After the establishment of the State of Israel, several modern holidays were added to the Jewish calendar and are now observed as national holidays in Israel: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day), and Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day). At The Weber School, these days are marked with learning opportunities and community-wide programs that encourage remembrance, reflection, and celebration.
On Tuesday, April 14, The Weber School held its annual school-wide Yom HaShoah Commemoration Ceremony, a solemn gathering to honor the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Through readings, reflections, prayer, and music, the program invited students to remember the lives lost, reflect on the resilience of those who endured, and consider their own responsibility to carry these stories forward. Highlights included student reflections on this year’s Abe Besser Israel-Poland Experience, during which Weber students had the privilege of meeting Holocaust survivor Bernard Offen at a Shabbat dinner in Kraków. The ceremony also included a video clip of Mr. Offen’s remarks at the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, as well as an introduction to Illuminate the Past, a virtual candlelighting initiative that invites participants to honor the memory of Holocaust victims through Yad Vashem’s online platform.
On Tuesday, April 21, Weber will gather for a special tekes (ceremony) for Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, to honor the memory of those who fell in Israel’s wars and victims of terror. The program will include lowering the Israeli flag to half-mast, a moment of silence, memorial candle-lighting by audience members who served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), musical tributes, Yizkor, and reflections from students and speakers. Among the featured guests will be Georgia State Representative Brent Cox and Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States Eitan Weiss. The tekes will also include a personal reflection from Weber shinshin Rotem about his cousin, Adar Barasano, who was killed while serving in the IDF.
On Wednesday, April 22, Weber will celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut with a spirited school-wide program led by our Shinshinim Rotem and Naama, in the Tzadik Performing Arts Center. The celebration will include the Israeli national anthem, opening remarks, interactive Israeli games, a dancing game, and a musical performance from Weber House Band “Broken Glass.” Later in the day, students will continue the celebration at lunch with dancing and everyone’s favorite klezmer band, Tevyeh Party Express!
Through these observances, Weber creates space for students and faculty to remember, reflect, and celebrate while helping our community mark these important days.