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Palm Desert proclaims Holocaust Remembrance and highlights survivors’ testimony archive
Summary
Mayor Harnick issued a proclamation recognizing Holocaust Remembrance Day and the council heard from Danny Laban of the Jewish Federation of the Desert, who said the federation is archiving survivor testimonials and that about 25 known Holocaust survivors live in the Coachella Valley.
Mayor Harnick read a proclamation recognizing Holocaust Remembrance during the Palm Desert City Council’s May 8 joint meeting and presented it to representatives of the Jewish Federation of the Desert.
The proclamation, read by Mayor Harnick, commemorated Yom HaShoah and noted that between 1933 and 1945 “6 million Jewish people were killed during the holocaust” and that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The proclamation concludes by reaffirming the city’s dedication “to combating hatred and committing to foster a world of compassion, understanding, and peace.”
Danny Laban, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of the Desert, thanked the city and said the federation is working to preserve survivors’ stories. “This year, the Jewish Federation began archiving the testimonials of our survivors to preserve their stories, to preserve their voices for the future of our community,” Laban said. He also told the council he had spoken with five Holocaust survivors who live in the desert and said there are “approximately 25 known holocaust survivors living here in the desert today.”
Laban said the recognition helps ensure that the community continues to confront the past and to teach future generations. “As many times as we hear the firsthand testimonies, whether live or recorded, we have no choice but to confront once again the atrocities of the past,” he said.
The proclamation and remarks also referenced recent occurrences of antisemitic incidents in the community and framed the day as a reminder of the need for vigilance and education. The mayor presented printed proclamations to local survivors and to federation representatives at the meeting.
The Jewish Federation of the Desert’s planned testimony archive and the city proclamation aim to preserve survivor narratives and to make Holocaust remembrance a regular element of civic memory in Palm Desert. The transcript shows the proclamation was presented and that staff and federation representatives took photos after the presentation.
