April 2026
Maggie Norris

Each year, our community gathers to mark Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the heroic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. On this solemn occasion, we come together to honour the memory of the six million Jewish men, women, and children murdered in the Holocaust, and to reaffirm our collective responsibility to remember, to educate, and to stand against antisemitism in all its forms.

This year’s community commemoration promises to be especially meaningful.

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Second Annual Tom Weisz z”l Holocaust Education and Jewish Advocacy Award to Michael Levitt, President and CEO of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre. Through his leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism, Levitt has been a powerful voice for truth, justice, and Jewish pride across Canada and beyond.

Last year’s inaugural award was presented to MP Melissa Lantsman, setting a strong precedent for recognizing individuals who embody courage and moral clarity in their public service. This year, we continue that important tradition.

The program will also feature a special musical performance by the Toronto-based award-winning group Payadora Tango Ensemble, who will perform selections from their acclaimed production, Silent Tears: The Last Yiddish Tango, composed by Rebekah Wolkstein and arranged by Drew Jurecka. The show is based on poems, testimonies and writings of women who were victims of torture during the Holocaust. It includes some songs from a project led by Dr. Paula David, who helped survivors process their trauma by writing collective poetry. While others are from Toronto-based author, Molly Applebaum who, as a young girl during the war, was buried underground in a small wooden box in a barn in Poland. Through haunting melodies and powerful storytelling, their music evokes a world that was nearly extinguished and yet continues to resonate with resilience and life.

As always, the evening will include a meaningful candle-lighting ceremony. Survivors and descendants will join in this symbolic act of remembrance, ensuring that each flame represents not only unimaginable loss, but also enduring memory. We are also honoured to welcome special guests: Consul General Marek Ciesielczuk of the Republic of Poland ===, Consul General Anne Wagner-Mitchell of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, who will each share remarks. 

In a time when Holocaust distortion and antisemitism are on the rise globally, gathering as a community has never been more important. Yom Hashoah is not only about looking back; it is about strengthening our resolve for the future. It is about teaching the next generation, amplifying survivor testimony, and standing united in the face of hatred.
We invite every member of our community to attend this important commemoration on April 14 at 7 pm (location to be announced after registration). By being present, community members, family, friends and allies help ensure that the stories of the past are carried forward, that the lessons of history remain alive, and that the memory of the six million is never forgotten.