CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The community is invited to come together Sunday evening for a solemn and meaningful observance of Yom HaShoah at Sinai Temple.

Held in partnership with the Holocaust Education Committee of the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Federation, the annual commemoration will take place April 12 at 7 p.m., offering a program centered on poetry, prayer, and reflection in remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust.

The evening’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Amy Simon, an associate professor and Farber Family Chair in Holocaust Studies and European Jewish History at Michigan State University. Her presentation, titled “Voices From the Abyss: Holocaust Diaries in History and Memory,” will explore firsthand accounts written during the Holocaust and examine how deeply personal narratives reveal the emotional and human experiences of those who lived through one of history’s darkest periods.

Simon’s work focuses on Holocaust diaries, memory, and testimony, and she has previously contributed to research and education at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Organizers say her talk will emphasize the importance of preserving and listening to these voices as the world grows further removed from the events of the Holocaust.

The program is supported by the Jack and Sadye Marco Holocaust Remembrance Fund of the Champaign-Urbana Jewish Endowment Foundation.

Following the commemoration, attendees are invited to visit the “Through Their Eyes” exhibit in the Davis Chapel. Curated by the Holocaust Education Center, the exhibit features student artwork reflecting on the lessons and legacy of the Shoah. Light refreshments will be provided.

Organizers encourage community members of all backgrounds to attend, reflect, and honor the memory of those lost while reaffirming a shared commitment to remembrance and education.