On Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025

Rep. Tim Brennan April 24, 2025

At the memorial hosted by Governor Josh Shapiro in his Capitol reception room on this Yom HaShoah (also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day), speakers reminded us of the importance of truth, justice and peace as pillars of our pluralistic society. They spoke of how great citizens stand up for these values, particularly when others lack the courage or moral clarity (more on the latter to come).

In his remarks, Gov. Shapiro – just days after the attack on him and his family on the night they celebrated their Passover Seder – reminded us of our obligation to act with moral clarity when we see injustice, and of his confidence that we can all find our own “better angels” to help us live up to the promise of this county and this commonwealth. It’s an especially timely message as we face so many challenges to these values, because as Mark Twain cautioned, "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes."

His message carried extra power as he delivered it in a room with many reminders of the work throughout history to uphold religious liberty in our commonwealth.

We also heard from the great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivor Esther Bratt (pictured here luminating a Star of David), who for her bat mitzvah project is bearing witness to her great-grandmother and -grandfather’s survival story. She earned a standing ovation from the governor, me, and many of my colleagues.

Returning to Gov. Shapiro; he also spoke of staying true to your values in an op-ed he penned for the New York Times, “Finding Moral Clarity After an Arsonist’s Attack.” Published on Yom HaShoah, it’s a deeply moving personal reflection that offers a message of resilience and unity.

This is a time to reiterate to my Jewish neighbors that I’m thinking of you constantly, and working with fellow members of the Jewish Legislative Caucus to do everything in our power to put a stop to antisemitism in our communities – and to follow through on our succinct but momentous promise, “Never again.”

On April 22, 2025, our co-chairs, Rep. Dan Frankel and Sen. Judy Schwank, issued a statement in response to the new 2024 annual audit of antisemitic incidents, which found they’ve reached record levels for the fourth year in a row:

“These numbers are deeply upsetting, but they are not surprising. Jewish Pennsylvanians have been raising the alarm about the growing wave of antisemitism for years — and now another year of data confirms just how urgent the crisis is,” said Frankel. “As antisemitism continues its rise in our schools, places of worship, and our communities, we cannot afford to stand by — we must take action to stop its spread.”

"Members of the Jewish faith are not passive observers of rising antisemitism,” said Schwank. “We live it, we feel it, and it's personal. The record-setting numbers year after year are alarming, but they do not tell the whole story. Behind every statistic is someone who feels less safe in their synagogue, their school, or their neighborhood. We need more than symbolic gestures and slogans to combat today's rise in antisemitism, and we all must do our part to stem the tide."

Lastly, if you’re looking for a way to counter antisemitism on a personal level, please read about the Anti-Hate Crimes bill package Rep. Frankel will soon reintroduce and help us spread the word. My own constituents can rest assured I’m already a supporter, but you can make sure your friends & family know about it and ask their own representatives to support it.

Sincerely,