Services and events across the city Saturday commemorated International Holocaust Remembrance Day, including at the Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side.

Worshippers in attendance included a Hamas-released hostage, family members of other hostages and family members of Holocaust survivors.

What You Need To Know

  • There are events and services across the city to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day, including at Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side 

  • Worshippers in attendance included a Hamas-released hostage, family members of other hostages and family members of Holocaust survivors

  • Gov. Kathy Hochul said there’s been a 95% increase in hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers, and combating them — against both Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers — is a priority for law enforcement

Some worshippers opened up about this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day being against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East.

“I was born right after the Holocaust, and I lost my entire family, grandparents, uncles, and it was a trauma to grow up. Then I grew up in Israel, and ever since the War of Independence there were always wars,” said Samuel Wanderer, whose parents survived the Holocaust. “Now I’m 76 years old, there’s antisemitism all around the world and people still don’t recognize that the Jewish people need a state.”

Wanderer said the day makes him feel very sad.

Mayor Eric Adams is offering his support to the Jewish community — as the city sees a rise in antisemitism. Buildings will be lit up in yellow this weekend, including City Hall, to honor the approximately 6 million Jewish people who died in the Holocaust.

Adams said he hopes the light can serve as a small symbol of hope for the future, while the Israel-Hamas war continues nearly 6,000 miles away.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said there’s been a 95% increase in hate crimes against Jewish New Yorkers, and combating them — against both Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers — is a priority for law enforcement.

Some Jewish community members hope this year’s event serves as a reminder for younger generations.

“I just want them to remember there is good and evil in the world, and we have to promote the good. It’s deep within our being, as has been demonstrated throughout history, that people are capable of atrocities,” said Ruth Cohen, another worshipper attending the remembrance services. “A good part of my family was killed during the Holocaust. My grandparents, God bless them, are no longer here, but they had the foresight to come here, to this country of opportunity that I love, that makes me a patriot.”

“This means ‘remembrance’ in Hebrew,” Wanderer said, pointing to a small blue and white pin on his chest.

With no end in sight to the war, members of the Jewish community are kept safe during these challenging times, to make sure the painful lessons learned are not forgotten.

Hochul announced she’s investing $60 million into the effort to prosecute hate crimes, nearly half of which was announced last year and the rest will come from this year’s budget.