Eighty-one years ago, six million Jewish lives were taken by the Nazis. With the recent passing of Yom Hashoah—an annual day that honors their memories and commemorates the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto uprising—Jewish communities are reflecting not only on the past, but on the troubling rise in antisemitism today.
Yom Hashoah, known as “Day of the Catastrophe” or “Holocaust Day” in English, serves as a solemn reminder of the consequences of hatred. This year, that reminder carries particular urgency. In New York City, antisemitic incidents have risen sharply, with reports indicating a 182% increase in 2026 so far. These incidents include hate crimes ranging from vandalism on college campuses to violence in synagogues. On January 27th, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a rabbi was assaulted in Queens; in a separate incident a driver rammed into a synagogue in Brooklyn. These incidents are part of a broader pattern. In the past five months alone, New York reported almost eighty antisemitic hate crimes. The continued rise in antisemitism underscores the growing connection between remembrance and present-day reality.
Increasingly, this trend of antisemitism is visible on social media, where misinformation spreads rapidly. Specifically, the resurgence of Holocaust denial and distortion is seen throughout social media platform such as TikTok and Instagram, as stated in a joint UNESCO-UN report. Posts falsely claimed that the number of Jewish victims had been significantly exaggerated, the genocide was fabricated, or that there was insufficient evidence despite extensive historical documentation. Holocaust denial is considered antisemitism because it erases the historical persecution of Jews and often relies on conspiracy theories that blame Jewish people for fabricating the Holocaust. Framed as “alternative views,” Holocaust denial is becoming normalized, reinforcing harmful stereotypes, thus amplifying the dangers of antisemitism for the entire Jewish population, threatening the future of memory.
Against this backdrop of rising misinformation and hatred, Yom Hashoah carries deep significance that extends beyond remembrance: It is a day of mourning for Jewish communities all over the world and honoring the lives lost. But it is more than a historical commemoration; Yom Hashoah is a reaffirmation of identity and continuity, ensuring that the names and stories of victims are not reduced to statistics or forgotten over time. The day also plays a crucial role in preserving memory as the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to decline. In 1945 there were an estimated 3.5 million survivors – today that number has reached below 196,000. For much of the Jewish population, there is a responsibility to pass testimony to younger generations and ensure that the Holocaust is not denied nor distorted. Remembrance ranges from family storytelling and lighting candles, to a nationwide two-minute silence in Israel. Yom Hashoah is not just about looking back, but about shaping the future and strengthening education, awareness, and vigilance against antisemitism in all its forms.
The ENOUGH club recently held their seventh annual Yom Hashoah ceremony with Holocaust survivor Marion Ein Lewin. ENOUGH club advisor Ms. Harrison reflected on the event, noting, “It’s really powerful to hear from survivors, especially as there are fewer opportunities to do so. Marion Ein Lewin was remarkable and listening to her tell her story really humanizes and gives a face to the horror and tragedy of what happened. Yom Hashoah is particularly dear to my heart because it commemorates the Warsaw ghetto uprising and there is something empowering about that. Not just about jewish victimhood, but strength and resilience and the refusal to succumb to hatred and evil. It serves as a reminder that people did survive and go on to live rich and fulfilling lives. ”
Marion Ein Lewin’s testimony, along with Ms. Harrison’s reflection, underscores the importance of hearing firsthand stories while there is still time. Through events like the ENOUGH club’s annual Yom Hashoah ceremony, students are given the opportunity to engage directly with history, not as distant facts, but as lived experiences. The emphasis on both loss and resilience, as Ms. Harrison described, highlights that remembrance is not solely about mourning, but also about recognizing strength and survival in the face of unimaginable hatred.
At the same time, these efforts reflect a larger responsibility. As opportunities to hear from survivors become increasingly rare, it falls to younger generations to carry these stories forward. Yom Hashoah is not only a day of remembrance, but a call to action. In the face of rising antisemitism and the spread of misinformation, recounting the past must go hand in hand with educating others and speaking out. Honoring those who were lost means ensuring that these stories endure, and that the hatred which led to their deaths is never allowed to take root again.
