עמותת "שם ונר" The Shem VeNer Association was founded to restore to every person who perished in the Holocaust a name, a face, and a life story, through a personal memorial candle. This act of remembrance restores to the victims the identity that was taken from them by the Nazis before they were reduced to numbers.
In this way, we ensure that Holocaust remembrance remains alive, continues to shape the present, and helps build a more moral and compassionate future. Guided by the belief that Holocaust remembrance is a national and social responsibility, we work to make the lighting of a memorial candle bearing the name of a victim a widely embraced tradition, preserved and passed down from generation to generation.
Each year, the Association distributes millions of memorial candles throughout Israel and around the world, in partnership with educational institutions, local authorities, public organizations, and Jewish communities in the Diaspora. Each candle bears the name of one individual who perished, creating a direct and personal connection between historical loss and individual remembrance.
Our activities include public installations, immersive memorial events, educational and informational programs, and ongoing efforts to deepen public awareness of remembrance in Israel and worldwide.
The Association is guided by the values of memory, responsibility, and hope, and believes that through personal commemoration and human connection, the memory of those who perished will never be forgotten.
Founder and Chair of the Association’s Board of Directors. Alicia combines extensive business activity with philanthropy and social and community engagement. She is actively involved in initiatives and educational programs dedicated to advancing Holocaust remembrance and passing it on to future generations. A graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, she lives in Israel with her husband, Daniel. She is a mother of six and was born in New York, USA.
Owner of a private company, member of a family philanthropic foundation, and a social activist committed to advancing community and social initiatives. Born in 1960, he holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration, with a specialization in Finance, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is married to Alicia and is the father of six.
Served as the first Chief Executive Officer of Shem VeNer from 2013 to 2022. With extensive experience in the business and management world, and driven by a deep commitment to the Association’s mission, she chose to take a break from her business career and devote her time to building the Association’s foundations. Nora led numerous initiatives that significantly deepened public awareness of the importance of Holocaust commemoration. Today, Nora has returned to her business activities and continues to support the Association as a member of the Board of Directors.
Ayala Ofir has been a volunteer with the Shem VeNer Association for the past eight years, contributing her professional experience as an attorney to advancing the Association’s initiatives and expanding circles of remembrance. In her work, she brings a combination of commitment, sensitivity, and professional rigor, and sees deep importance in the continuity of Holocaust remembrance and its transmission to future generations.
“I consider it a privilege to help ensure that the memory of the Holocaust of the Jewish people is preserved for future generations.”
Chief Executive Officer of The Jaffa Institute, with more than two decades of management experience in the fields of education, welfare, and the public and social sectors. He specializes in organizational management and social program development, and has led initiatives that have assisted thousands of at-risk children and families. He holds two master’s degrees, in Organizational Management and Educational Administration, and is a graduate of a Directors’ Course. He served as a staff sergeant in the Nahal Brigade, an experience that continues to shape his leadership and public service.
Attorney at law, specializing in negotiation management and dispute resolution. A former armored corps officer, Doron was wounded during operational activity and received a commendation for his service. Despite his injuries, he volunteered for 32 years of reserve duty, including service in the unit for prisoners of war and missing persons. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law, as well as a doctorate from the University of Toronto. Doron leads a number of social initiatives, including the founding of the Yachad Ke’echad Association and the Yitro Association, and serves as Chair of the Itam VeLema’anam Project.
Chief Executive Officer and owner of Avnei Derech Real Estate Group, focusing on development and construction projects throughout the country. He previously held management roles at the Paamonim Association. He is currently an active member of the Board of Directors of the Ogen Group, which works to advance advisory and credit solutions for underserved populations and nonprofit organizations. Alongside his business activities, he is deeply committed to social action and to strengthening community and economic resilience in Israel.
Born in 1953, he immigrated to Israel from Iran as a child. He is a social entrepreneur and is involved in a wide range of public initiatives, promoting educational and community projects. He is particularly active in advancing the rights of people with disabilities, serves as a family representative within the AKIM Jerusalem Association, and has participated in Knesset discussions on policy and welfare issues. A member of the Association since its founding, he views the commemoration of Holocaust remembrance as a personal mission.
Member of the Association
Each year, as Holocaust Remembrance Day approaches, we invite the public in Israel and around the world to light a candle, read a name, scan the QR code on the candle, and remember
that every name has a candle.