Youth HEAR marks Yom Hashoah with message: “You are not alone”

More than 500 young people gathered in Sydney on Sunday, 12 April, for a Youth HEAR Yom Hashoah commemoration under the theme “Lo Levad: You Are Not Alone” in an evening that balanced remembrance with a deeply felt sense of connection.

More than 80 years after the end of the Shoah, the event confronted a turning point. As the generation of survivors fades, the responsibility of memory is shifting. No longer carried only by those who lived through it, remembrance is becoming a duty for those who inherit their stories.

That reality felt especially close, where the commemoration unfolded in the shadow of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack just months earlier, in which 15 people were killed. The evening acknowledged that while the Holocaust belongs to history, the experience of loss, fear and hatred remains present.

At the heart of the program was the theme “Lo Levad”. It spoke to a truth that resonated throughout the night. In moments of darkness, what hurts most is not only the loss itself but also the feeling of being alone in it. The message was clear. No one should have to face that alone.

Youth HEAR, the organisation behind the event, was formed in 2017 and is run by young people for young people, focused on Holocaust education and remembrance. It connects young Australians with the memory and lessons of the Holocaust through education, commemoration and cross-community engagement, with the aim of challenging hatred and strengthening social cohesion.

The organisation’s annual Yom Hashoah event is a central part of its work, designed to give young adults a space to engage personally with Holocaust memory and reflect on its relevance today.

Organising committee member Jake Kurlansky said this year’s theme was shaped by both history and the present moment.

“Lo Levad is about reminding people that even in the darkest moments, there is connection and there is responsibility,” he explained. “As we mark 80 years since the end of the Holocaust and reflect on the pain our own community has faced so recently, the message is simple. We stand with one another, and we carry these stories forward together.”

The program brought that message to life through a series of personal moments. Child survivor Dasia Gutman-Black shared her testimony, offering a firsthand account that underscored both the fragility and resilience of human life.

Musician Ben Goldstein’s performance of “Fragile” added a reflective tone, echoing the emotional weight carried throughout the evening.

The candlelighting ceremony was a deeply moving and emotional part of the program. Yishai Geudalia lit a candle in memory of those murdered in the October 7 attacks in Israel. Matthew Tretyakov, the grandson of Holocaust survivor and Bondi attack victim Alexander Kleytman, lit a candle honouring those killed in the Bondi massacre, drawing a direct line between past and present.

The turnout reflected broad engagement, with around 500 attendees, including strong participation from “Friends of Youth HEAR” representing many non-Jewish young adult organisations. Organisers said this cross-community presence was central to the organisation’s mission of building understanding beyond the Jewish community.

Throughout the evening, the message remained steady. Remembrance is not only about honouring those who were lost. It is about how people show up for one another now.

As the commemoration drew to a close, that idea lingered. In a world where darkness can feel close, the simple act of standing besides someone else may matter more than ever.

All photos: Giselle Haber