January 22, 2026 – HRA18
Statement from the Holocaust Remembrance Association:
The Holocaust Remembrance Association is grateful to Governor Greg Abbott for proclaiming Holocaust Remembrance Week in Texas and for affirming the importance of historical truth, moral courage, and education in shaping a just future. We also commend the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission for its vital work across our state, and we encourage all Texans to take this message to heart—learning, remembering, and choosing to confront hatred before it takes root again.
Understanding our history is a crucial component to a prosperous future. Eighty years ago, the worst genocide of the Jewish people in world history was horrifically executed by the Nazi regime. Fueled by hatred and evil, more than six million Jewish people and millions of others perished in what is now known as the Holocaust. Had the hatred and prejudice against the Jewish community not been ingrained in society for centuries, and had civilians combated the injustice, such a monstrous event could have been prevented.
It is furthermore disheartening that antisemitism did not end with the Holocaust, making the important work of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC) and leaders who teach moral courage invaluable to creating a world that is more compassionate, empathetic, and inclusive. Together, we can keep the painful memory of the Holocaust alive, grapple with its meaning, and ensure that the people will never turn on their own and allow such a monstrous injustice to unfold again.
To underscore the importance of learning about these events and landmarks, the THGAAC has developed and approved materials for public schools for a statewide Holocaust Remembrance Week. Counseled by the Commission, the Governor’s Office selected the week of January 27th as the date for Remembrance Week. Recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day as January 27, which is the date that Auschwitz was “liberated” by Allied troops, is the focal point of Holocaust Remembrance Week.
Each year, a week is set aside to educate young Texans about the events of the Holocaust, to ensure these stories are never forgotten. By learning more about this important time in our world’s history, we can prevent such atrocities from occurring again.
Therefore, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim January 26 — 30, 2026, to be Holocaust Remembrance Week in Texas and urge all Texans to observe the occasion with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature this the 16th day of January, 2026.
Greg Abbott, Governor Of Texas
The Holocaust Remembrance Association exists to remember, reconcile, and take a stand against antisemitism in all its forms.
