Bar-Ilan University’s International School hosted a Zikaron BaSalon event to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom Hashoah). Memorial candles were lit by each participant, an explanation of Yom Hashoah, the Holocaust, and Zikaron BaSalon was provided by third-year student, Chloe Schwartz, and a presentation was given by Dr. Batya Brutin, art historian and curator, after which, a discussion was held with the students.
L-R: Dr. Batya Brutin and Chloe Schwartz. Dr. Brutin was presented with a Zikaron BaSalon Certificate of Appreciation for her participation in the event
Schwartz explained the meaning of Yom Hashoah to the international students, many of whom are not Jewish and weren’t exposed to this memorial event prior to their arrival in Israel.
Yom Hashoah is a day set aside for Jews to remember the Holocaust. It was established in Israel in 1959 by law and falls on the 27th of the Jewish month of Nissan, a date chosen because it is the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. The name comes from the Hebrew word ‘shoah’, which means ‘whirlwind’. In Israel, Yom Hashoah is one of the most solemn days of the year.
At 10.00 on the morning of the event, Israel famously comes to a standstill when the siren is sounded around the country for two minutes and a moment of silence is observed. Even cars on the highways stop and drivers and passengers get out and mark the two minutes. The same happens on Yom Hazikaron, Remembrance Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers.
Schwartz then explained, Zikaron BaSalon, a social initiative that takes place around the world on Yom Hashoah as well as on other dates throughout the year. Meaning “remembrance in the living room” in Hebrew, the idea was born out of the understanding that modern society’s connection with the memory of the Holocaust has significantly deteriorated. It is a unique and authentic tradition of people gathering together to open their hearts to the stories of the survivors, to sing, think, read, talk, and most importantly – listen.
Schwartz made Aliyah from Michigan, US, in December 2016. She has been studying political science and communication at BIU for the past three years and interns as a marketing recruiter in the International School. She graduates this year.
Dr. Brutin is an art historian, curator, and researcher of Holocaust Monuments and Holocaust Visual Arts in Israel and worldwide. Her research focuses on art during and after the Holocaust. She has published books, academic essays, and educational materials on these subjects, including Etched in Flesh and Soul: The Auschwitz Number in Art, and Holocaust Icons in Art: The Warsaw Ghetto Boy and Anne Frank. Dr. Brutin received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Yad Vashem in the field of Holocaust education in 2018.
During the event, Dr. Brutin spoke about her personal connection to the Holocaust and then presented the story of Anne Frank in art.
An exhibition titled, “From Holocaust to Revival” was put together for students to gain further information about the Holocaust, the Jewish Resistance, Anne Frank, the Declaration of Independence, and the establishment of the State of Israel, and included memorial candles for each student to light.
The discussions were interesting and informative, and students participated by sharing their own comments and experiences.
We’d like to thank Hadar Giat, Coordinator of Student Affairs and Well-being at the International School, and Chloe Schwartz, for organizing the event.
L-R: Hadar Giat with Dr. Batya Brutin
