On the 4th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, is a day of remembrance for all the fallen. The name of this day is called Yom Hazikaron or “The Day of Remembrance.” This day can be considered in the American calendar as Veterans Day.
Another day, which comes before, is called Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day on the 27th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan or this year April 25th. This holiday comes 7 days after the 7th day of Passover and a week before Yom Hazikaron. This day has been set to remind us to never forget the 6 million Jews who suffered and died at the hands of the German leader Adolf Hitler. The horrible acts of this “man” to try and exterminate the entire Jewish religion are an act that will NEVER be forgotten.
The day of Yom Hashoah was set aside by the Israeli Parliament or the Knesset on April 12, 1951. On August 19, 1953, this day became a formal law and observance day. In Israel, on this day a siren blows at sundown and 11:00am to symbolize the importance of Yom Hashoah. For two minutes, every thing including the people and traffic stop for 2 minutes to show their devotion and a sign of remembrance.
On Yom Hazikaron and Yom Hashoah, Jews gather at certain meeting places; a synagogue, a JCC (Jewish Community Center), or the many Holocaust Museums all around the country to stand together and pray and light Yizkor candles.