Zikaron BaSalon

Zikaron BaSalon is a tradition started in 2011 – a new way to commemorate the Holocaust - meaningful and inspirational gatherings, taking place every year in thousands of private living rooms and public settings. Zikaron BaSalon (Hebrew for "Remembrances in the Living Room") is an Israeli grassroots initiative that is transforming the commemorative landscape of Holocaust remembrance. Launched in 2011, Zikaron BaSalon provides an intimate format for commemoration in the privacy of people’s homes and has laid the groundwork for a new Israeli tradition enacted on the eve of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Every year, more than 2 million people in Israel and across the globe participate in Zikaron BaSalon gatherings. The idea was born out of the understanding that the connection of modern society with the memory of the Holocaust has significantly deteriorated and that official Holocaust commemorations do not resonate with the younger generations. Also, with the passing of the survivors of the Holocaust and the ageing of the second generation, new initiatives are required to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive and ensure that it remains embedded in the Israeli and Jewish ethos. Zikaron BaSalon invites everyone to host or participate in a gathering and become part of something much bigger, that underlines our peoplehood. Gatherings comprise of a testimony, a creative part (reading a text/reciting a poem/singing a song) and a discussion. We connect hosts with a survivor or a descendant or invite them to choose a video testimony from our library. We provide hosts with host kits to create a meaningful experience. Indeed, such gatherings bring together people from all parts of Israeli society to connect with collective memory – youth and seniors, new immigrants and veterans, ultra-Orthodox, religious and non-religious, Jews and Arabs and people with and without disabilities. We are at a critical juncture as the number of living Jewish survivors dwindles. Zikaron BaSalon has taken on the extraordinary responsibility of keeping personal stories alive so future generations can learn from past atrocities and reflect on the significance of the Holocaust in our world as human beings, Jews, and Israelis. Zikaron BaSalon is aided by a large volunteer community in Israel and overseas. Volunteers conduct community outreach, connect between hosts and speakers, and continuously work to preserve first-hand testimonies and expand platforms for Holocaust remembrance.