You can view the ceremony here
(New York, NY)— As part of its Yom HaShoah tribute, the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust presented New York’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance on Sunday, April 27, 2025, at Temple Emanu-El of New York City on the Upper East Side. You can view the ceremony below.
The event served the Museum’s mission to “never forget” and honor the memory of those who were lost during the Holocaust, as well as survivors and their descendants. At a time when antisemitic incidents are at an all-time high, the event was as a reminder of the dangers of intolerance and a vision for a brighter future.
The Annual Gathering of Remembrance program featured music, remarks from Holocaust survivors, descendants, and public figures, and a moving candle-lighting ceremony. Speakers included Museum President and CEO Jack Kliger, Board Chairman Bruce Ratner, Holocaust survivor Toby Levy, Holocaust survivor Fred Schoenberg, Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, U.S. Congressman Dan Goldman, and New York City Councilmember Julie Menin.
During the ceremony, Jack Kliger, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, talked about the lives that were lost during the Holocaust. “Today, we remember them the 6 million. Today we honor those who survived and helped rebuild the Jewish people, and today we fulfill our commitment to never forget.”
“This is a very important time in Jewish history, and this country’s history,” said Board Chair Bruce Ratner. “We cherish our survivors, we cherish their families, and we want to say thank you all for being here, it’s critical for you to be here to stand up alongside all of the survivors and the families.”
Consul General of Israel in New York Ofir Akunis, reflecting on the Holocaust, said, “It is the biggest tragedy in human history, and it happened to our people, only 80 years ago.in our era. Today we remember the tens of millions of lives that were stolen because of hateful and murderous ideology, 6 million Jews, 1.5 million kids.”
Survivor Toby Levy, a member of the Museum’s Speakers’ Bureau, delivered powerful remarks. “I want to tell you that life is worthwhile to fight for,” she said, describing her talks to students and groups of all ages about her experience. “I cannot get rid of antisemitism by myself, I need your help. Stay by me, help me, talk to people… I believe that the Jews have to get together left and right, Jews should unite and work together. Together we are strong. Separate we are very weak.”
“Every year this gathering becomes more important. According to a recently released estimate from the Claims Conference, 70 percent of Holocaust survivors will pass away by 2030… we cannot let their experiences, their stories, disappear with them. The act of recording and remembering is urgent,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.
“Young people in this country do not know about the Holocaust. That is inexcusable. That cannot happen,” said U.S. Congressman Dan Goldman. “Education is vital because so many of our young people today do not realize, truly do not understand that some of their sentiments, some of their arguments, some of their slogans, are actually antisemitic. That is on us to engage, to educate, because it is not a progressive value to hate. Progressivism condemns hate of all kinds, and we all know as Jews that today it may be us that suffers from the hate and the persecution but tomorrow it will be someone else.”
New York City Councilmember Julie Menin pointed out that a recent study found that 34% of millennials in New York City believe that the Holocaust was a myth of exaggerated. “If we are going to get people before their hearts are hardened, the only way we can do so is through education,” she said. “It is only through education that we are going to be able to change the antisemitism that is rampant in our city and in our country and around the world.”
Partnering organizations for this year’s Annual Gathering of Remembrance were: 3GNY, Abraham Global Peace Initiative, Anti-Defamation League, Association of Jewish Refugees, Benjamin Ferencz Institute, Center for Jewish History, Center for Jewish Studies at the Graduate Center, CUNY, Generations of the Shoah International, HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, HIAS, Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, Jewish Book Council, Jewish Community Relations Council – NY, Leo Baeck Institute, Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience, Selfhelp Community the s, Shorefront JCC, Tarbut Foundation, The Blue Card Fund, The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, The Mitzvah Project, The New York Board of Rabbis, WE ARE HERE!, and Yiddish Book Center.
The event was chaired by Museum Board member Rita Lerner. “It is an honor to help bring our community together for this profoundly important gathering. As we remember those who perished in the Holocaust and those survivors we have lost, we also reaffirm our commitment to fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate. In coming together to reflect, mourn, and educate, we ensure that the stories of those who suffered are not only remembered but continue to inspire future generations to stand up against injustice,” Lerner said.