A Yom HaShoah candle is a memorial candle lit to honor the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The traditional yellow candle recalls the yellow badges Jews were forced to wear, and many are designed to burn for 24 hours.
Yom HaShoah, also called Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a solemn time to remember the victims, honor survivors, learn individual stories, and reflect on the consequences of antisemitism and hatred. Lighting a candle at home offers a quiet way for individuals and families to take part in that remembrance.
What Is the Yom HaShoah Candle?
The Yom HaShoah candle is a special memorial candle used by many Jewish families, synagogues, schools, and community organizations during Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is modeled on the Jewish yahrzeit candle, which is traditionally lit in memory of a deceased loved one.
The best-known version is a yellow candle, often distributed with a label or printed image connected to Holocaust remembrance. It is intended to create a personal moment of memory in the home as well as support larger communal ceremonies.
The candle is not a requirement for every Jewish person or community. Customs differ: some families light one yellow candle, some light six candles to represent the six million Jewish victims, and others attend a synagogue or public ceremony without using a candle at home.
Why Is the Yom HaShoah Candle Yellow?
The yellow color recalls the yellow Star of David badges and other identifying marks that Jews were forced to wear under Nazi rule and in Nazi-controlled territories. These badges were used to single out Jewish people for humiliation, exclusion, persecution, deportation, and murder.
The candle turns a symbol of persecution into a symbol of remembrance. Its light is a reminder to preserve the names and stories of those who were murdered, listen to survivors, teach future generations, and oppose antisemitism.
The yellow candle tradition was developed as a modern home-remembrance practice by Holocaust survivors and Jewish community leaders. The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) describes its Shoah Yellow Candle program as having been created in 1981, using the form of a traditional 24-hour yahrzeit candle.
When to Light the Yom HaShoah Candle
The candle is generally lit at sundown on the evening that begins Yom HaShoah (Erev Yom HaShoah). Jewish days begin at sunset, so the home observance usually starts the evening before the daytime date shown on a calendar.
A traditional Shoah Yellow Candle is made to burn for approximately 24 hours, carrying the remembrance through the observance. Follow the instructions on the candle you receive; burn times can vary by product.
Yom HaShoah is observed on the 27th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. In Israel, the official observance is moved when necessary to avoid conflict with Shabbat. Jewish communities outside Israel do not all follow the same adjustment, so check the calendar of your synagogue or local Jewish organization.
For example, in 2027, Yom HaShoah begins at sundown on Monday, May 3, and continues through Tuesday, May 4, according to Hebcal. Check a local community calendar for the observance time used in your area.
Do not confuse Yom HaShoah with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is observed each year on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
How to Light the Yom HaShoah Candle (Step-by-Step)
There is no single universal script for lighting a Yom HaShoah candle. The following simple approach can help individuals and families create a respectful moment of remembrance while following the instructions supplied with their candle.
- Confirm the date and time. Check when your synagogue or local Jewish community observes Yom HaShoah, then plan to light the candle at sundown at the beginning of the observance.
- Choose a safe location. Place the candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface, away from curtains, paper, books, decorations, children, and pets.
- Pause for remembrance. Before lighting it, take a quiet moment to consider the six million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust and the many other victims of Nazi persecution.
- Light the candle. Use a suitable lighter or match and follow the product’s lighting instructions. A special blessing is not universally prescribed for this candle.
- Read, remember, or learn. You may say a prayer, read a survivor’s testimony, speak the name of a victim, or share a family remembrance.
- Allow it to burn safely. Many Shoah Yellow Candles are designed for a 24-hour burn. Never leave an open flame unattended, and do not move the candle while it is burning.
Yom HaShoah Candle: Quick Reference
| Purpose | Remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and honor the victims. |
| Color | Yellow, recalling the yellow badges Jews were forced to wear. |
| When to light | At sundown as Yom HaShoah begins, following your community’s calendar. |
| Typical burn time | Approximately 24 hours for the traditional Shoah Yellow Candle. |
| Common practice | One candle at home; some communities use six candles in ceremonies. |
Prayers and Meditations for Lighting the Candle
Some families recite traditional Jewish memorial prayers, while others use a short personal reflection, read a poem, or sit quietly. There is no single prayer that every Jewish community requires when lighting the yellow candle.
A Short Personal Reflection
May the memory of the six million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust remain with us. May we honor each life by learning their stories, listening to survivors, standing against antisemitism, and protecting the dignity and safety of every human being. May remembrance guide our actions today and in the generations to come.
You can also read a survivor’s testimony, study the history of a Jewish community destroyed during the Holocaust, or share the name and life story of someone who was murdered. If you attend a synagogue service, follow the prayer and memorial program provided by the congregation.
Why Lighting a Candle Still Matters
A candle is a small act, but it can create space for meaningful learning and remembrance. It can prompt a family conversation about what happened, why it happened, and how propaganda, dehumanization, discrimination, and state-sponsored violence can develop into mass persecution and genocide.
The need to preserve first-hand testimony is urgent. In January 2026, the Claims Conference estimated that approximately 196,600 Jewish Holocaust survivors were still alive worldwide, living in more than 90 countries. The reported median age was 87. These figures underline why recording survivor testimony, teaching accurate history, and passing on personal stories matter.
Lighting a candle should therefore be more than a symbolic gesture. Pair the observance with reliable Holocaust education, remembrance of individual victims, and a commitment to challenge antisemitism and other forms of hatred.
Where to Get a Yom HaShoah Yellow Candle
You may be able to obtain a Yom HaShoah yellow candle through a local synagogue, Jewish community center, Holocaust education organization, or a community-sponsored Yellow Candle program. Some congregations distribute candles to members before the observance, while others invite donations to help cover the cost of candles and educational activities.
The Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs operates the Shoah Yellow Candle program and provides information about its history and community distribution. Local availability, ordering deadlines, and shipping options vary, so contact the organization or your local congregation ahead of time.
If you cannot obtain a specially marked yellow candle, you can still observe Yom HaShoah respectfully. A regular memorial candle, participation in a community service, reading survivor testimony, or setting aside time for remembrance can all provide meaningful ways to honor the victims. Follow your own community’s customs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do you light the Yom HaShoah candle?
The candle is generally lit at sundown on the evening that begins Yom HaShoah. The exact local time depends on the date and your location, so check a Jewish calendar or your synagogue’s announcement.
Why is the Yom HaShoah candle yellow?
The yellow wax recalls the yellow Star of David badges Jews were forced to wear under Nazi rule. The candle transforms that painful symbol into one of remembrance and education.
How long should a Yom HaShoah candle burn?
The traditional Shoah Yellow Candle is designed to burn for approximately 24 hours, similar to a Jewish yahrzeit candle. Check the manufacturer’s label because burn times vary.
Do you need a special prayer to light a Yom HaShoah candle?
No single prayer is universally required. Families and communities may recite memorial prayers, read a reflection, share survivor testimony, or observe a moment of silence.
Can anyone light a Yom HaShoah candle?
People and families who wish to honor Holocaust victims can take part in remembrance. Jewish communities may have their own customs for the observance; follow the guidance of your congregation if you are participating in a formal service.
A Final Word on Remembrance
A Yom HaShoah candle gives families and communities a visible way to pause and remember the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust. Its yellow color recalls the persecution that Jews endured, while its flame represents the responsibility to preserve memory and pass on the truth.
Whether you light a traditional 24-hour yellow candle, attend a memorial service, or spend time learning a victim’s story, the purpose is the same: remember the people behind the numbers and help ensure that their experiences are never forgotten.
Sources
- Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) – About the Shoah Yellow Candle Program — https://yellowcandle.fjmc.org/overview/about-the-program/
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Remembrance Day Calendar — https://pr-715.main.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance/resources/calendar
- Yad Vashem – Remembrance — https://www.yadvashem.org.uk/remembrance/
- Hebcal – Yom HaShoah dates and observance information — https://www.hebcal.com/holidays/yom-hashoah
- Claims Conference – 2026 Holocaust Survivor Data — https://www.claimscon.org/data-2026/
- Reform Judaism – Yom HaShoah: The Remembrance of Many — https://reformjudaism.org/blog/yom-hashoah-remembrance-many
- East Bay Holocaust Education Center – Yellow Holocaust Memorial Candle — https://www.ebhec.org/onlinememorialexhibit
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