Partner event - CJDM Christian Commemoration of the Shoah

40th Annual Christian Commemoration of the Shoah at the Anglican Diocese

Organized by the Christian Jewish Dialogue of Montreal (CJDM), this event unites Jews, Christians, and others to commemorate the six million Jews and one million other victims of the Holocaust, also known as the Shoah (“the annihilation” in Hebrew), during World War II.
In light of increasing intolerance in the world today, the commemoration begins at 2pm with a panel discussion on what's been learned from 40 years of remembering the Shoah in Montreal, and the education and action still very much needed to guard against future genocides.
From 4-5 p.m., a bilingual commemoration ceremony will be observed during the Choral Evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral. Co-presided by Anglican Bishop Mary Irwin Gibson and Roman Catholic Bishop Christian Lépine, the commemoration will include the testimony of Holocaust survivor Ilona Flutsztejn-Gruda, as well as a candle lighting ceremony led by the Very Rev. Bertrand Olivier and Rabbi Sherril Gilbert in remembrance of all the victims of the Shoah. Songs and music will be performed by Jewish Cantor Heather Batchelor and the Christ Church Cathedral choir and musicians. Light kosher refreshments will be served following the commemoration.

Yom Hashoah (“the Day of the Shoah”) was established in 1951 by the Knesset (Parliament of Israel). In Montreal, the first Christian Commemoration of the Shoah took place at Christ Church Cathedral in 1979. Since then, different Christian churches have engaged with members of the Jewish community in a shared act of remembrance on the Sunday closest to Yom Hashoah. In 1999, the National Assembly officially recognized the observance of Yom Hashoah and invited Quebec citizens to share in the memories and mourning of the Jewish community and to ponder the lessons learned from the Shoah.

Registration requested on Eventbrite.

May 5th Event schedule:
2:00-3:30 PM (doors open at 1:30): Panel discussion in Fulford Hall of the Anglican Diocese of Montreal (1444 Union Ave.)
4:00- 5:00 PM: Commemoration of the Shoah (bilingual), in the Christ Church Cathedral (635 Ste-Catherine St. W.)

Information:
shoahmemorial [at] montrealcathedral.ca
514-843-6577 x 241