Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi and senior Imam pen HMD prayer

Religious leaders from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths have co-authored a prayer to mark Holocaust Memorial Day next year.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi and the Senior Imam at the Makkah Mosque worked together on the landmark initiative ahead of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on 27 January.

The prayer encourages communities to stand together to stop division and prevent the spread of hate in society, recognising how genocidal regimes throughout history have deliberately fractured societies by marginalising certain groups.

It is available to view on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) website, the organisation’s chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman welcoming the “fantastic” three-faith initiative.

Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said: “Tragically, 75 years after the end of the Holocaust and just 25 years after the genocide in Bosnia, humanity yet sits in bleak judgement of its failure to banish hatred from our midst.

“I can think of no better way to begin preparations for HMD 2020 than this prayer – a sincere call to each of us to bring a little more light into the world.”

Imam Qari Asim said: “Society is becoming increasingly polarised and respect for difference appears to be declining. It is therefore critically important that HMD is marked by all and lessons are learnt so that compassion can prevail over hatred.”