As the national homeland for the Jewish people, and in light of the fact that the majority of Holocaust survivors chose to settle in Israel after the Second World War, Israel holds a unique status in terms of remembrance and teaching about the Holocaust.
Since 1951, when national legislation was passed on the matter, Israel has marked its own Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day every spring (on the 27th of the Hebrew month of Nissan), one week after the festival of Passover, exactly one week before Israel's Independence Day. The solemn day is marked with special ceremonies, the sounding of a siren, the closing of places of entertainment, and special educational and public awareness programs.
Education about the Holocaust has been a central part of Israeli life since the establishment of the state
In 2013, Israeli Education Minister Shai Piron announced that all Israeli schools will teach lessons about the Shoah in each of the 12 years of compulsory education, with materials suited to the different ages: six-year-olds for example, will discuss baseless hatred, tolerance for others and similar topics.
An ongoing and ever-evolving priority in Israeli Holocaust education remains the virtual realm: Resources in both national and a plethora of foreign languages, such as lesson plans, sample ceremonies, maps and guidelines, have been developed and are readily available on a number of websites of Israeli Holocaust organizations, and all the major organizations maintain a presence on the main social networks.
Aspects of Holocaust awareness and commemoration remain present throughout the entire Israeli academic year. Study trips to Poland have been made available to all 11th Graders by the Israeli Ministry of Education. Training courses in Israel and in Poland are also offered to soldiers and security personnel.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance
Israel is a founding member of the
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an intergovernmental body established in 1998 and today made up of 31 Member Countries,10 Observer Countries, and 7 international partner organizations, whose purpose is to support and advance Holocaust education, remembrance, and research, both nationally and internationally.
Israel Adopts IHRA definition of Anti-Semitism
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The definition acknowledges that manifestations of anti-Semitism can also include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish Collectivity (criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country is not regarded as anti-Semitic).