How we commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day at our school

A Haberdashers school assembly became a shared moment of reflection grounded in Jewish memory, at a time when many British schools have chosen not to commemorate HMD

As Jewish students at Haberdashers Girls’ and Boys’ Schools, Holocaust Memorial Day brings with it a responsibility to actively participate in remembrance and to ensure that Jewish memory is not sidelined or diluted. This year, as in previous years, we marked it in both schools.

At the Girls’ school, we were invited to lead a whole school assembly, not only to remember the past, but to take ownership of that responsibility within our wider school community. By placing Jewish voices and experiences at the centre, while encouraging participation from students across year groups and backgrounds, the assembly became a shared moment of reflection grounded in Jewish memory.

During the assembly we shared our personal experiences of visiting Poland in October, and had younger students tell stories of their families who are no longer here to tell their own, linking to this year’s theme of Bridging Generations. It was a powerful experience for us. It highlighted how fortunate we are to be living in a generation where remembrance and education are made possible, and that is it possible to continue sharing these stories.

A special assembly took place at the Boys’ School too. One of our teachers, Mrs Selouk, told us how her Jewish Polish family survived the Holocaust. This was an incredible story involving travelling hundreds of miles across Siberia. Hearing personal stories of someone’s family like this really bring the horrors of the Holocaust to life.

This helps us to both understand and remember it. It’s not just a part of history but a part of so many our families’ stories. We have to truly understand in order to learn from it and challenge contemporary hatred and prejudice.

We have been privileged to welcome Hedi Argent and Mala Tribich to Habs in recent years, but as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles it is the duty of our generation to honour them and remember and pass on their legacy.

Speaking in front of the whole school showed all pupils at Habs that Holocaust education is taken seriously within our school community. At a time when many British schools are choosing not to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, this felt both necessary and meaningful.

We are also deeply aware of how fortunate we are to have the freedom to live in our school lives openly and proudly as Jews—something that cannot be taken for granted in the current climate.

A thriving Jewish Society across both the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, dedicated spaces for prayer and an understanding around absence for Shabbat and Jewish festivals makes it so easy to practise and celebrate our religion without fear or compromise. This support sends a powerful message: that Jewish identity is respected rather than hidden.

Habs is proud of its diverse student body and works actively to ensure that all students feel a sense of belonging. This is reflected in the way different faiths and cultures are recognised and celebrated throughout the year, allowing students to learn about traditions beyond their own.

Festivals such as Chanukah and Purim are celebrated openly, with everyone encouraged to take part, just as all students are invited to celebrations for Eid, Diwali and Christmas. Through this ongoing commitment to inclusion, Habs shows that a non-Jewish school can still be a place where everyone can feel safe, understood and valued, and for that we are truly grateful.