Lighting up the sky yellow on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The Empire State Building was lit up yellow on January 27, 2026

By Henry Levy

The Empire State Building was lit up yellow on January 27, 2026, for the third consecutive year, for people to see from miles around.

So was Niagara Falls, the Willis (Sears) Tower in Chicago, Philadelphia Airport in Pennsylvania, the Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale in Connecticut, the Casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the Welcome to Las Vegas sign, City Halls in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Richmond, Chicago, New York and many more throughout the country, the Governor’s Mansions and State Houses in Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and dozens of other locations in over two dozen states.

Every January 27th since 2006, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp, the United Nations set aside a day dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews, millions of non-Jews and 1,500,000 children that were victims of Adolph Hitler and the Nazis.

The two-hour ceremony, held in the United Nation’s General Assembly always features speeches by the UN Secretary General, Holocaust survivors, Ambassadors, and this year a stirring speech by Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, lambasting the biased treatment of the UN against only the State of Israel and no others.

Just over four years ago, Voices for Truth and Humanity and the Jewish Post started a Yellow Light campaign on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Since then a coalition of dedicated partner organizations including Jewish Community Relations Councils nationwide, 3rd Generation of Holocaust Survivors, Jewish Federations of North America and branches in many states, Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, New York Board of Rabbis, ADL, AJC, StandWithUs, UJA-Federation, Jewish War Veterans, JNF, SWC, Holocaust Museums and Education Centers and others have been instrumental in the expansion.

The lighting major landmarks up yellow is more than just acknowledging the memory of those murdered by the Nazis. It’s important that people talk about the Holocaust and understand why it was humanity’s greatest disaster. It is only through education and discussion that the American people can overcome the propaganda, hate and bigotry of those that wish to use the Jewish population as scapegoats and as a target for their deep-rooted hate and ignorance.

The “New York Lights up Yellow” project was launched in 2022, just after the United Nations turned its back on shining a light on the International Holocaust Remembrance program it established as an important annual event, by refusing to light up its own New York Headquarters yellow on that day, January 27th. Our first success was getting the outside of Madison Square Garden lit up yellow, a magnificent sight. Then New York’s Governor Hochul agreed to light up a dozen locations including One World Trade Center, Niagara Falls, bridges and other landmarks and Mayor Adams lit up City Hall and the Borough Halls. Nassau and Westchester County Executives not only lit up their official executive offices but held a full ceremony, highlighting the need for Holocaust education and the necessity to heed the words: “Never Again!” In our second year the Empire State Building agreed to partner with the coalition and their building was lit up yellow for all to see for miles around. Locations were added in Connecticut, as their Governor authorized the tallest building in the state to be lit, Hillel’s Slifka Center at Yale University and numerous landmarks throughout New Haven.

This January 27, 2026 the initiative, renamed “America Lights up Yellow” expanded to 26 states and one international location.

States that have joined the coalition the Light up America Yellow campaign in 2026 include:

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The first International location in Poland, arranged by the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, is the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Oswiecim, just minutes from Auschwitz.

Lighting up the sky yellow on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

For the full story visit the website, www.lightupamericayellow.com.

Volunteers from all states are welcome to join our coalition and help expand the “America Lights up Yellow” initiative for 2027.

Contact: henryjlevy@yahoo.com or call 516-225-4400.