By Mary O’KEEFE

For 25 hours the names of people who perished during the Holocaust will be read as part of the annual Every Person Has a Name ceremony to commemorate UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The event happens from 7 p.m. on Jan. 23 through 8 p.m. on Jan. 24.

“This is our third year,” said Jason Moss, Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. “It is important to keep the memory alive of those who were murdered during the Holocaust.”

While it is always important to remember this important part of history it is especially important now with hate crimes on the rise in America. According to an FBI report released in November 2020, hate crimes rose to their highest number in decades. In 2019, religious bias accounted for 1,650 offenses reported by law enforcement and, of that, 60.3% were anti-Jewish.

“This event provides our community one more opportunity of another day of remembering,” he added.

For the first two years the event was held at Pasadena City Hall but due to COVID-19 guidelines this year it will be held virtually.

“We will have five stories from survivors,” Moss said of plans for the vigil.

Those who virtually attend Every Person Has a Name will have the chance to hear these survivors share their stories. They will speak about what they went through in a “matter of fact” way, hoping that by sharing what happened to them they will help others understand what happens when hate goes unchecked, Moss added.

He said the Jewish Federation also wants people to understand that what happened was real.

“This is not a conspiracy,” he said. “It was not created for sympathy.”

He pointed to the insurrection in the Capitol on Jan. 6 as a build up of hate over a long time.

“[Jan. 6] is a sad reminder that [extreme violence] can happen anywhere,” he said.

There will be over 7,000 names read Jan. 23-24 – a small number representing only some of those who perished during the Holocaust.

“If we read the names at the same rate [as we will on Jan. 23-24] it would take 850 days to get through all 6 million people who died in the Holocaust,” Moss said.

The event will begin with a commemoration ceremony at 7 p.m. and will feature remarks from elected officials including Congressman Adam Schiff and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as well as additional dignitaries and local clergy. There will be a special performance by the Jewish Federation Jewish Youth Orchestra.

The event will be streamed live on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewishsgpv.

As of press time organizers were looking for volunteers to help read the names. Anyone interested can do so by contacting www.jewishsgpv.org or by sending an email to federation@jewishsgpv.org.