the most significant acts of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. The date also falls within the period between Passover and Yom Ha'atzmaut, symbolically linking the themes of liberation, destruction, and national rebirth.