What an interesting overlap in events...

Thanks for reminding me of this.

Yes, thank you for bringing it up. We will never forget.

Somehow I think this was planned by the powers that be. It's all too convenient
But my prayers go out to all affected by the Nazi's attempted genocide of the Jews.

Jews weren't the only ones killed. Let us remember them ALL, shall we?

Also, that number 6 million...it's been dropped several times over the years.

This is exactly the reason there is a Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel, so people like Darwyn will not be able to change the history. Yes, were there other people killed in WWII, however today is not WWII remembrance day, but Jewish Holocaust Remembrance day in Israel.

First, you are right. Jews weren't the only ones killed. In fact, Jews weren't killed. Jews were exterminated, and there is a huge difference between these two terms.

Second, that number didn't drop. It was 6 million, and remained 6 million. There were 9.5 million Jews in Europe before WWII, and only 3.5 million remained after WWII.

I take it personally, because most of my grandma's family was exterminated, the same goes to grandpa's family.

And now, roughly 60 years after the Holocaust, there is a dictator in Iran who calls to destroy the state of Israel. Nobody was there in the Holocaust to defend the European Jews from the extermination, and this is why the state of Israel exists - to make sure there is a place for every Jew in the world where he can come to and be safe.

The number has never been "dropped" but I don't see why what darwyn said about other groups can't be considered, its holocaust remembrance day, not jewish holocaust remembrance day. I think any other way is a insult to those who perished.

but I love the continued targeting of Jewish causes Darwyn, not surprising in the least

It can be considered, and of course were there other victims of the Nazi regime, and there is an International WWII victims day.

However, this is not today.

Today, in Israel, is Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day. That's it.

why is it not today?

why do some holocaust museums around the world bristle when gypsys or homosexuals want a corner

Wait, is it Holocaust Remembrance Day or is it Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day? The OP says different from the posts. If it's just Holocaust Remembrance Day then I don't see why other Holocaust victims shouldn't be remembered. Frankly, I don't understand why there should be a day for only Jewish victims in any case. I know that it's not the intention, but it does seem to be a little belittling to other victim's suffering. Or maybe I'm just nitpicking.

It isn't technically defined, but because it is a Jewish holiday, based on the Jewish calendar it is assumed to be for Jews, i just find it off putting that the OP bristles at the mention of other groups as well.

I hardly can call this day a "holiday".

Like SC said, this is an official day in Israel, based on Jewish calendar. Since Israel is a Jewish state, this is *mainly* Jewish Holocaust Day (assumed), but we don't forget that while Jews were the vast majority in the targeted extermination, there were other groups that were targeted.

However, without a doubt, the single ethnic group that was hurt most by Nazis was Jews - from 9.5 million Jews in Europe prior 1939, to 3.5 million Jews after 1945.

I really suggest you read more on the official Israeli site, Yad Vashem: http://www.yadvashem.org/

In addition, there is really no such term as "Jewish Holocaust", because when we use the term Holocaust, it is automatically referred to extermination of Jews in Europe. To what extent the European Jews were exterminated? Here is a quote from Yad Vashem:

"Only about 10% of Polish Jewry survived the Holocaust, the majority in the Soviet Union. The fate of the Jews of Western Europe varied depending upon the country. In some of the countries most of the Jews survived (in Italy and France about 25% of the Jews perished), in other countries the Jewish population was partially destroyed (in Belgium 45% of the Jews were murdered), while in others most of the Jews were killed (in Holland, about 80% of the Jews perished during the Holocaust). Most of the Jews of Slovakia, Hungary, Greece and Yugoslavia were murdered by the Germans and their collaborators, while almost 75% of the Jews living under Bulgarian rule survived."

You can read more about the Holocaust here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust

I don't think anyone is arguing that the Jews weren't vastly the most targeted group (anyone I'd pay any attention to, anyway). The point is that there is no reason non-Jewish victims should not be mentioned. Just because more Jews died than Gypsies the Gypsies can't be mentioned on Holocaust Remembrance Day?

The Jews were indeed exterminated. So were the Roma as a % of population. The population was smaller though. It is estimated that between 75-85% of the European Roma and Sinti populations were killed during WWII. To add insult to injury, discrimination as a matter of government policy vs the Roma is still acceptable in Europe.Romany suffering shouldn't be used as a wedge to attack the memory of Jewish suffering, but they should be included in any memorials about these crimes.

This is not Holocaust Remembrance Day in the US.
This is not Holocaust Remembrance Day in the UK.
This is not Holocaust Remembrance Day in France.
This is not Holocaust Remembrance Day in Canada.
This is not Holocaust Remembrance Day in Spain.
This is not Holocaust Remembrance Day in Brazil.

This is the Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel, the *Jewish* state. What is so wrong that the *Jewish* state will remember 6 million *Jews* that were exterminated by Nazis?

Hey, we also have Independence Day, and guess what - it is not July 4th. Shouldn't Israel celebrate July 4th? Well, no, because July 4th is the *US* Independence day.

Same with Holocaust Remembrance Day in Israel. There is an International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and it is January 27th. Today is NOT the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, since today is NOT January 27th. Today is the Holocaust Remembrance Day in ISRAEL. Here is a quote:

The internationally recognized date comes from the Hebrew calendar and corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on that calendar. It marks the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising. In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. When the actual date of Yom Hashoah falls on a Friday, the state of Israel observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday. When it falls on a Sunday, Yom Hashoah is observed on the following Monday.

And here is the list of dates for the next few years:
2011 Monday, May 2
2012 Thursday, April 19
2013 Monday, April 8
2014 Monday, April 28
2015 Thursday, April 16
2016 Thursday, May 5
2017 Monday, April 24
2018 Thursday, April 12
2019 Thursday, May 2
2020 Tuesday, April 21

Putin33 +1

On a slightly different note:

Israel has a very unique tradition on Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). An air raid siren will go off and everyone will stop what they are doing for 2 minutes. If you are in your car, you stop the car and stand for the duration of the siren.

Here are links to YouTube videos to see how it goes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj3qOwU1eTk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAa54oIrbq4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYooy2KcKbE

I get it that Israel is focusing on Jewish suffering because it's a Jewish state. I was taking issue with the point you were making about how the Holocaust automatically means"Jewish Holocaust" and your point that Jews were the only ones facing extermination.

I agree that Israel should have its own memorials for Jewish victims. Unfortunately, Roma don't have a state of their own nor do they have much influence in historical circles to write about their particular suffering or declare days of remembrance. Romany suffering shouldn't be used as a wedge to attack the memory of Jewish suffering, but more should be written about it and all efforts should be made to recognize it.

And another one, a view on Ayalon highway, one of the biggest in Israel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_7RRBH1jgs

Damn right, Baskineli, Israel is a sovereign country which has the right to observe any holiday it wants. On January 27, there is the International Day in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, which applies to all those who were exterminated. I'm sure many Israelis celebrate it as well. However, as a predominantly Jewish country, Israel should not be scorned for having a holiday aimed at Jewish Holocaust victims. If there was a 9/11 remembrance day in the US, it would be natural that such a holiday would be aimed at American victims of the attacks, despite the fact that Americans constituted less than 90% of those murdered.

Ok, we agree Baskineli. I was hoping we would. Solemn occasions like this should be the source of debate.

*should not

Putin33, I have NEVER said Jews were the only ones facing extermination. The total number of victims that were murdered by Nazis ranges from 11 to 17 million, and only 6 million of them are Jews.

I do agree that Romanies (is this the correct spelling?) should get a state on their own, if this is indeed what they are wishing for. Of course the memory of all Nazi victims should be remembered, however most times when one says the word "Holocaust", the meaning is the extermination of Jews. This is only a matter of etymology, and I am not denying that there were far more Nazi victims than 6 million Jews. To quote Wikipedia:

"The term holocaust comes from the Greek word holókauston, an animal sacrifice offered to a god in which the whole (holos) animal is completely burnt (kaustos).[10] Its Latin form (holocaustum) was first used with specific reference to a massacre of Jews by the chroniclers Roger of Howden[11] and Richard of Devizes in England in the 1190s. For hundreds of years, the word "holocaust" was used in English to denote massive sacrifices and great slaughters or massacres, and in the 20th century it was often used to denote large or destructive natural disasters such as fires. During World War II, the word was used to describe Nazi atrocities regardless of whether the victims were Jews or non-Jews. Since the 1960s, the term has come to be used by scholars and popular writers to refer exclusively to the genocide of Jews.[4]

The term entered common parlance after 1978, the year that the popular mini-series Holocaust was broadcast on the American NBC television network. The series proved that the subject matter could have popular appeal, as well as providing a convenient and enduring term.[12]"

"I have NEVER said Jews were the only ones facing extermination. The total number of victims that were murdered by Nazis ranges from 11 to 17 million, and only 6 million of them are Jews."

Ok, I misinterpreted your earlier comment about killed vs exterminated, etc.

"Of course the memory of all Nazi victims should be remembered, however most times when one says the word "Holocaust", the meaning is the extermination of Jews. This is only a matter of etymology, and I am not denying that there were far more Nazi victims than 6 million Jews. "

Understood. Carry on then.

Bask, those are some powerful videos.

Yes, they are.

Baskineli -

The number in Auschwitz has dropped. That is a fact.

From 4 million in 1945 (http://www.vanguardnewsnetwork.com/wolzek/1948_AuschwitzPlaque.html)...

to 1-1/2 million in 1990 (http://www.vanguardnewsnetwork.com/wolzek/1990_AuschwitzPlaque.html).

Yet STILL you claim six million Jews died...I'm no math expert but...