Each year since 1953, Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, is observed across the world in commemoration for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust.  In South Florida, the primary Yom HaShoah memorial service, bringing together survivors of the Holocaust from the entire community, takes place in Miami Beach in front of the Holocaust Memorial at the corner of Meridian Avenue and Dade Boulevard.  In most years, the event gathers no more than 1,000 attendees, who fit on the Memorial premises or extending slightly onto Meridian Avenue, via a special event permit and with Police and Transportation assistance.

Given the significant and growing anti-semitic rhetoric and actions that have occurred across the county and, recently in Miami Beach, over the past year, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation (GMJF) is calling on more community participation and attendance at this year’s Yom HaShoah ceremony at the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach, taking place Sunday, April 23, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. The GMJF has placed and will place several more full page advertisements in both The Miami Herald and The Sun Sentinel, urging the Jewish community and its supporters to attend this event.  As a result, the GMJF now anticipates 2,500 attendees and has met with City staff to coordinate the safety and security of attendees, as well as to minimize the anticipated traffic impacts.  The GMJF also expects several key speakers, including potentially City, County, State and Federal elected officials.

Unlike previous years, the event area presents numerous challenges associated with the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center, including the closure of Convention Center Drive; access limitations on Washington Avenue, 17 Street, 18 Street and 19 Street; as well as the overlapping date with the annual AIDS Walk, a Miami Beach Botanical Garden event and the regular Lincoln Road markets. A portion of the Preferred Lot, used for construction worker parking by Clarke, the Miami Beach Convention Center contractor, will be vacated for media, bus and VIP use for Yom HaShoah. 

The GMJF is asking the City to assist in the costs necessary to produce and secure the event site.  The anticipated expenses of this event are as follows (all tbd):

·        Police

·        Fire

·        Parking

·        Emergency Management

·        Sanitation

The administration is in the process of developing these cost estimates.