In Pasadena Saturday, a 24-Hour Vigil to Remember Holocaust Victims and Counter Rising Antisemitism

As concerns about antisemitism intensify across the nation, the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys is preparing to hold its seventh annual Holocaust commemoration this weekend, where participants will read aloud the names of victims for 24 hours straight.

The event, titled “Every Person Has a Name,” will take place at Pasadena City Hall beginning Saturday evening, offering a moving reminder of the human toll behind the statistics of genocide.

“I think that it serves many purposes. One, it serves a reminder of what can happen when hate goes unchecked with the rise of hate that we’ve been witnessing not just for the Jewish community but for many other targeted groups,” said Jason Moss, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.

The commemoration begins with a ceremony from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on March 22, followed by the 24-hour vigil running from 8:00 p.m. Saturday to 8:00 p.m. Sunday.

By focusing on individual names rather than abstract numbers, organizers hope to humanize the Holocaust’s immense tragedy. While Jews were primary targets, Moss emphasized that the Nazis also persecuted other groups, “really anybody that was seen as ‘the other’ in German society.”

“I want people to realize that these were people — when we read the names aloud, that they actually had a life,” Moss said. “And that while we sometimes get caught up in the idea of 6 million Jews that were murdered during the Holocaust, each individual’s name that we read is part of that 6 million number.”

The event will feature survivor testimonies, spoken-word storytelling, and educational presentations designed to foster reflection and historical awareness. Attendees will also have the opportunity to view a museum-quality exhibition provided by Anne Frank LA — the same materials used to train high school docents who guide their peers through Holocaust history.

For many who volunteer for the event, the act of reading victims’ names creates profound personal connections to history.

“For the participants, I’ve been told many times that it’s the most meaningful thing they do and they look forward to participating in it each year,” Moss noted.

The Jewish Federation has collaborated with several partners for the commemoration, including the City of Pasadena, Holocaust survivors, Yad Vashem, and the USC Shoah Foundation — relationships that strengthen the event’s impact and contribute to preserving Holocaust memory for future generations.

While California mandates Holocaust education in public schools, implementation varies significantly between districts.

“Some school districts take on the responsibility very seriously while others read Anne Frank, which is great, but that’s all they do,” Moss explained. His organization works with local schools to provide educational resources and connections to museums that can enhance Holocaust curriculum.

Beyond attending commemorative events, Moss urged community members to recognize warning signs of societal discrimination and intolerance.

“I think that taking a step back and realizing and being aware of what events led up to the Holocaust in the 1930s in Germany and recognize that there are some similarities,” he said. “We’re beginning to see the ‘othering’ in society that needs to be stopped or people need to stand up against it.”

As Holocaust survivors age and firsthand witnesses diminish, Moss emphasized the growing responsibility for individuals to counter denial and preserve historical truth.

“I think that we have a responsibility, especially as the days and days that continue to pass and Holocaust survivors are dying,” he said. “It becomes our individual responsibility to quiet the critics and the deniers and continue to support efforts like this and museums like Holocaust Museum, LA, the Museum of Tolerance and so forth, because they will be the lasting memory that people need to be aware of.”

The events will take place at Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. For more information, contact the Jewish Federation at (626) 445-0810 or visit https://jewishsgpv.org.