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yom hashoah

Observance of Yom Hashoah (Heroes and Martyrs Day) in Israel

The rules of when Yom Hashoah is observed in Israel are as follows:
  • If 27 Nisan falls on Friday, then Yom Hashoah falls on Thursday.
  • Since 1997 (5757), Yom Hashoah is postponed to Monday if the 27 Nisan falls on Sunday.
In order to prevent desecration of Shabbat, the Chief Rabbinate decreed that the 27th of Nissan falls on Sunday, Yom Hashoah will be observed on Monday. As an example, in the civil year 2007, Yom Hashoah is observed on April 16 - or to be more precise, begins at nightfall of the 15th and ends at nightfall of the 16th. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel decreed in an halachic ruling to "makdim" Yom Hashoah to avoid any possibility of chilul Shabbat (desecration of the Sabbath). So, when it falls on Friday, it is moved up to Thursday.

This is sort of similar to the rules for Yom Haatzmaut. When it's observed in chutz laaretz I'm not sure, but it seems to me that for sake of Achdut (unity) Am Yisrael (אחדות עם ישראל) it should follow the observance of Israel.


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