This Saturday, November 22, Ukraine observes Holodomor Victims Memorial Day as an official day of remembrance with state status.
Every year on the fourth Saturday of November, events are held in Ukraine in memory of the millions of innocent victims of the Holodomor of 1932-33 – the destruction of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet regime through deliberate measures to create an artificial mass famine, which is officially recognized as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.
Holodomor Victims Memorial Day has been officially observed since 1998. Since the mid-2000s, besides ceremonies at memorials and the holding of religious services, the forms of mass participation in the Memorial Day have included the “Moment of Silence” and the “Candle of Memory” campaign, where lit candles are placed on the windows of apartments and/or offices, as well as at memorial sites associated with the commemoration of the innocent victims of the genocide.
Traditionally, the “Light a Candle” campaign takes place at 4:00 PM, which is during the time when Shabbat restrictions are in effect. Therefore, Jews join this campaign after the conclusion of Shabbat – this year, after 4:35 PM.
This form of participation by the Jewish community in the national events of Holodomor Victims Memorial Day was established in 2007 by the Chief Rabbinate of Ukraine, whose decision stated:
“All of us, regardless of nationality and religion, must honor the memory of the innocent victims. This is our duty as citizens of Ukraine. By this, we emphasize: we are a single, united nation. It is important to remember the spiritual meaning of commemorating the victims of the Holodomor. Our memory is important as care for those who have left this world, for their souls feel it. No less important is the commemoration of the victims as a lesson for those who will come into this world, for to them we will pass on our knowledge and our memory. By honoring the memory of the Holodomor victims, we thereby take an important step so that such events can never happen again on Earth.
The state has proposed honoring the memory by lighting candles. This fully coincides with the Jewish tradition, for human life in the sacred texts is likened to a candle lit by the Almighty, as it is said, ‘The candle of God is the soul of man.’ We, Jews, must honor the memory of the Holodomor victims in accordance with the laws of the Torah and our religion. According to the laws of Judaism, Jews cannot violate the sanctity of the Sabbath day. But after the end of Shabbat, with the appearance of the first stars, we must show our solidarity and, sharing the pain of our entire Ukraine, honor the memory of the Holodomor victims, and during the Sabbath services in synagogues, recite the memorial prayer. This prayer will ascend to the throne of the Almighty and will beseech the Creator of the world to bless the souls of those innocently killed during that terrible time.”
Also, as part of the events marking this day, special classes and actions are held in Jewish educational institutions and community organizations, and representatives of Jewish leadership structures participate in official ceremonies.
