Three Rivers marks Holocaust Memorial Day

Students from Three Rivers District will participate in a unique programme hosted by local synagogues, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day  between 28 January and 7 February 2019. The Council will also be sharing links to stories from the Holocaust and genocides around the globe on January 27 to mark the Holocaust Memorial Day.

The students will participate in an educational workshop and have the rare opportunity to listen to a Holocaust survivor recount their personal experiences of the Holocaust first-hand. The programme has also been adapted for college students and sixth formers.

Sara Bedford, Leader of the Council said: “The Holocaust was a dark time in human history. We must remember the Jewish lives lost and the millions killed. Let’s work together to eradicate hatred.”

This year’s workshop, on the theme ‘Torn from home’, will relate historical facts about the Holocaust to contemporary issues such as racism, discrimination, persecution and citizenship. All the sessions will conclude with closing reflections from each synagogue’s rabbi and the lighting of a memorial candle.

Andy Stovold, Head of Community Partnerships said: “We live in a diverse society and it is great to see different cultures come together to mark the Holocaust Memorial Day. We must ensure younger generations get the opportunity to learn about history and learn valuable lessons from it.”

The aims of the Northwood Holocaust Memorial Day Events are to educate students about the Holocaust, make a connection between the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and invite students to consider their personal responsibility to promote tolerance in today’s world.

A Closing Ceremony on Thursday 31 January will be attended by Holocaust survivor Peter Lantos who at the age of 5 was deported with his parents to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany where his father died of starvation. Despite his traumatic experiences and the interruption to his education, Peter has built a distinguished career in academic medicine in England during which he has contributed to the understanding of diseases of the nervous system. He has become internationally known and was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences.

Laura Marks OBE, Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and founder of Mitzvah Day, will also give an address.