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About 27,000 survivors immigrated to this country in the aftermath of the genocide perpetrated against the Jewish people.
Our community is committed to Holocaust remembrance and education, and the annual Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) commemoration is a key element in honouring the victims and the survivors, perpetuating the lessons of the Holocaust and ensuring that the next generation is a partner to taking the lessons of the Holocaust into the future.
The Board of Deputies is entrusted with organising the annual Yom Hashoah commemoration, which has three components – an eastern suburbs event, a north shore event and a Name Reading Service at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Rookwood Cemetery.
Keynote speakers have included authors Elliot Perlman, Diane Armstrong, Morris Gleitzman and Lily Brett, and MPs Josh Frydenberg (subsequently appointed Treasurer of Australia) and Alister Henskens MP.
The commemorations are held in conjunction with the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the community was unable to be physically together to mark Yom Hashoah in 2020. Instead, the Board of Deputies produced a moving and inspiring video commemoration that was viewed by thousands of people.
To watch the latest Yom Hashoah Commemoration below.
2026 Commemoration
Survivors in Australia: Rebuilding Lives
The annual Yom Hashoah Holocaust remembrance events hosted by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies will take place on Monday 13 April at an Eastern Suburbs location.
This year, our theme will be Survivors in Australia: Rebuilding Lives. We will focus on the remarkable journeys of Holocaust survivors who came to Australia after the war. Arriving often with little more than hope and determination, they rebuilt their lives, raised families, and helped shape the vibrant Australian Jewish community we know today. Their contributions to Australian society—in business, education, culture, science, and community life—have left an enduring legacy.
Through their stories of survival, rebuilding, and contribution, we reflect not only on the past but also on the responsibility we carry forward: to remember, to honour their legacy, and to ensure that their experiences continue to educate and inspire future generations.
